Dark League Studios set to launch nationwide amateur esports leagues

Dark League Studios, an esports and gaming organizing company, announced during a press conference on Monday in Quezon City their plan to launch multiple nationwide amateur leagues to help develop and harness grassroots talents as well as highlight the stories of women in the gaming industry.

The company unveiled their roadmap until 2023 that includes three major project components: King's League, Queen's League and Mayor's Cup.

One of the Line Heads of the company said that the events will try to highlight not only tournament games but also focus the stories behind the faces while also providing an avenue for women in esports.

"Yung King's (League) kasi doesn't necessarily mean na puro lalaki yun. It can be a 5v5 na may babae. But yung Queen's League will be mostly for women. It's basically to celebrate the International Women's Day," she said.

"Iba iba kasi ang kwento ng babae pagdating sa gaming eh. Naglaro sila dahil yung mga anak nila naglalaro, lagi sila kasama ng mga anak nila. Or it's their only break time in a very hectic schedule so lahat yun ilalabas natin yung mga kwento nila as well so it's more rich in content than King's League."

The campaign will start off with the King's League Season 1 (Mobile Legends) with registration set to open on September 15, 2022. The Queen's league (Mobile Legends) will then be launched in early 2023 together with the Mayor's Cup that includes roadshows, student programs, mini conferences, community tournaments, etc.

Dark League Studios plans to expand further in 2023 with other esports such as DOTA 2, Tekken, Valorant, among others, while promoting responsible gaming and advocating for better player's lifestyle within amateur team boot camps.

Also in attendance was SMC Sports Director Alfrancis Chua, who got involved in esports due to his son, Mark Chua, who serves as a Sales and Marketing Manager for Dark League Studios.

"He asked me na gusto nila gumawa ng ganito (amateur league in esports). Sabi ko, bakit hindi niyo ibahin. Umpisahan natin sa grassroots para yung mga tao na nasa baba, maintindihan naman nila or maexperience nila yung experience sa taas (pro players)," he told GMA News Online.

"I think it's (esports) gonna be big (in the Philippines) because hindi dito kelangan athletic ka eh. Hindi kailangan na magaling ka magganito, magaling ka magdribble. Dito it's all about understanding the game."

—JMB, GMA News