INQUIRER.net launches eSports as Asian tournament opens in Cebu

INQUIRER.net Chief Operating Officer Gary Libby and Brian Lim of the Philippine eSports Organization (PESO) spearhead the INQUIRER.net launch of eSports.inquirer.net in Cebu, host to the eSports Asian Championships that opened Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014. INQUIRER.net, a member of the Inquirer Group of Companies, is the official website of PESO in promoting eSports here in the Philippines.

CEBU CITY – The eSports Asian Championships opened here for the first time Saturday with local organizer Philippine eSports Organization (PESO) unveiling its official website on INQUIRER.net.

PESO’s Brian Lim and gamer-turned-eSports advocate Irymark “Tryq” Gutierrez said the two-day international tournament aims to promote eSports to Filipinos.

And what better way to ensure this than to partner with the No. 1 Philippine news website – INQUIRER.net – to launch eSports.inquirer.net.

“We are very proud to be their partner. It’s a very great help for our advocacy to promote eSports here in the Philippines and it helped PESO to become a legitimate group in the eSports community.” said Gutierrez.

According to Gutierrez’s demographics, the country now has 14-million computer gamers but only 20 percent are eSports enthusiasts. Their partnership with INQUIRER.net, Gutierrez said, would help boost the number of those who would be engaging in eSports.

“We believe in the mission of PESO, especially their aim to erase the bad image of computer gaming. I know that they have a sincere advocacy in turning the usual computer gaming to a different culture where competitiveness and discipline are taught. They are also here to regulate eSports in the country.” said INQUIRER.net’s Chief Operating Officer Gary Libby.

(INQUIRER.net is a member of the Inquirer Group of Companies.)

Libby said that aside from news, updates, and other eSports activities, there would be a forum where eSports enthusiasts could interact with each other. The website was also officially activated Saturday.

A total of P430,000 worth of cash prizes are at stake for the top three teams in the two-day tournament at the trade hall of SM City here where competitors from South Korea, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Mongolia and the Philippines are expected to pit their skills on the widely popular online computer game “Defense of the Ancients 2” (DOTA 2).

DOTA 2 matches are played between two five-player teams with the goal of destroying the opposing team’s stronghold while defending their own using various characters with unique skills and techniques.

During Saturday’s opening ceremonies, International eSports Federation (IESF) President Jung Hyun Hun of Korea expressed his sincerest gratitude to the organizers. He said during his speech that he was very grateful for the organizers from PESO for organizing the first ever continental eSports Asian Championships.

“I am really grateful for their effort for organizing this great event. This is the time to introduce the new age of digital gaming.” said Hun.

Joining him was Philippine Olympic Committee (POC) Executive Director Stephen Hontiveros who also showed his strong support for IESF and PESO’s goal of establishing a strong eSports community here in the country.

In fact, Hontiveros is now encouraging the officials of the Southeast Asian Games to include eSports as one of the regular events of the biennial multi-sport meet.

“eSport is like chess, it’s a mental game and its growth has turned it into a sport. I just hope that this will be included in the next Asean Games and I also hope that PESO will continue their mission. We at POC and PSC will help PESO promote and develop this sport.” Hontiveros said.

IESF donated some computers to Cebu City to encourage the Cebu City Sports Commission build or develop eSports here. Cebu City Vice Mayor Edgar Labella and Cebu City Sports Commission (CCSC) chairman Edward Hayco were also present.