Bangkok, Thailand.
It’s humid, it’s sticky and it’s very, very busy.
Like many other Asian cities, it also looks and feels old. Like it’s been around forever. You can feel the history of the place as you move through the streets, meet the people, eat the food and explore.
There is a purposefulness to the deliberate and established traditions; night markets, street food and even the slightly more modern Tuk Tuks.
Predator League 2019 Grand Final
Inside the Siam Motors building downtown though, there’s a brand-new and ultra-modern tradition about to kick off. Acer’s Asia Pacific Predator League 2019 Grand Finals are entering their first day. Esports, while not in its infancy by any stretch, is still a young movement. And the Predator League is only in its second year.
Set against the traditionalist background of Bangkok, the Predator League 2019 seems like an event born of the future. The Predator League even comes with its own creative (and ridiculous) cartoon history. Check it out.
This clip signifies how much reverence Acer has for the event. Sure, it’s a little hokey and silly, but to create lore for the Predator League like this means that Acer sees its potential. The Predator League is also about having fun and playing games, so why not have fun with the promotion too right?
Putting fun to one side, esports is serious business and the Predator League is no exception.
Here in Bangkok, teams have moved out of the basements and community buildings and into real stadiums, playing in front of thousands of screaming fans. These guys are modern day rock stars, adored by fans and sponsors alike. They take photos in front of event logos, pose with fans and answer questions from the press. It’s obvious that the Predator League is a big deal, especially given the games being played.
Modern Day Rock Stars
In total, 10 teams will fight for DOTA 2 supremacy and 16 for glory in PUBG. Of those 16, one lone Australian team is hoping to take victory in the country’s first attendance at the event. In total, all teams will be fighting for a share of $400,000 USD.
Developed by Acer, the Predator League is a yearly event held to reinforce Acer’s commitment to esports, the Predator brand and gaming in general. At the press conference that opened the event, Andrew Hou, President of Acer Asia Pan Pacific, spoke about the enormous growth Acer has seen thanks to the Predator brand.
Overall, thanks to Predator, Acer saw 70% year-on-year growth in 2018 overall, 100% year-on-year growth in APAC and 178% growth in Thailand alone. It’s clear that the Predator brand is an important one and the Predator League 2019 Grand Final is a significant part of that.
In 2017, only a handful of teams competed in the league, in 2018, it’s a whole other story. Over 3,000 teams in APAC competed in an ongoing competition to make it to Thailand. Next year, the number is only going to increase.
The competition in the Predator League 2019 Grand Final is going to be fierce and the next few days are going to be intense.
Stay tuned for more coverage of the Predator League 2019 Grand Final on PowerUp!.
Leo Stevenson travelled to Bangkok, Thailand as a guest of Acer. All transport, accommodation and meals were provided by Acer.
