APU's Esports Club Dominate Campus Legends Tournament 2023

The team emerged victorious in the national phase and secured runner-up at the regional level against Singapore and the Philippines.

Published 30 Jan 2024

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Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU) is once again in the spotlight, this time thanks to their esports Club VALORANT Team which secured impressive wins at the Campus Legends Tournaments.

The team, composed of Kieran Matthew Gon Jian Ren, Darwish Hakim Bin Nazari, Chen Joon Er, Ali Javaid, and Timothy Lee Weng Jee, clinched first place in the inaugural Campus Legends Malaysia 2023 tournament. Following this triumph, they secured a commendable second-place finish in the Campus Legends MY/SG/PH Regional 2023 tournament.

Organised by the Singapore Cybersports and Online Gaming Association (SCOGA), the esports competition aimed to identify and celebrate emerging talents in the competitive gaming arena.

The team was led and managed by Sattish Pratap Shewkani, a student from the BSc (Hons) in Computer Science with a specialisation in Data Analytics. They commenced their journey in December 2023 during the national phase of Campus Legends Malaysia before competing against other Malaysian universities. The national tournament witnessed fierce online battles, with APU emerging victorious against formidable opponents from TAR UMT, Multimedia University (MMU), Taylor’s University and Sunway University.

"Our APU esports VALORANT Team showcased exceptional skill and determination, securing 1st place in the Campus Legends Malaysia without losing a single match against other Malaysian universities,” expressed Mr. Matthew Wee Ann Poh, APU Esports Club Lecturer-Advisor.

Their exceptional performance landed them the opportunity to represent Malaysia in the Regional Grand Finals where the event featured talents from Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. Despite facing fierce challenges, APU's team secured an impressive 1st Runner-Up position in an intense final against Singapore.

The strength of this accomplishment is rooted in the solid foundation established at APU. APU achieved a significant milestone when appointed as the first esports Focused Sports Centres (FSC) Programme Coordinator by the Malaysian Ministry of Higher Education (MoHE) in mid-2023. This recognition came with a grant of RM100,000 for the period from 2023 to 2025, positioning APU as a pioneer in creating a supportive environment for eSports enthusiasts.

Since its establishment in January 2015, the APU Esports Club has played a crucial role in supporting gaming enthusiasts. The club provides coaching, practice facilities, and equipment and covers competition travel fees. APU actively collaborates with industry professionals in game development and esports, contributing to the creation of a thriving ecosystem for students.

The impressive journey of the APU Esports Club VALORANT Team in the Campus Legends 2023 tournaments reflects the university's dedication to empowering young talent and promoting a positive gaming culture on campus.