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If you ask about their fondest memory or favorite past time of the current generation of youth - especially late Millennials and Gen Z kids - their answers would be almost unanimous in mentioning their favorite video game or watching their favorite content creators play video games. Video games have become an integral part of the lives of millions across the globe and it is the same for our small community here in the Maldives as well.

The community has been growing day by day, both in number and in talent. Young people are getting into video games not just to spend their free time, but rather as a means of competing in something they’re good at, and sometimes, as a way of earning a living. However, the opportunities for this are far and few in our country. The recognition of their talent is almost non-existent and there is no way to nurture these talented athletes to help them unlock their untold potential in esports and in competitive gaming. This is why the Maldivian Gaming League was formed. 

Maldivian Gaming League (MvGL) was the culmination of many things; the need for regulated esports, the need for fair tournaments, the need for gaming to be recognized as a professional sport in the country, and most importantly, the need to get players the recognition they deserve and making sure that they get paid to play. The team at MVGL consists of lifelong gamers with a passion for leadership and the desire to make a difference. We understand the problems and we know what needs to be done to bring about positive change. 

To create MvGL, we took inspiration from the success of the Major League Gaming from the US. We saw how they changed the public perception of esports and set the precedent for gaming to be a multi-billion - yes, a BILLION dollar industry that has already overtaken the movie business and traditional “normal” sports in some parts of the world. The same has been replicated across the globe from Europe to even Asia with our closest neighbors such as the Indian Gaming League, Sri Lankan Pro League, and the Malaysian Esports League as well. We took inspiration from our friends across the region and, with their support and guidance, decided to try and give a platform for Maldivian gamers to compete with and learn from the best in the region. 

We host a plethora of competitive games and organize tournaments for every niche across various platforms so that players can come together and form a strong community. Our Discord server is 700 strong with players from across the country (and SA region) joining in and making new friends and trying out various new games to compete and harness their talents with the hopes of going regional or global. And that’s our main motivation. The need to take our players global and to give them the platform is the core ethos of MvGL.

Our ultimate goal is to break the stigma around gaming 'as a waste of time'. So far, we have noticed some parents warming up to the idea that young kids are very talented, and that this is a healthy and safe outlet to express themselves and get into the spirit of competition. The barrier of entry for gaming is low, and we want to emphasize that. We will go beyond just hosting tournaments for a niche community and bring it to the masses. Engaging with the large pool of youth and getting them to try out this sport and find their talent at an early age is one of our main goals. We will be working with the region’s biggest leagues to host regional-level tournaments to really take Maldives and Maldivian esports athletes onto the global stage.

We are a grassroots movement trying to change and fix some of the core problems in the local gaming scene. We just started a few months ago with our inaugural season and the support was unbelievably positive. And we would like to thank the community for that. We have bigger things coming in 2021. So buckle up and grab your peripherals because you - the players - are going to have a front-row seat to all the action!

About the author: Maldivian Gaming League is a team of e-sports organizers and competition promoters based in the Maldives. For more information, check them out on Facebook or Instagram.