Vietnamese players seen celebrating their SEA Games victory in the 2025 event in Thailand. The first regional championship will be organised in May in HCM City. — Photo courtesy of VIRESA

HÀ NỘI — The regional SEA Esports Nations Cup (SNC) will be held in HCM City on May 8-9, marking the first time Southeast Asian nations are gathering to establish a unified national-level esports competition system with standardised structures and regulations.

The SNC is initiated by the Southeast Asia Esports Federation (SEAEF) and will take place at the Saigon Exhibition and Convention Centre with a prize fund of US$41,000 bonus for the best players.

In its inaugural edition, the SNC will feature five titles across nine-medal events, including PUBG Mobile, Teamfight Tactics, Crossfire Legends, Total Football and Audition.

The selected titles reflect consultation and consensus among regional stakeholders, ensuring a balance between competitiveness, accessibility and representation of Southeast Asia’s esports ecosystem.

As the host, the Việt Nam Recreational and Electronic Sports Association (VIRESA), together with domestic partners, will be responsible for organising and operating the event which is part of Việt Nam Gameverse 2026.

The tournament signals a new phase in the development of regional esports, moving from connection to co-creation, from fragmented efforts to a structured system, and from localised growth to the formation of a shared regional space.

“SEA Esports Nations Cup is not just a tournament; it is a strategic step for Southeast Asia to, for the first time, define esports as a shared space, with structure, standards and an international voice,” said Đỗ Việt Hùng, President of VIRESA and SEAEF.

The development and implementation of the SNC have been driven by active contributions from national federations across the region - from shaping the competition structure and proposing content to coordinating operations and community engagement.

This collective involvement reflects increasingly close cooperation among Southeast Asian countries in building a unified, sustainable esports ecosystem.

“Hosting the SNC is an opportunity for Việt Nam to contribute to a shared regional initiative, where nations collaborate to build a structured esports competition system with long-term orientation, Hùng said.

"The core value of SNC does not lie in any single country, but in the collective contribution and partnership of the entire Southeast Asian region,"

Beyond being a standalone tournament, SNC is positioned as part of a multi-tiered competition system, contributing to a development pathway from regional to continental and global levels, alongside major events such as the SEA Games and Asian Games.

It also serves as a platform for the region to progressively align with modern sports governance standards and strengthen its presence in the global esports ecosystem.

The integration of the SEA Esports Nations Cup within Việt Nam GameVerse 2026 also reflects a new model of cooperation, where countries leverage existing event platforms to expand the reach of regional esports, while fostering connections with the gaming industry and broader creative sectors.

According to organisers, the Cup is expected to continue expanding in scale, improving in quality, and gradually affirming Southeast Asia’s position as a dynamic and influential region within the global esports landscape. — VNS