The ESWC is arguably one of the largest and most prestigious esports tournaments on the planet. It’s an event that South Africa has participated in before, with South African qualifiers for ESWC CS:GO through tournament organiser Orena. ESWC has now announced an African tournament pitting the best teams in Africa against each other after a round of qualifiers.
Here’s the thing though. South Africa has been excluded. Despite being arguably one of the strongest CS:GO nations on the continent, South Africa has been left out of ESWX Africa, and fans are both confused and angry. Right now, the eligible countries are Algeria, Egypt, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal and Tunisia – leaving South Africa conspicuous by its absence.
Registrations for the #ESWCAfrica with @inwi ? are opened for the 7 countries involved in this 1st edition:
?? Algeria
?? Egypt
?? Ivory Coast
?? Morocco
?? Nigeria
?? Senegal
?? TunisiaRetrieve details + rules for each at https://t.co/ykSzha479d and https://t.co/IsaNuwFR3y
— ESWC (@eswc_en) November 11, 2018
It’s a curious omission, given that South Africa does have a history with the ESWC. Orena has run qualifiers for the ESWC is 2015, 2016 and also last year. It appears, however, that last year’s qualifiers weren’t officially sanctioned.
According to ViNCO Gaming CS:GO player Matthew Maselle, ESWC owner Webedia has apparently confirmed that the 2017 South African ESWC qualifiers were neither sanctioned nor approved by ESWC. The same screenshot of an alleged mail suggests that while Orena did host legitimate qualifiers in previous years, the last ones weren’t.
This email was sent on Monday, 16 April 2018. pic.twitter.com/J0bUC7Biw6
— Matthew Maselle (@HashimotoZA) November 13, 2018
Right now, everything about this is all just conjecture and hearsay – but either way, South Africa won’t be playing in ESWC Africa. Whether that’s through soured relationships and shady dealings remains to be seen. If it is true that Orena’s run unsanctioned qualifiers, that may paint the local industry with a particularly sad and nasty brush.
We’ll be doing a deeper dive into why this has happened, and we’ve contacted the relevant parties for comment.
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Last Updated: November 13, 2018
Gavin Mannion
November 13, 2018 at 13:11
We could solve these issues by creating some sort of national body that looked after esports in South Africa without the constant need to shove their d*(k down the throats of competitors.
Craig "Crios" Boonzaier
November 13, 2018 at 13:12
Dont try to put logic into the situation.
Pariah
November 13, 2018 at 13:18
Yup. It Most Sincerely Sucks Ass.
Magoo
November 13, 2018 at 13:12
I think and hope Glenn is diving into this. A lot of speculation and conflicting stories about Orena vs ESWC.
Geoffrey Tim
November 13, 2018 at 13:13
He is.
Lord Chaos
November 13, 2018 at 13:13
In other news, physical copies of F76 aren’t even in the country yet.
Kromas
November 13, 2018 at 13:18
Yes I got a nice mail from Raru this morning. FML.
Lord Chaos
November 13, 2018 at 13:24
The crap part is the company is busy moving offices over the next 6 weeks, and I’ll already be in the new building by next week. Bastards
Kromas
November 13, 2018 at 13:34
I am so close to 25. I just wanna hit it and get a perk pack and then do some massive CAMP rebuilding. I almost wish I got a digital edition.
Lord Chaos
November 13, 2018 at 13:39
I didn’t get a chance to play the beta, wake up at 4 for work and can’t do all nighters without being dead the next day anymore.
I did however realize (too late) they also gave me 3 guest passes to the beta
Kromas
November 13, 2018 at 13:49
I had an absolute blast playing the BETA as much as my body could handle (some of those times were killer). I gave my passes to people. Not sure if they actually used it.
Kromas
November 13, 2018 at 15:38
Update. They will have it officially on friday and ship it soon after sooo …. fuck.
For the Emperor!
November 13, 2018 at 13:17
Remember to keep using “legal double speak” to cover yourselves please. Need to keep you guys running 😛
Geoffrey Tim
November 13, 2018 at 13:18
Hard lesson we’ve definitely learned.
Magoo
November 13, 2018 at 13:20
It’s all the fault of a fellow named Mike Spors Sogh Antika. And His side-kick Robin Venster.
CrAiGiSh
November 13, 2018 at 14:03
Well sheeeit …
Geoffrey Tim
November 13, 2018 at 15:42
Orena has responded.
https://www.criticalhit.net/gaming/orena-responds-public-backlash-eswc-2017-qualifiers/