The esports scene in the local area is growing, with a surge in local competitions. This allows more and more local competitors to integrate with the wider competitive scene.
GMR Entertainment, a renowned esports event organizer based in Malta, recently hosted the grand finals of the seventh series of the Malta Cyberseries in tandem with Gaming Malta.
In an interview with The Malta Independent on Sunday, Kersten James Chircop, GMR’s Business Development director and vice president at the Malta Esports Association, outlined that the event, which involved the competitive game Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, witnessed success with close to 100 International teams participating. The top six teams made their way to Malta to compete in the grand finals for an €18,000 prize pool.
Chircop added that there was considerable online audience and a diverse international viewership. In addition, about 100 individuals travelled to Malta specially to attend the event. “For an industry which is just starting, 100 people may not seem much, but for us as a Maltese company, it indeed is a huge achievement,” he said.
Chircop then explained that the plan to host an audience for the finals was not initial but was set into motion after people started contacting the organizers directly, showing interest to attend the event. Thus, prompting GMR and Gaming Malta to reconsider their plans.
Speaking on the support for esports in Malta, Chircop noted that it largely varies depending on the game. But recently, there has been a revival in local esports with more teams and players participating in a plethora of games such as EA Sports FC, Tekken, Fortnite, League of Legends, and Counter-Strike.
He also mentioned the Sim Racing genre, particularly popular locally, with Formula One games yielding a significant following.
According to Chircop, the growth of esports in Malta over recent years can be attributed to two main factors. Firstly, today’s youth are becoming more intrigued by video game culture, which naturally leads to interest in esports. Secondly, efforts from the government to foster development in this sector are also noticeably driving growth.
He pointed out that promoting esports provide a host of opportunities for locals to tap into the global arena, create jobs for game developers, graphics designers, artists, illustrators, etc., and spurs interest from major corporations such as Microsoft, Google, and Amazon.
Like traditional sports, esports is being integrated into the education system in several countries, such as the US and UK, with schools forming dedicated teams for organized tournaments. Chircop asserted that there is potential for a similar integration in Malta’s education system.
Chircop added that the esports setup today involves large teams, organizations, sponsors, coaches, managers, analysts, and more. As the industry proceeds further, it’s bound to become more commonplace and better understood, appealing more to the gaming-oriented younger generation. Education in the related fields will be crucial to support this growth.
GMR’s biggest event, Playcon, considered Malta’s largest video games industry expo, has organized three editions so far, attracting over 25,000 attendees. This event not only underscores the local industry’s strength but also has an educational aspect, engaging students across levels and underscoring the esports industry’s potential in Malta.