The center of the stage features places designed and arranged specifically that puts players competing in PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds (PUBG) segment of the tournament. The other 10 teams are, naturally, the teams that will be competing against each other in Dota 2. Unlike the teams in the PUBG segment, the players in competing in Dota 2 were practically competing in isolation within cubicles specially made for them.
By the end of the first day, it is the Malaysian team – and last year’s Acer Predator League Dota 2 champions – GeekFam who is taking the lead on the roster, having won the first three rounds, first against team Signify, then team X, and finally team ALPHA Red.
The second Malaysian Dota 2 team, LOTAC, fared somewhat better in the first of Losers Round. The team is set to square off against team PnX|Indomitus today, where the winner of the second Losers Round will move forward to compete against tea ALPHA Red.
Over on the PUBG side, Malaysian team Asbol finished the first set of five rounds at 15th place, with just 9 points in total.
After the games were over (for the day), the event’s opening ceremony officially kicked off. Like all eSports openings, there were fireworks, lots of noise. In Acer’s case, there was also a very flashy video detailing the origins of the Predator Shield; the championship trophy of the entire tournament. Additionally, there was also a performance by BNK48, a Thai-based all-girl group that took to the stage. And with much fanfare.
The Acer Predator League 2019 will continue on until this Sunday, when a winner from both the Dota 2 and PUBG segments will be announced.