For the first time ever, a Cambodian team won an international eSports tournament
For the first time ever, a Cambodian team won an international eSports tournament
Phnom Penh, December 29, 2020 – A Cambodian team has beaten out eight others from around the region to become champion Axiata Game Hero 2020, one of the largest eSports tournaments in South and Southeast Asia.
It is the first time ever that a Cambodian team has won an international eSports tournament.
Cambodian team HMB eSport defeated teams from Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Indonesia to win the top prize of 15,000 USD in the Grand Final of Axiata Game Hero 2020.
The tournament game was Free Fire, a survival battle royale type of game organized in collaboration with Garena, Techninier and Axiata Group including Smart Axiata, the leading mobile telecommunications operator in Cambodia.
In the Grand Final, the HMB eSports team faced fierce competition, but in the end, its four members showed superior strategy and skills.
Going by his game-name, HMB Boy Loy from the winning team said, “I am very happy to win the tournament. It is unbelievable that HMB eSport representing Cambodia snatched first place.”
“I am very excited that the team was crowned champion. I am happy that we received a cash prize, but the prize is not that important compared to the fact this victory has brought good reputation to Cambodia, which really matters the most,” said HMB team leader HMB Girl Loy.
The Grand Final on 19 December was the final highlight of the tournament, taking place over the course of the year. The elimination round started in January 2020 with solo games, followed by team qualifications and then a national qualification round.
A total of 8 teams from Cambodia, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Indonesia were selected to compete in the final matches. Solo players and competing teams shared 138,000 USD of total prize money.
“HMB eSport’s brilliant accomplishment shows that eSports is on the right path in Cambodia. Amongst such formidable pool of competitors, these four Cambodian players demonstrated superb gaming skills and emerged victorious. Having been one of the first supporters of eSports in Cambodia, Smart is committed to bring more exciting opportunities for the development of eSports in the Kingdom,” said Thomas Hundt, CEO of Smart Axiata.
Axiata Game Hero is one of the largest mobile game and eSports platforms in the region, offering an array of mobile and web tournament games.
For more information, follow the Smart Axiata Facebook page at www.facebook.com/smartaxiata or visit www.smart.com.kh.