After two months of intense competition, only 20 of the toughest teams remain to compete in the upcoming Mineski Masters Playoffs, which will pit the best of the best in the popular battle royale online games, PUBG Mobile, and MOBA PC game, Dota 2.
The PUBG Mobile playoffs, which will take place on November 13-14, and the Dota 2 playoffs, which will take place on November 25-28, are the culmination of Mineski Philippines' tournament dubbed "Battle of the Ages: Forging New Realms," which aims to provide gamers and esports fans with the most innovative online experience amid the pandemic.
“Pre-pandemic esports events attracted roaring crowds and thousands of fans in support of their favorite teams and players. While we look forward to physical events making a comeback, we wanted to display the agility of esports in catering to a rapidly growing digital viewer base. Creating the Mineski Masters was a unique opportunity for us to continue engaging with the gaming community in the comfort of their own homes, as well as exhibit the innovations we have made in the past two years in esports broadcast and event organizing,” said Mark Navarro, country manager of Mineski Philippines.
Only 16 of the 128 teams competing in the national PUBGM tournament will advance to the playoffs for the coveted title of battleground "True Master," which comes with a prize pool of Php500,000. The event is co-presented by telecommunications firm Converge and sponsored by OPPO. It will be live streamed.
The much-anticipated opening ceremony on November 14th will undoubtedly bring the excitement, action, and spirit of offline events online. Awi Columna, a singer and rapper, will treat esports fans and viewers to a debut performance of an original song titled "Lakad Matatag," as well as a halftime variety show with exclusive giveaways.
Mineski Masters Playoffs will also feature the Dota 2 regional invitational tournament, sponsored by Lucky Me! Pancit Canton, where four Filipino wild card teams will face off with four invited pro-teams from the Philippines, Thailand and Indonesia for a prize pool of Php 1 million.
Four international teams have already committed to take part in this round and have yet to be revealed in the coming days. The teams are expected to field a different roster for this competition.
“The digitalization of the grandeur in live esports events is a rewarding experience as this provides a platform for gamers to connect during the pandemic. We also aim to elevate Filipinos who have the talent and skills in professional play to be at par with the world’s best players. Now, we are excited to make esports history with Mineski Masters,” added Navarro.