For the first time, Malta participated in the Global Esports Games. The GEG is the flagship event of the Global Esports Federation, of which the Malta Esports Association is a member. The GEG 2023 is hosted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia between the 12th – 17th December 2023.
The game lineup for GEG 2023 includes Dota 2, eFootball 2023, PUBG Mobile and Street Fighter 6.
Team Malta signed up for the eFootball and Street Fighter 6 tournaments. Following National Selection, the Maltese representatives would have to go through European qualifiers before making it to the finals in Saudi Arabia.
Unfortunately, both Maltese athletes in eFootball and Street Fighter 6 did not make it through the qualifying stages.
National Selection
eFootball
The National Selection for eFootball was organised through a one-day National Qualifier held at Esports Plaza in Sliema on the 4th March 2023.
Malcolm “FantiFlames” Said won the national qualifier.
Street Fighter 6
The National Selection for Street Fighter 6 was organised through a one-day National Qualifier held at Level Academy in Birkirkara on the 20th August 2023. The event was organised by Fight Knights.
Ilija “animegeorge” Stankovic won the qualifier without dropping a single set. A write-up of the event can be accessed here.
Regional Qualifiers
eFootball
The eFootball European Regional Qualifier started on the 30th September, with the following results:
- Team Malta (FantiFlames) 1:2 Armenia
- Team Malta (FantiFlames) 2:0 San Marino
- Team Malta (FantiFlames) 1:2 Georgia
- Team Malta (FantiFlames) 2:0 Bosnia and Herzegovina
- Team Malta (FantiFlames) 0:2 Luxembourg
- Team Malta (FantiFlames) 2:0 Lithuania
FantiFlames achieved a total of 6 points in his group, placing him 4th, and therefore did not qualify for the final stage.
Street Fighter 6
The GEG 2023 EU West Qualifier started on the 7th of October 2023. Regrettably, Ilija “animegeorge” Stankovic suffered sickness during the event, and was unable to play, resulting in forfeits.