ESports star Myint was on the cusp of victory when the screens went dark in the Yangon cafe where he competes, costing him thousands of dollars in missed prize-money and denting his reputation.Myanmar’s gaming scene is mushrooming, but frequent power cuts are holding players back in the emerging democracy.
But, Myanmar is at risk of missing out a medal event in the Southeast Asian Games in November with power cuts, few personal computers and a dearth of resources to support travel and competition abroad holding homegrown champions back.Myint Myat Zaw, a 21-year-old player also known as “Insane”, said he has lost about 40 matches due to blackouts, making it difficult to earn a slot abroad where cash prizes are now in the tens of millions of dollars.
He plays Dota 2, which, in Shanghai, hosted its equivalent of the champions league this weekend, boasting a record $34.3 million prize pool. But Dota 2 tournaments are rare in Myanmar, he said, making it difficult for him to earn a living from the game.
For gamers, a dingy internet cafe has long been the typical venue to battle it out with players from other countries. But that has started to change as cheap SIM cards hit the markets and smartphone use soars.
“We can play anywhere, anytime,” said Myint Myat Aung, a mobile gamer who competes on PlayerUnknown’s Battleground (PUBG) for Singapore-based eSports team Impunity. Last month, Impunity, with more than 400 other teams, took part in a PUBG tournament hosted by Samsung Galaxy at a Yangon mall.
Staring into smartphones, players took down their opponents with sniper rifles, the action projected onto a large screen as spectators cheered. The prize pool for the tournament was around $7,000, an immense sum in a country where the average income is less than $1,300 a year.
“Access to stable electricity and internet are crucial when it comes to competitive gaming,” said Jeremy Jackson, market analyst for eSports research firm NewZoo. “Undoubtedly, greater smartphone penetration will allow more people access to the mobile competitive gaming landscape.”
In a country that has produced few international athletic stars, eSports offers players a way into a global community and a chance to make a steady salary, especially for those competing in ultra-popular mobile games.Both Dota 2 and Mobile Legend — a fantasy battle game designed for smartphones with more than 3 million users in Myanmar — will be part of the competition.
