The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Dark League Studios remain at the forefront of grassroots esports development, pushing forward with unwavering momentum.
Following the success of the inaugural Estudyante Esports: National Championships, the organization shows no signs of slowing down as it sets its sights on an even more exciting and expansive Season 2.
The first season saw overwhelming participation, drawing in more than 600 varsity teams from over 200 schools across the country.
The championship culminated last Sunday, with the awarding ceremony held at the Dark League Studios headquarters in Pasig City.
Faith Colleges’ Novus Bravehearts emerged victorious in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang tournament, earning the top prize of P250,000.
Their standout player, Zywin Angelo Pedutem, was named Grand Finals MVP and received an additional P20,000.
In other categories, Jean Cyrus Villapana from City College of Angeles took home P50,000 as the Tekken champion. OLFU Phoenix from Our Lady of Fatima University secured the League of Legends title along with the P250,000 top prize, with finals MVP Michael Jay Gawala receiving a P20,000 bonus.
Meanwhile, De La Salle University’s DLSU Green Aces dominated the Valorant tournament, claiming the P250,000 prize, with MVP Xavier Juan also earning an extra P20,000.
Runner-up teams in each category were awarded P100,000, and the schools of the champion and second-place teams received P80,000 and P50,000 respectively.
As part of DLS Chairman Bobby Rosales’ commitment to bridging the academic and esports worlds, Estudyante Esports Program Director Alexander “Deng” Kibanoff shared that the championships are building on their inaugural success.
The goal for Season 2 is to engage even more schools and student esports athletes across the nation.
“It actually was the brainchild of our chairman. So, isa lang yun sa isang idea na magkaroon tayo ng isang championships na talagang there’s an equal opportunity for all colleges and universities to join.”
Kibanoff noted that DLS anticipates registration numbers to surge, with over 1,000 teams expected to sign up once Season 2 opens around July.
“Ang gusto ni Sir Bobby non is really a competition that is inclusive. So, walang mapipigilan na sumali as long as you’re really interested in esports and you are acknowledged as a varsity of your school,” Kibanoff added.
For DLS co-founder and CEO AC Valdenor, making sure that the Estudyante Esports continues what it has started is crucial especially in defeating the toxic stigma around competitive gaming.
“What we wanted to make sure of is that we remove that kind of toxic stigma. Esports is supposed to be fun. It’s supposed to create aspiration for us, for the younger generation, and it’s supposed to be an eye-opener as part of the digital age. But it’s not ready to become a career. So we have to sustain it,”