PBESI Begins Preparations for 2023 SEA Games

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta – The Indonesian Esports Central Board (PBESI) is preparing to take part in the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia after emerging as the general champion of the 14th International Esports Federation (IESF) World Championships.

The Esports world championships were held in Nusa Dua, Badung district, Bali province, from December 1–11, 2022. Meanwhile, the 2023 SEA Games will take place from May 5–17, 2023.

Deputy chairperson for athletes and achievements at PBESI, Yohannes P. Siagian, informed here on Monday that the national selection process for the 2023 SEA Games began two months ago.

“There are several athletes who are being monitored and there also have been discussions with experts in each of the Esports branches regarding (the appointment of) the prospective coaches and players,” he said.

He noted that it is most likely that the real work on the selection process will start in March 2023, since most of the athletes are currently on an off-season and need to rest.

“Next year, the national team will be quite busy, since there will be the SEA Games in May, the Asian Games in September, and the (15th) IESF (World Championships) in December,” the PBESI deputy chairperson informed.

Before deciding which system will be implemented to select the national players for the 2023 SEA Games, he said that PBESI will review the effectiveness of two national selection systems that have been implemented earlier.

To select players for the 2021 Vietnam SEA Games, which were held from May 12–23, 2022, PBESI had used the ‘all-star’ system, in which the national team consisted of the best players from different Esports clubs.

Meanwhile, for the 14th IESF World Championships, PBESI had invited entire teams from various Esports clubs to take part in the national selection process. Then, the selected team underwent national training.

Siagian, who is also the head coach of the national Esports team, expressed optimism that Indonesia will be able to bag five gold medals at the 2023 Cambodia SEA Games.

The games will feature nine Esports events, namely Attack Online 2 (AK2) solo and squad events; Wild Rift male and female events, Mobile Legends: Bang-Bangmale and female events, PUBG Mobile solo and squad events, as well as CrossFire.

However, each contingent, except that of the host country, will be allowed to only compete in five events.

“We have high opportunities (to win gold medals) in Mobile Legends male and female events, PUBG Mobile solo and squad events – meanwhile, the fifth event (which the Indonesian contingent will participate in) has not been decided,” the PBESI deputy chairperson added.

ANTARA

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