Pakistan's Arslan Ash Siddique Wins ESPN's ESports Player of the Year Award 2019

Arslan Ash Siddique from Lahore, Pakistan has won three top ESports awards, including Player of the Year award for 2019, according to ESPN.com. In December awards, Aslan Ash won the Best Esports Player award under both the fan and ESPN choice categories. He was also the first-runner for Best Moment of the Year award in the fan poll. The nomination was based on his EVO wins.

Arslan Ash Siddique at EVO Japan 2019

Esports have risen to the level of other major international sports with multiple international tournaments. Esports leagues have sprung up in many countries including Pakistan. Esports Pakistan (ESPK) is a growing E-Gaming organization which organizes national esports competitions at its Gaming Arena at Royal Palm, Lahore.

Arslan put Pakistan on the esports map following his surprise first-place victory in Tekken 7 at EVO Japan 2019 and EVO 2019. Before October 2018, Ash, the Pakistani Tekken 7 phenom, had never competed in a major international tournament. Now, at the end of 2019, he is an international star and the only person to ever win the Evolution Championship Series Japan and its American counterpart in  Las Vegas the same year.

Arslan is not the only successful Pakistani esports competitor on the world stage. Karachi-born Pakistani Syed Sumail Hasan, 19, is the world's youngest video gamer to surpass $1 million in earnings in esports. In fact, he has earned $3.6 million so far as an international Dota 2 player, ranking him the 10th biggest winner in the world, according to esportsearnings.com website which tracks players' earnings. Sumail started playing Dota 2 at the age of 7. He now lives in a Chicago suburb as a permanent resident of the United States.


Syed Sumail Hassan

Arsalan Ash Siddique, 23 years old player from Lahore, Pakistan, caused a stir in Fukuoka Japan when he defeated world's top players to win EVO championship in February, 2019, according to Asahi Shimbun. In his victory speech, Arslan acknowledged many unknown Pakistani players who are also quite strong but could not join the competition because they could not get the visa to travel to Japan.



It wasn't easy for Arsalan to reach Japan to participate in the contest. He had to jump through many hoops and travel through several transit countries each of which made it difficult for him. When he arrived at Haneda airport in Japan,  he only had Pakistani rupees and no exchange would accept them. Hungry and tired he tried his luck at the food court but no one would accept the Pakistani currency. His next flight was from Narita airport an hour away by public transport. To travel he needed to buy a ticket but did not possess any local currency, according to SBS Urdu.

Arsalan Ash Siddique (Center)

Arsalan was exhausted and ready to give up his dream when he finally got through to his Japanese sponsors who helped him out. Needless to say he got no help from Pakistani diplomats through his challenging journey.

In spite of visa denials and other travel challenges faced by Pakistani players, the country ranks 25th in the world for players' earnings in 2019, according to esportsearnings.com.  Ranked above Pakistan are  mainly rich industrialized nations from North America, Europe and East Asia. All South Asian nations rank below Pakistan. Players from India rank 63rd, Sri Lanka 98th, Afghanistan 108th, Bangladesh 115th and Nepal 123rd.

Related Links:

Haq's Musings

South Asia Investor Review

Pakistani Esports Player Among World's Top Earners 

Mobile Game Industry in Pakistan

Pakistani Investors: Invest in Local Tech Startups

Invest in Pakistan Summit in Silicon Valley

Upwardly Mobile Pakistani-Americans

Upwardly Mobile Pakistan


Comments

Riaz Haq said…
#US #military likes violent #videogames. Over the past two decades, virtual games have had a dramatic effect on the military’s #education and #training programs, with the US Department of Defense spending US$4 billion annually. #Warfare https://theconversation.com/its-no-wonder-the-military-likes-violent-video-games-they-can-help-train-civilians-to-become-warriors-121886?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=footertwitterbutton via @ConversationUK

For some time now, the military has been using these games to train combat soldiers. Already in 1997, a US Marine General recognised that virtual games operate both on the body and mind and improve a soldier’s preparedness for combat. Consequently, he sent out a directive allowing the use of computer-based war games when training infantry troops for warfare.

Over the past two decades, virtual games have had a dramatic effect on the military’s education and training programs, with the US Department of Defense spending US$4 billion annually to develop and integrate computerised war games into the curriculum of every war college in the US. These games prepare cadets for battle by simulating the use of automated weapons.

In fact, a recent recruitment drive by the British Army targeted gamers, with one of their posters reading: “Are you a binge gamer? The Army needs you and your drive.”

The goal of the military is to vanquish its enemies using violence. But what happens when the same training platforms migrate into our homes? And how do they affect the citizens who use them daily?

Home schooling
First-person shooter games have become permanent fixtures in the private sphere, allowing millions of citizens across the globe to participate in virtual wars from the comfort of their living rooms. Indeed, around 2.2 billion gamers regularly sit at home, many playing action-packed war games, which fuse virtual boot camps with special operations aimed at eliminating enemies.

Read more: Fortnite World Cup and the rise of the esports industry

A 2015 report suggests that in the US alone, 80% of households have a gaming device and over 155m citizens play games, many of which are extremely violent. And unlike the passive consumption of other forms of violent entertainment, such as television or movies, participants in these games assume an active role. The games invite citizens, many of whom are children, to step through the screen and become virtual protagonists in the exercise of violence.

In fact, there is a striking resemblance between the games on our children’s computers and the real operation of automated weapon systems using networked information and technologies to annihilate targets, which are often located thousands of miles away, in places like Pakistan, Yemen and Iraq.

Describing the use of computer simulations in the military, Michael Macedonia from the US Army Simulation Training and Instrumentation Command explained in an article that it “proved to be a smooth transition for younger generations of soldiers, who, after all, were spoon fed on Nintendo and computer games”.
Riaz Haq said…
MrSoomro, Leading Gamer in Pakistan, Announces Initiative to Introduce eSports as Academic Subject in Pakistan

https://www.einnews.com/pr_news/529638146/mrsoomro-leading-gamer-in-pakistan-announces-initiative-to-introduce-esports-as-academic-subject-in-pakistan

MrSoomro, one of the top gamers in Pakistan, today announced that he is leading an initiative to introduce electronic sports (eSports) as a subject of academic study to Pakistan. Other countries, such as the Philippines, already have college programs devoted to eSports. The move comes as eSports have been gaining traction as a serious activity and business throughout the Arab world in recent years. With over 250,000 followers on social media, MrSoomro has the social capital to influence thinking about gaming in Pakistan as well as throughout the region.

“The moment is here for Pakistan to embrace eSports as a legitimate area of study,” said MrSoomro. “The trend is well underway internationally, and we would be wise to follow suit. eSports is not just an activity, though of course it can be fun. eSports is a business, so learning about it relates to corporate and sports management study that’s a potential contributor to the economy of Pakistan.”

Indeed, according to ArabNews.com, eSports are at a turning point in the Arab world. As the site noted, “The Arab world is leaving its mark on eSports. There are Arab players at the top of every game, including Lebanese ‘Dota2’ player Maroun ‘GH’ Merhej.” Merhej plays with Team Liquid (together with Amer “Miracle” Al-Barkawi, the Jordanian/Polish gamer) and ranks in eighth place worldwide in terms of earnings. He has won over $3 million from 36 tournaments. Media exposure for eSports in the region is also on the increase, with Meltwater News, which tracks media coverage, stating that over 4,000 news articles have been published on the subject regionally in 2020 so far.

The 22-year-old MrSoomro likes to play PUBG Mobile, though he is also preparing himself to move into more competitive environments. He maintains a presence on social media on Facebook and an active YouTube channel.
Riaz Haq said…
#Pakistan to Legitimize #Esports by Granting it ‘Regular Sports’ Status. Pakistan has a very high rate of success in international esports. Top #pakistani players winning world competitions include Syed ‘Sumail’ Hassan and Arslan Ash. via @esportsobserved https://esportsobserver.com/pakistan-esports-sports/

Pakistan’s Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Hussain, revealed this week that a memorandum has been signed between the Pakistan Sports Board and the Pakistan Science Foundation that will see esports receive a “regular sports” status. He also encouraged those with an interest in video games, tweeting “If you are interested in video games, get ready and new opportunities are waiting for you.”

The announcement follows an interview where Hussain promised to aid investors and players in their esports ventures. He also announced that the ministry would be offering certifications in animation and game development in institutes across the country to encourage the youth to be part of the industry. In addition, he also revealed the first national esports tournaments in collaboration with Waqar Zaka – a popular internet personality in Pakistan. The tournament is set to begin in March and will have private sponsors so as to avoid government bureaucracy from affecting the operations.

While interest from the government will certainly do a lot in legitimizing esports in Pakistan, the country has had a love-hate relationship with video games in the past. In July of 2020, the nation unbanned PUBG Mobile after the game had been banned for a month after a case of suicide. The Pakistan Telecommunications Authority (PTA) labeled the game as “addictive, wastage of time, and poses serious negative impact on physical and psychological health of children.” However, despite its minimal presence in global conversations, Pakistan has a very high rate of success in international esports. This includes Syed ‘Sumail’ Hassan’s win at The International in 2015 and Arslan Ash’s domination of the Tekken circuit in 2019.
Riaz Haq said…
PUBG Mobile Campus Championship unveiled for Pakistan and Bangladesh
It will have a prize pool of $120,000.



https://dotesports.com/news/pubg-mobile-campus-championship-unveiled-for-pakistan-and-bangladesh

The PUBG  (PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds)  Mobile Campus Championship (PMCC) spring split 2021 provides a chance for amateur and semi-professional players who are pursuing higher education to compete for glory, Tencent announced.

The PMCC features a total prize pool of $120,000 and will happen in two splits across 2021. The tournament will only be held in Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Registrations for the competitions have begun and will be open until March 14 on the official website. Players are to be at least 16 years old and pursuing an associate, bachelor’s, master’s, or doctorate from a university or college in Bangladesh or Pakistan to participate.



Just like the spring split of the PUBG Mobile Club Open (PMCO) 2021, the PMCC will also feature only three maps–Erangel, Miramar, and Sanhok. The snowy-map of Vikendi has been dropped from competitive PUBG Mobile esports for now, which Tencent has yet to reveal the reason for.
Riaz Haq said…
From sports to eSports: a market lies in waiting

https://www.dawn.com/news/1590486


Even for those who have never held a gaming controller, there is very little chance of not having heard the term ‘eSports’, which is short for ‘electronic sports’. Not long ago gaming was a mere leisure activity for teens and the tweens; more of a hobby than a business avenue. It is not the case anymore, and the shift has been rather drastic.

To put it in perspective, according to Allied eSports, which is among the brand leaders, as an industry video gaming is already bigger than music and movies combined, with eSports, as predicted by Forbes, already on the path to hit over $300 billion by 2025.

The world of eSports is both organised and competitive. Like any other sport, eSports has its own digital and physical events attended by millions of fans from around the world earning billions of dollars in revenue. Inception and rapid growth of the ‘Battle Royale’ genre has been the catalyst to the industry’s inconceivable success.


PUBG (PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds), Fortnite, Call of Duty: Warzone and Apex Legends are all popular Battle Royale titles that are essentially online multiplayer video games that blend survival, exploration and scavenging elements of a game with last-man-standing gameplay.

Developing countries, like Pakistan, have always been slow in making their tech-related moves, but eSports in general and Battle Royale, in particular, have been a different story altogether in Pakistan. Since a lot of modern games have their mobile versions and the Battle Royale genre has mobile phones as the preferred platform, the trend has spread as swiftly as the cell phone market.

The whole community of gamers in Pakistan existed since long, but the government one fine morning woke up to the realisation that some cultural lines were being crossed and banned a popular platform locally. But it did lead to an unexpected development as eSports as a genre got public limelight like never before. The ban sparked a debate and the voice of the people was acknowledged. The episode just proved the mass following a single game has, and, therefore, is a viable market to tap. What next?

Developing players for the global competition is one aspect of the matter, while game development is another, and it is in the latter that the real money lies. A number of Pakistani-origin game-developers and other technical resources working internationally for big game development studios is proof that Pakistanis have the right acumen to succeed. Celebrated developers, like Shahid Kamal Khan, the former director of Strategic Content at Sony and an avid game developer at heart, are the kind of mentors Pakistan can engage to guide the local developers.

The success of this one sector can potentially create a whole lot good for the government by increasing employment and foreign investments. The whole eSports industry is a big pool of cash, from sponsorships, advertising, streaming rights and merchandise to astounding prize money.

By not being a part of the emerging scenario we are missing out on serious business opportunities while letting others take a head-start. According to Newzoo, one of the world’s most trusted and quoted sources for games market insights and analytics, the annual mobile gaming revenues in India are expected to grow from $1.1bn in 2018 to $2.4bn in 2020, making India the fastest-growing mobile games market in the world in terms of overall revenue. In contrast, with respect to prize money won by players, Pakistan has beaten India for the last couple of years consecutively by a considerable margin. The talent and the market are both there. All that is missing is a product.
Riaz Haq said…
Esports is growing at an exponential rate with a market that is projected to surpass $1.5 billion by 2023. Many countries are taking Esports seriously as the competion is being featured in various multi-sports events like the Asian Games. International Olympic Committee has also discussed the inclusion of Esports in future Olympic events.

China became the first country in 2003 to recognize Esports as a real sport. Since then, many countries like South Korea, Denmark, Germany, and Indonesia followed the trend. Now, Pakistan's Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhry via on Twitter that Esports would be recognized as an official sport.

"A memorandum has been signed between Pakistan Sports Body and Pakistan Science Foundation after which Esports will get regular sports status. If you are interested in video games, get ready as new opportunities are waiting for you."

A month ago, Chaudhry told TV host Waqar Zaka that a national level Esports tournament would take place in March through private sponsorship. He also confirmed that Pakistan's gaming industry is growing at 20 percent annually.

In Pakistan, Esports and gaming was an alien concept a few years ago till Arslan Ash - a Tekken player - won the EVO Championship Series Japan and EVO Championship series in 2010. This elevated the country's name on the international stage and inspired people.

In 2020, PUBG Mobile, a popular mobile game in the country, was banned by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). However, the ban was overturned a month later after an official request was made by several athletes.

PUBG Mobile recently concluded the Mobile Pakistan Championship which boasted of a prize worth 1 crore Pakistani Rupees (PKR) or roughly $62,000. Team F4 won the championship and took away 50 lakh PKR as prize.
Riaz Haq said…
International #Taekwondo Championship Opens in #Pakistan with 450 players representing 15 countries.
Representatives from #Afghanistan, #Nepal, #Jordan, #Kazakhstan, #Oman, #Iran and the #UAE - all members of World Taekwondo Asia. #martialarts #sports https://www.insidethegames.biz/articles/1115167/pakistan-open-government-taekwondo#.YYh4mp2xMao.twitter

The three-day Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Pakistan Open International Taekwondo Championship (G-1) will roll into action on Saturday at Liaquat Gymnasium, Pakistan Sports Complex Islamabad as players from all the participating countries have arrived in Islamabad.

According to an official of Pakistan Taekwondo Federation (PTF), the competitions will start in the morning while the opening ceremony will take place at 5:30 pm on Saturday.

Federal Minister for Inter Provincial Coordination (IPC) Dr Fehmida Mirza will be the chief guest at the opening ceremony. Besides high dignitaries of sponsors, top officials of Pakistan Taekwondo and IPC ministry will also attend the grand opening ceremony.

The diverse culture of the different areas of the country will be presented during the colorful ceremony.

All the arrangements have been finalized and the stage is ready for the prestigious taekwondo fixtures of the world.

On Friday, the athletes of various countries held their training sessions in the morning and evening at the joint hall of championship showgrounds under the control of their respective coaches and officials.

Over 550 players, officials, technical referees and judges from different countries will be the part of COAS Pakistan Open Taekwondo International Championship 2021. Besides hosts Pakistan, Afghanistan, Albania, Nepal, Jordon, Kazakhstan, Oman, Egypt, Iran, Turkey, Morocco, United Arab Emirates (UAE), El-Salvador, Croatia, and WT Refuge Team will fight for 16 gold medals.

“We have international standard equipment to meet the international challenges and PTF is capable of staging such a great event in future too.

“Our aim is to promote the game and highlight the positive image of Pakistan across the world through sports. We have the full support of the IPC ministry and the Pakistan Olympic Association (POA) to organize this event,” the PTF official said.

Responding to a question, he divulged that PTF had also invited India for this event but it did not respond. “India has good taekwondo players, especially girls.

Anyhow, we sent invitations to all countries. Many countries are not coming for this event owing to the airfares that have gone high due to Covid-19. We have enough entries and a large number of players and officials will be in Islamabad for the mega taekwondo showpiece,” he said.

The event is being sponsored by Combaxx Sports, Fruit Nation, Go Petroleum, Bank Islami, the Bank of Punjab, Nayyab Labs, Korean Embassy, Islamabad Serena Hotel and Shangrilla Resorts.
Riaz Haq said…
Arslan Ash Claims the CEO Championship Belt

https://www.esportstalk.com/news/arslan-ash-takes-first-place-in-tekken-7-at-ceo-2021/

Arslan “Arslan Ash” Siddique took first place in Tekken 7 at CEO 2021, showing why he is one of the world’s best players. The fighting game pride of Pakistan defeated the “hometown” American hero Hoa “Anakin” Luu in a thrilling Grand Finals set.

CEO 2021 was the first major open-bracket fighting game tournament since the COVID-19 pandemic. The victory is Arslan Ash’s first major win in the United States since his legendary performance at EVO 2019. It is also the second offline event he has won in 2021 after taking 1st at WePlay Ultimate Fighting League last April.

Representing FATE eSports and Red Bull eSports, Arslan Ash absolutely dominated the competition. On his path to Grand Finals, he won every single match without dropping a single game. This came against some of America’s top players, including EVO 2021 Online champion Marquis “Shadow_20z” Jordan. Known for his ability to use several different characters, Arslan Ash stuck with Zafina for the entirety of the CEO 2021. After cruising into Winner’s Finals, he met his Red Bull teammate Anakin in a matchup the whole venue had been waiting for.

Unfortunately for Anakin and the USA supporters, nothing appeared to be stopping Arslan Ash’s momentum. He and his Zafina routed the American’s JACK-7 3-0 to advance to Grand Finals on the Winner’s Side. The tournament favorite was right where everyone expected him to be, yet he still managed to impress with such flawless play. After his FATE teammates and fellow countrymen, Imran “Khan” Khan and Muhammad “Farzeen” Farzeen were eliminated, it was up to Arslan Ash to bring the CEO 2021 belt back to Pakistan.

-----------
Arslan Ash
mS55fm2lgl8h370o8l0i2arh ·
ALHAMDULILLAH!!
I managed to win #CEO2021 in Florida, which puts another big title under my belt.
-Evo Japan 2019
-Evo 2019
-CEO 2021
I will keep grinding for more, but this is a big one for me and it's all thanks to being part of the STRONGEST Tekken community, the Pakistan one

https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=443378240483091&set=pcb.443378290483086&__cft__[0]=AZUJ53AVvv88lhc-P27z2rAJSmMmOp3JMfszLzQ0W-bcHvDyxXqdeiQUfXqXFFFGrF6WWfDpYoU_6HAPiwAKhqaxSV9e--8dJyvj1jSvzNiAAbA8N_B2q7D8LpDab_LhT0Lm9eTTpMYxgquGeKCLa-nw&__tn__=*bH-R

-------------------
https://twitter.com/ArslanAsh95/status/1467707519040737281?s=20
Riaz Haq said…
VS Fighting X Winner 2022: Arslan Ash

https://www.redbull.com/pk-en/turning-26-with-a-bang-arslan-ash-earns-best-birthday-gift-ever

The Red Bull Player from Lahore might be primarily known for his Tekken prowess and a garage full of championship trophies and accolades, but he’s no slouch when it comes to King of Fighters too. In fact, he was known for his KOF skills in the local circuits before speeding to the top in Tekken.
Ash has continued to place in the finals in KOF tournaments around the world but hadn’t won any major one. That changed on August 20, 2022, Ash won the VS Fighting X tournament held by Electronic Dojo in Birmingham, England.
What made the victory even sweeter was that it was Ash’s 26th birthday. Winning a major tournament in a different game than you’re known for; who needs cake after that?
Riaz Haq said…
In most cases when it comes to tech, India’s spending and investment are ahead of Pakistan’s by leaps and bounds. In the case of gaming, however, the average spend per person in Pakistan is $5.67 which is lower than most countries but at par with India, claims Intenta Digital.

However, ranked 34 with $5.2 million in prize money, Pakistan is 10 points — $1.7m — ahead of India in terms of esports earnings, according to esportsearnings.com. But the industry is not flouring as it could be.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1707355/virtual-clashes-of-india-vs-pakistan

The glow of Pakistan’s cricketing triumph over India, be it the Championship trophy or the World Cup, does not fade away with time. But the clashes between the age-old rivals (India & Pakistan) are not limited to the cricket field, extending into the virtual world.


Esports are multiplayer video games played competitively by professional gamers and watched by spectators. It’s a $1 billion-plus market globally, growing at a double-digit compound growth rate annually.

It comes under the wider auspices of video gaming, an industry that is projected to reach $227 million by 2026 in Pakistan, according to Singapore-based Intenta Digital. To put it in context, this is roughly the value of exports generated by the famed Sialkot sports goods.

“Esports is close linked to gaming. Pakistan is amongst the highest countries ranking in terms of league sports. There are people like Ash who come from humble backgrounds but have made their mark internationally,” says Samar Hasan, co-founder of Epiphany Games.

In most cases when it comes to tech, India’s spending and investment are ahead of Pakistan’s by leaps and bounds. In the case of gaming, however, the average spend per person in Pakistan is $5.67 which is lower than most countries but at par with India, claims Intenta Digital.

However, ranked 34 with $5.2 million in prize money, Pakistan is 10 points — $1.7m — ahead of India in terms of esports earnings, according to esportsearnings.com. But the industry is not flouring as it could be.

Industry mistrust

While the industry is growing, it contends with the inefficiency and corruption that are endemic to most sectors of the economy.

“There have been cases where the tournament registration fees (usually about Rs1,000-1,500) have not been enough to cover the cost of prize money,” says Mahreen “EngineerBunny” Butt, Esports host, analyst and caster.

The money is spent on fancy settings and lightning equipment instead of substance, she rants. A lot of the tournaments are more about marketing than about the sports which is hampering its growth.

Another example is the case of a local company breaking a non-disclosure agreement with an international company to make a quick buck.

“We are not trusted,” says Ms Butt. “A foreign company’s desktop graphics card that had not been formally launched into the market was made available to a local company under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA). Breaking the NDA, the graphic card was sold at a much higher value than the price at which it was supposed to be sold. Since then, the industry has lost the trust of international companies.”

State patronage or the lack thereof

What does Arshad Nadeem, Sialkot’s FIFA football and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy have in common? Global acclaim without state patronage.

Pakistan’s former federal minister for science and technology Fawad Chaudhry had last year announced that esports will be recognised as a sport for which a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Pakistan Sports Body and the Pakistan Science Foundation.

Mr Chaudhry announced the Free Fire Pakistan League (FFPL) — the first national esports initiative in Pakistan, sponsored by Singaporean game developing company Garena. The fourth season of FFPL kicked off this month.


Riaz Haq said…
How Islam helped Pakistan become an esports hub
DEVIN NEALY 5:47 AM SAT DEC 31, 2022

https://boingboing.net/2022/12/31/how-islam-helped-pakistan-become-an-esports-hub.html


Fighting games helped establish the world of esports. Before League of Legends and Starcraft even had a tournament presence, Street Fighter 3: Third Strike was taking the internet by storm with EVO moment 37. However, in the realm of competitive fighting games, there are few games as difficult as Tekken. Since Tekken is played in three dimensions, as opposed to the traditional two dimensions, there are numerous eventualities to account for during play. In addition to the three-dimensional chaos, almost every character in the game has a hundred moves that both you and your opponent must be aware of.

For decades, the country of South Korea has been the undisputed king of Tekken. With a host of notable players throughout the game's competitive history coming from South Korea, the country has long been established as the most dominant Tekken scene on Earth.

In the last few years, Pakistan has not only been making waves in the Tekken scene, but it's also working to usurp South Korea from its throne. In the video linked above, you can learn how the Islamic ritual of Hajj helped bring Tekken to Pakistan.
Riaz Haq said…
There have been 357 Pakistani esports players that have been awarded a total of $5,329,360.58 USD in prize money across 315 tournaments. The highest awarding game was Dota 2 with $4,522,888.59 USD won, making up 84.87% of all earnings by Pakistani players. Sumail "SumaiL" Hassan is the highest earning Pakistani player with $3,880,289.31 USD in prize money won overall, all of which was won from playing in Dota 2 tournaments.

https://www.esportsearnings.com/countries/pk#:~:text=There%20have%20been%20357%20Pakistani,all%20earnings%20by%20Pakistani%20players.

Riaz Haq said…
Gamer Pakistan and Elite Sports Pakistan announce 100th and 101st University Sports Commercialization Memorandums of Understanding

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gamer-pakistan-elite-sports-pakistan-154000850.html


HENDERSON, NV and KARACHI, PAKISTAN / ACCESSWIRE / March 14, 2023 / Gamer Pakistan today announced that affiliate company Elite Sports Pakistan has signed its 100th university sports Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Usman Institute of Technology University Karachi and 101st MoU with Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Sindh. These MoU's give Gamer Pakistan exclusive rights to conduct, broadcast and commercialize esports competitions at these respective universities.

Gamer Pakistan is rapidly becoming the premiere university esports partner for secondary education institutions in Pakistan. Gamer Pakistan creates the formats and events to provide a competitive environment in which to unearth and nurture budding esports talent at the collegiate level and provide them with opportunities to represent Pakistan globally in their journey to becoming world-class professional esports athletes.

Gamer Pakistan was founded in November 2021 to create college (in Pakistan "college" refers to pre-university programs, comparable to high schools in the U.S.), university and professional esports events for men's and women's teams. The company plans to develop competitive events that integrate our teams and leagues with regional and global teams and leagues sponsored by others. According to Statista, the number of gamers in Pakistan was estimated to be 36.8 million (16% of the population) in 2022 and is predicted to rise to 50.9 million gamers (20.6% of the population) by 2026.

"We are pleased to have achieved this milestone with Usman Institute of Technology University Karachi and Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Sind," said Elite Sports Pakistan CEO Muhammad Jamal Qureshi. "Their leadership in expanding the competitive sports and career advancement opportunities available for their students in all aspects of athletics is to be commended."

"Gamer Pakistan looks forward to including Usman Institute of Technology and Shah Abdul Latif University into the total collegiate Gamer Pakistan competitive esports universe," said James Knopf, Gamer Pakistan CEO. "Their participation and the enthusiasm and skills of their student gamers gives us great confidence in the future of esports in Pakistan, and in the ability of these gamers to rightly take their space on the global esports stage."

Esports is a form of competition using video games in organized, multiplayer video game tournaments. Players use mobile devices, computers, and video game consoles to compete against each other virtually or before live audiences. Gamer Pakistan is developing a strong platform built on licensed technology to enhance user experience with interactive features, and competition among players through the organization of tournaments and other events that support esports. Commercialization is accomplished through the sale of advertising and sponsorships to accompany event broadcasts and merchandising of products cobranded with our institutional partners and sponsors.

To date over seven hundred teams have registered in different Gamer Pakistan competitions, whereas four hundred-plus esports teams have been registered exclusively in esports competitive games including PubG®, Call of Duty®, Free Fire®, Tekken®, FiFa®, Valorant® and CSGO®. Gamer Pakistan also plans to proffer development contracts with the top winning teams in Valorant and Call Of Duty to provide for the betterment and development of these aspiring esports athletes.


Between November 2021 and November 2022, Gamer Pakistan has organized and held 27 separate esports tournaments, including the first annual University Esports National Tournament and Championship from June 30 - July 1 of 2022. In December 2022 GP held the week-long inaugural National Esports Free Fire Championship.

Riaz Haq said…
Gamer Pakistan and Elite Sports Pakistan announce 100th and 101st University Sports Commercialization Memorandums of Understanding

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gamer-pakistan-elite-sports-pakistan-154000850.html


Gamer Pakistan had already signed university sports commercialization Memorandums of Understanding (MOU) with 99 universities from the public and private education sectors, and also with the Inter-University Consortium of Pakistan for Social Sciences (IUCPSS), which has an affiliation with up to seventy universities.

2023 Gamer Pakistan esports competitions include National Valorant League, Islamabad Esports Championship, Sindh (Provincial) Intervarsity PubG Tournament, KPK FIFA Championship, Lahore Esports (LAN event) Championship, GP Pakistan Tekken Championship, Gamer Pakistan National FREE FIRE League and the Punjab (Provincial) Open Esports Championship.

Elite Sports Pakistan Pvt. Ltd, (ESP) is our affiliate company and duly incorporated under the laws of Pakistan. ESP has entered into agreements with universities and sports authorities in Pakistan pursuant to which we have been granted exclusive rights with respect to licensing, producing, distributing and monetizing a range of sports events for inter-collegiate competition, including esports. ESP has been instrumental in forming Gamer Pakistan.

About Gamer Pakistan

Gamer Pakistan is an esports event development and product marketing company that was founded in November 2021 to create college, inter-university and professional esports events for all genders in Pakistan. Operations are conducted through wholly-owned subsidiary K2 Gamer (PVT) Ltd., and affiliate Elite Sports Pakistan Pvt. Ltd. https://www.gamerpakistan.com/
Riaz Haq said…
Gamer Pakistan has filed for an initial public offering, according to a Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gamer-pakistan-elite-sports-pakistan-154000850.html

The games studio is offering 1.7 million shares of its common stock at an estimated price of $4 to $5 a share.

Selling stockholders are offering up to 2.3 million shares of Gamer Pakistan's common stock.

The company has applied to list its common stock on the Nasdaq Capital Markets under the symbol GPAK.

"If we cannot realize a per share offering price of at least $4.00 per share in this offering, we will not proceed with this offering," Gamer Pakistan said, noting that it selected the lower price point of $4 per share "given recent market turmoil."

Write to Sabela Ojea at sabela.ojea@wsj.com; @sabelaojeaguix

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Gamer Pakistan and Elite Sports Pakistan announce 100th and 101st University Sports Commercialization Memorandums of Understanding


https://finance.yahoo.com/news/gamer-pakistan-elite-sports-pakistan-154000850.html

HENDERSON, NV and KARACHI, PAKISTAN / ACCESSWIRE / March 14, 2023 / Gamer Pakistan today announced that affiliate company Elite Sports Pakistan has signed its 100th university sports Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Usman Institute of Technology University Karachi and 101st MoU with Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Sindh. These MoU's give Gamer Pakistan exclusive rights to conduct, broadcast and commercialize esports competitions at these respective universities.

Gamer Pakistan is rapidly becoming the premiere university esports partner for secondary education institutions in Pakistan. Gamer Pakistan creates the formats and events to provide a competitive environment in which to unearth and nurture budding esports talent at the collegiate level and provide them with opportunities to represent Pakistan globally in their journey to becoming world-class professional esports athletes.

Gamer Pakistan was founded in November 2021 to create college (in Pakistan "college" refers to pre-university programs, comparable to high schools in the U.S.), university and professional esports events for men's and women's teams. The company plans to develop competitive events that integrate our teams and leagues with regional and global teams and leagues sponsored by others. According to Statista, the number of gamers in Pakistan was estimated to be 36.8 million (16% of the population) in 2022 and is predicted to rise to 50.9 million gamers (20.6% of the population) by 2026.

"We are pleased to have achieved this milestone with Usman Institute of Technology University Karachi and Shah Abdul Latif University Khairpur Sind," said Elite Sports Pakistan CEO Muhammad Jamal Qureshi. "Their leadership in expanding the competitive sports and career advancement opportunities available for their students in all aspects of athletics is to be commended."

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