Over the weekend, more than 200 participants competed in the Bhutan Esports Championship 2024, the country’s first national-level event. Esports, short for electronic sports, involves competitive video gaming where players or teams face off against each other. The championship aimed to promote the values of responsible gaming and highlight its opportunities for gamers.
The championship featured six popular mobile and console games in the country, including Mobile Legends, PUBG, Dota 2, eFootball, and Tekken.
“The slogan of the event is ‘responsible gaming.’ Through this event, we aim to encourage gamers to follow the rules and regulations of the games and to manage their time effectively. Additionally, there are opportunities to win prize pools and compete with international players,” said Sherab Lhaden, president of the Bhutan Mobile Gaming Association.
“Since esports tournaments are new to our country, we are happy to showcase our gaming talent here,” said Karma Yoezer Phuntsho, a participant.
The primary games in the championship are PUBG and Mobile Legends, as there are many active players of these two mobile games in the country.
The competitors for these two games were selected through a three-stage seasonal competition.
Console games like eFootball and Tekken were added to the tournament to promote them since these games are trending in the international esports arena.
Competitors said that a designated area for esports would significantly improve their performance.
“Since there is no designated game arena for the esports tournament in Bhutan, the open area makes it difficult for us participants to compete. Moreover, our phones heat up easily in the sun, causing game delays,” said Diya Rai, another participant.
“Abroad, gamers earn more than doctors and engineers. If such tournaments are held frequently, there is an opportunity for us to earn as well,” said Sherab Gyeltshen, also a participant.
The esports tournament ended yesterday, with teams Icy Paradise and Onyx Pearl winning in Mobile Legends, and team Makpen emerging victorious in PUBG Mobile. Team Invictus Knights won Dota 2.
The winners of PUBG, Mobile Legends, and Dota 2 will participate in the Global Esports Games 2024, which will be held later this year in Saudi Arabia. However, it is uncertain whether the players will travel to Saudi Arabia or compete online from Bhutan.
Dechen Choden
Edited by Sherub Dorji
