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Weekly esports guide (4 - 11 January 2021): A new year for esports

If you have an esports event or listing for Southeast Asia you’d like to have considered for this weekly update, please email yahootvsg@verizonmedia.com. For other esports news updates, visit Yahoo Esports Southeast Asia and check out Yahoo Esports Southeast Asia’s Facebook page.

The new year is finally here, and it will be a new beginning for esports all around the world as the industry attempts to navigate a new reality where the coronavirus pandemic continues to loom large. The arrival of 2021 will especially be welcomed by the competitive Dota 2 scene, as the Dota Pro Circuit is set to make its return after having its 2020 season cancelled by the pandemic.

Do note that the status of some events may have changed after publishing because of the coronavirus.

2021 Dota Pro Circuit

The Dota Pro Circuit will be moving to a new three-season regional league format for the 2020-2021 season. (Photo: Dota 2 blog)
The Dota Pro Circuit will be moving to a new three-season regional league format for the 2020-2021 season. (Photo: Dota 2 blog)

Date: 18 January - 27 February

Venue: Online

After its 2020 season was cancelled by the coronavirus pandemic, the Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) will finally be returning in 2021 with a new regional league system. Under the new system, the DPC will be split into six regional leagues in North America, South America, Europe, the CIS, China, and Southeast Asia, with each league having 16 participating teams split equally in an Upper and Lower Division.

Aside from introducing the regional league system, the new DPC format will also split the circuit into two seasons, with each concluding with a Major event featuring the best teams from each region, all leading up to The International 10 in August.

While the season itself is set to begin on 18 January, the qualifiers for the Upper and Lower Divisions across all regions are ongoing and will run until 11 January.

Mobile Legends M2 World Championship

M2 World Championship (Photo: Moonton)
M2 World Championship (Photo: Moonton)

Date: 18 - 24 January

Venue: Singapore

The second Mobile Legends highlight event will be taking place in Singapore behind closed-doors at the Shangri-La Singapore! With teams from across the globe competing, it will be the first major esports event of the year in the country. A prize pool of US$300,000 and the bragging rights for being the best MLBB team in the world await the team that reaches the top.

SEA Fire Championship 2020

SEA Fire Championship 2020 (Photo: eFire League Facebook)
SEA Fire Championship 2020 (Photo: eFire League Facebook)

Date: 15 December 2020 - 14 January 2021

Venue: Online

Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/=eFireLeague

The first-ever SEA Fire Championship for Valorant features 16 of the best teams in the region competing for a US$5,000 prize pool, with an additional US$500 set aside for the top-performing players of the tournament.

The tournament’s group stage will run until 28 December, after which the participating teams will have a short break before the week-long playoffs begin on 7-14 January next year.

There’s a good mix of squads from most countries in the region competing in the tournament; with Bren Esports representing the Philippines, Team SMG and Team nxl for Singapore, as well as Attack All Around and MiTH.Attitude for Thailand, among others. India and South Korea each have their own representatives here too, so it’ll be a good chance to see how those countries stack up against the best SEA has to offer.

Cyber Games Arena Valorant Pacific Open+

(Photo: Cyber Games Arena)
(Photo: Cyber Games Arena)

Date: 14 - 26 January

Venue: Online

Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/CyberGamesArena

One of the first Valorant events of the new year in Southeast Asia, the Cyber Games Arena Pacific Open+ gathers 16 of the best teams in the region to compete for their cut of a US$15,000 prize pool.

Two teams will be directly invited to the event, with the rest of the participating teams having to go through qualifiers for each country in the region. The Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Taiwan will each have two representatives in the event.

Malaysia Esports Championship

Malaysia Esports Championship (Photo: Esports Integrated)
Malaysia Esports Championship (Photo: Esports Integrated)

Date: December 2020 - January 2021

Venue: TBD

Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/esportsintegrated

Local Malaysian initiative Esports Integrated, under the purview of the country’s Ministry of Youth and Sports, has launched the Malaysia Esports Championship to help foster the esports scene in Malaysia. The event will have a RM100,000 (just over US$24,000) split across four titles, namely: Dota 2, MLBB, PUBG Mobile, and FIFA 21.

The event will be split across three weeks of competition, with Week 1 taking place from 21-26 December, Week 2 from 28 December to 2 January next year, and Week 3 from 4-9 January. Weeks 1 and 2 will be dedicated for MLBB, PUBG Mobile, and FIFA 21, while Week 3 is solely dedicated to Dota 2.

Capcom Cup 2020

Capcom Cup 2020
Capcom Cup 2020

Date: 19-21 February

Venue: Punta Cana, Dominican Republic

Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/capcomfighters

The biggest Street Fighter 5 tournament from Capcom will be happening soon, after many qualifier tournaments. Features a US$200,000 prize pool.

The most notable Southeast Asian and Asian players who are in the running for this Street Fighter 5 tournament are:

  • Xian (Singapore)

  • SKZ (Singapore)

  • Daigo (Japan)

  • Gachikun (Japan)

  • Jiewa (China)

Meta.us Philippines Dota 2 Leagues

Meta.us Philippines Dota 2 Leagues
Meta.us Philippines Dota 2 Leagues

Date: Every Thursday and Friday, August 2020 to January 2021

Time: 8pm (GMT +8)

Stream: www.facebook.com/metamaster

Filipino Dota 2 players of all skills levels, there's a special league just for you! JBL has teamed up with esports platform meta.us to create a weekly Dota 2 league running for a grand total of 6 months all the way to January 2021.

Players can register weekly for their Open series to play in a 32-team single elimination competition happening every Thursday and Friday at 8pm (GMT +8).

This league features a ranking system which will promote teams that place high consistently in the Opens into Junior and later Senior series. Not playing but want to catch the newest Filipino Dota 2 teams in action? Tune in at www.facebook.com/metamaster during competition time to watch the livestream casted by Lupon WxC!

PUBG Mobile Global Championship Season 0 (Worldwide)

PUBG Mobile Global Championship Season 0 (Worldwide)
PUBG Mobile Global Championship Season 0 (Worldwide)

Date: 24 November - January

Venue: Online and offline

Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/PUBGMOBILEESPORTS

The PUBG Corporation and Tencent Games are hosting the yearly global championships featuring the best teams from all over the world. It also features a prize pool of US$2 million.

The Southeast Asian teams who are qualified include:

  • Aerowolf LIMAX

  • Secret JIN

  • RRQ Athena

  • POWER888 KPS

  • Team Secret

Check out esports videos from Yahoo TV:

Brawl Stars Singapore Community Rumble (Singapore)

Brawl Stars Singapore Community Rumble (Singapore)
Brawl Stars Singapore Community Rumble (Singapore)

Date: 27 August - January 2021

Venue: Online

Registration: https://play.eslgaming.com/brawlstars/challenger/community-rumble-2020-singapore

Stream: https://www.twitch.tv/esl_asia

Supercell and ESL will be teaming up to launch the Brawl Stars Singapore Community Rumble, where the country’s Brawl Star players will be competing for a total prize pool of S$14,000 over a period of 6 months. After 3 weekly cups per month where 8 top teams are determined, a monthly finals will be held. The top team will win up to S$1,000 from the prize pool.