Smart, Dark League Studios join forces to grow PH Esports

PLDT wireless subsidiary Smart Communications, Inc. has teamed up with Esports event management and production team, Dark League Studios to further advance Esports and empower aspiring gamers from the grassroots to level up to the pro leagues and become national athletes.

Smart and DLS will also work together to bring more exciting and immersive gaming experiences through the Smart GIGA Arena, the country’s first all-in-one Esports platform that offers tournament experience to amateur players of popular games including Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Call of Duty Mobile, Player’s Unknown Battleground, and League of Legends Wild Rift.

The partnership will allow Smart to further grow GIGA Arena in terms of the number of tournaments, onboarding of game developers, and provide consumer centric activities within the platform.

Since its launch in 2022, Smart GIGA Arena has hosted over 2 million users in nearly 1,000 tournaments, offering more than P4.2 million in prizes.

Through this partnership, Smart and DLS have also committed to work closely and collaborate with the Philippine Esports Organization (PeSo) to adopt industry best practices and maintain the highest standards of integrity.

Both Smart and DLS are gearing up to engage more Filipino gamers with new tournaments and enhanced features on the GIGA Arena platform.

Bringing the best gaming experience to Filipinos

“Our partnership with DLS is in line with our commitment to provide the best gaming experience to Filipinos. We at Smart have always believed in the ability of Filipinos to dominate sports of all kinds—including Esports. Through our collaboration with DLS, we hope to empower more aspiring Esports athletes to level up their gameplay and compete in a much bigger arena,” said Al S. Panlilio, PLDT Inc and Smart Communications President and CEO.

Ababa also stuck to her game plan all day and despite her pair of 37s, she liked how she fared off the mound that had her hitting 12 fairways. But she wrestled with her putting, ending up with a couple of three-putt miscues that ruined her second round bid.

“I also missed a number of up-anddown bids,” added Ababa, who, however, remained upbeat of her chances to end an eight-year title spell.

“I’m confident of my driving heading to tomorrow’s (today) final round. I’ve been working on my long game at Villamor and Valley and I like my chances.”

Barely reaching No. 6 in two, Bisera pulled out her trusted 54-degree wedge and went for a chip-and-roll that dropped in, startling her no end.

“I was really surprised that it went in. I struggled with my irons but had a good short game,” said Bisera after putting herself within a shot and closer to a dream title.