Electronic sports, also known as eSports, are types of competitions that are carried out using video games. Esports have gained popularity in recent years, both in personal and professional settings. People are now hosting tournaments at home and international associations are organizing leagues and events.
eSports first began taking off across countries in Asia, from Singapore to China to South Korea. You’ll also find that countries across North and South America and Europe have a growing eSports culture as well.
But when it comes to the different types of eSports, which are most popular in Singapore?
eSports Explained
Electronic sports are a little different from your typical video game. They are a form of organized, multiplayer competitions between professionally trained players, either partaking by themselves or as part of a team. However, amateur eSports events remain incredibly popular, with thousands tuning in to watch on platforms like Twitch and YouTube.
There are a couple of styles of eSports games that are most common: card, battle arena, fighting, first-person shooter, real-time strategy, and battle royale. Within these genres are countless professional tournaments, from League of Legends to Super Smash Bros.
The eSports Industry in Singapore
eSports has exploded in Singapore. Gathering to host at-home events or to watch and bet on international or local tournaments has become a popular past-time. Even well-known online sportsbooks in SG have started accommodating some eSports. One of the most popular games in the scene is the exciting multiplayer shooter CS:GO and there are plenty of CS:GO sites for betting available in the country (source: https://www.safebettingsites.com/sg/).
Part of the reason for this increase in interest in the industry may be down to the hard work of the Singapore eSports Association and the inclusion of the Olympic eSports Week by the International Olympics Committee (IOC), which was hosted by Singapore in June 2023.
Olympic eSports Week
During this week of exciting eSporting events, ticket holders were able to watch ten different virtual sports, as well as experience and take part in a range of simulators and sports games. The sports that were played were baseball, chess, taekwondo, sailing, dance, archery, motorsport, shooting, tennis, and archery.
The Singapore eSports Association
The SGEA, or Singapore eSports Association, was formed in 2018 with the intention of overlooking Singaporean involvement in international and regional eSports events. The Association is a member of the Global eSports Federation (GEF) and the Singapore National Olympic Council (SNOC).
They aim to promote eSports to the wider community and hone local talents in the industry, especially among young people. For example, the SGEA was recently given the role of choosing the eSports team who went on to represent Singapore in the 32nd Southeast Asian Games earlier this year.
The Most Popular eSports Played in Singapore
There are many eSports played across Singapore, with the repertoire expanding all the time thanks to the release of new games. However, there are a few classics that you’ll be familiar with if you’re an enthusiast. Many of the top players in the country will be champions and hold multiple titles for their success in this eSports:
- League of Legends
- Crossfire
- Attack Online
- Mobile Legends: Bang Bang
- Player Unknown Battlegrounds
As well as household name video games, traditional sports like archery, martial arts, and basketball, are also played often during eSports competitions. The only difference is that these sports are carried out virtually, using computers, consoles, or virtual reality headsets.
The Biggest Names in Singaporean eSports
When it comes to eSports stars, Singapore boasts some of the best in the business. Although a relatively new facet of the sports industry, the country has already raised many talented competitors, who, between them, hold an abundance of titles and medals.
The first of these names is Ho Kun Xian, who is notorious in the world of virtual fighting games. In 2013, Xian put himself on the map by coming out on top at the Evolution Championship Series (EVO) for Street Fighter IV: Arcade Edition. When he’s not busy competing, Ho Kun Xian organizes training events for aspiring eSports professionals, in the hopes of furthering the pool of talent that Singapore has.
You can’t talk about eSports in Singapore and not mention Daryl “Iceiceice” Koh, who is famed for becoming the country’s first-ever eSports millionaire. As well as representing his country, Iceiceice has also played in China and the United States, using his skills in Starcraft II and Dota 2 to earn some impressive prize money.
We also can’t discuss Singaporean eSports stars without mentioning Team Flash, who had major success in 2018 when they took first place in FIFA Online 3. The team currently has FIFA Online 4, Hearthstone, and Fortnite teams competing in Singapore, as well as teams for League of Legends, Arena of Valor, and Free Fire in Vietnam.
Final Words
There is a wide selection of eSports in Singapore to watch, bet on, or even get involved with, suited to people with all interests and skills. And, regardless of your nationality, Singapore is a great place to get stuck into electronic sports games, thanks to the number of talented players and exciting events going on around the country.
