Singtel uses Optus to create new esport championship

One of Singapore’s largest telcos, The Singtel Group, will start its own esports competition in the Asia Pacific Region with the help of Optus.

The PVP esports Championship, to be held in Singapore from 5 to 7 October, is a multi-title and regional league with a prize pool of US$300,000.

The venture is part of the Group’s efforts to grow its gaming and digital content business across its footprint in the Asia Pacific region. 

Parent company to Optus, Singtel will partner with other regional associates including Airtel, AIS, Globe and Telkomsel.

“Telcos have every right, and the assets, to play in the growing gaming ecosystem and we want to engage the largely millennial consumers across our regional footprint,” CEO of Singtel’s International Group, Arthur Lang said.

“Mobile-based games, in particular, have gained a strong following in this region where the mobile phone is the main gaming device of choice.

“With the Group’s robust broadband and mobile networks as well as reach across Southeast Asia, India and Australia with over 600 million subscribers, we are excited to build a vibrant eSports ecosystem that will provide gamers and fans access to original and exciting content.”

PVP eSports Championship will be set up with leading eSports industry players such as Razer, Blizzard, Garena and the Mineski Group through MET.

“The numbers don’t lie – eSports is a rising force in entertainment eclipsing even movies and music,” Razer Co-Founder and CEO, Min-Liang Tan said.

“Razer has been a pioneer in pro-gaming for all of our existence, and as promised, we are now driving the future of eSports across the region with forward-looking partners like Singtel.”

As competitive video gaming pushes into the sporting mainstream, it is set to be included in the Asian Games 2018 in Jakarta this August as a demonstration sport and is also being considered as a potential medal event in the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

The inaugural tournament will feature leading mobile game Arena of Valor, PC game Dota 2 and the Singapore stop of the global tour of game developer and publisher Blizzard’s popular game Hearthstone will also be part of the PVP eSports Championship.

The PVP eSports Championship in Singapore is supported by Singapore Tourism Board (STB).

“We are pleased that the finals of the inaugural PVP eSports Championship will be held in Singapore,” Executive Director of Attractions, Entertainment & Tourism Concept Development, Carrie Kwik said.

“It will give regional eSports fans another compelling reason to visit Singapore, as well as boost our status as an eSports events hub in the region.

“We also expect it to further augment our range of quality events and reinforce Singapore’s reputation as a leading destination for entertainment.”