ASAJAYA: Seventeen teams went head-to-head in the Reborn PUBG Mobile 2026 Esports Championship, putting their strategy, teamwork and gaming skills to the test.
Held at Asajaya Hulu Hall today (Sept 6), the competition brought together local esports enthusiasts while providing young people with a platform to sharpen their skills and explore opportunities in the growing digital industry.
Deputy Rural and Regional Development Minister Datuk Rubiah Wang said esports was no longer merely a recreational activity but had developed into a global industry worth billions, offering viable career prospects.
“Do not just play. Master esports. The Sarawak government sees this field as having strong potential not only as a career but also as a source of income for our youth,” she said when officiating at the championship.
She said opportunities in the industry extended beyond professional gaming to careers as game developers, coaches, streamers, content creators and other digital professionals.
Rubiah encouraged young people interested in the field to pursue technical and vocational education and training (TVET) programmes related to artificial intelligence (AI), esports and digital technology.
She said relevant training was available through the Centre of Technical Excellence Sarawak (CENTEXS), Sarawak Skills and Majlis Amanah Rakyat (MARA), covering areas such as AI, content creation, livestreaming and digital entrepreneurship.
“Playing and pursuing rankings are fine, but we must also win in real life.
“Technology is changing rapidly, AI is advancing, and the way people learn, work, conduct business and earn a living is also changing,” she said.
Rubiah said esports could nurture strategic thinking, discipline, teamwork and commitment among young people.
The championship initially offered a total prize pool of RM4,000, with RM1,500 allocated to the winning team.
However, Rubiah announced an additional RM500 contribution for the champions, increasing the top prize to RM2,000 and the overall prize pool to RM4,500.
She said the additional contribution was intended to attract greater youth participation, encourage healthy competition, improve their skills and strengthen communication and cooperation in developing the area.
The championship was organised by the Kota Samarahan Electronic Sports Club in collaboration with the Asajaya Hulu Village Development and Security Committee.
