The Indonesian Esports Board (PBESI) has launched its most ambitious project to date, the Nusantara Esports League 2023, with Mobile Legends: Bang Bang as the featured game. Registration for the league is now open and will continue until July 18, with participation being free for all Indonesian citizens.
During a press conference held in South Jakarta, PBESI announced that Garudaku has been appointed as the official league operator, and the league is set to commence in July. As promised, the league will consist of three divisions: League 3, League 2, and League 1, following a promotion and relegation system similar to traditional sports regulations.
League 3 matches will take place from July 22 to July 28, determining the top 16 teams that will advance to League 2. These 16 teams will then compete for the six available spots in League 1, where they will face off against wild card entries comprising professional teams from the MPL (Mobile Legends Professional League) and MDL ID (Mobile Legends Development League Indonesia). Garudaku will host the online matches for Liga 3 and Liga 2, and the venues for Liga 1 will be announced soon.
PBESI has yet to release details about the teams that will receive wild card entries for the Nusantara Esports League 2023. However, they have extended invitations to football teams from Liga 1 Indonesia, including Borneo FC, Madura United, and Rans Nusantara FC, to participate in this competition. Bambang Sunarwibowo, Chief of PBESI, expressed their commitment to organizing a professional league that fosters the development of esports in Indonesia, aiming to make it one of the leading esports scenes in Southeast Asia.
“The 2023 Nusantara Esports League represents Garudaku’s dedication and seriousness, fully supported by PBESI, to achieve the highest accomplishments in the Indonesian esports scene. We are committed to nurturing and enhancing esports competence in Indonesia to achieve international success. This league is a long-term strategic initiative to develop the skills of national coaches and players to reach a world-class level,” explained Sunarwibowo.
The inaugural season of the Nusantara Esports League will feature a prize pool of USD 200,000, with the possibility of an increase in subsequent seasons. PBESI has also expressed interest in incorporating other popular games like PUBGM, Valorant, and FIFA in the near future. Additionally, they have promised the inclusion of a women’s competition, a concept they have been promoting on social media since 2021.
