Chaos Theory launches in Singapore, looks to jumpstart the SEA esports scene

04 September 2017

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This weekend past saw the launch of Chaos Theory, an esports organisation based in Singapore to keep an eye on. 

Founded by Drew Holt-Kentwell and Singaporean Hai Ng, the team plans to ‘revolutionise the esports landscape in South-east Asia’. This is a region with undoubted and significant potential in the esports space. Indeed, research analysts Newzoo pointed to South Eat Asia as the region with the fastest growing esports audience back in December 2016.

Chaos Theory have launched with teams in both Overwatch and League of Legends. Notably, their League of Legends line up is all female. The org is aimed at ‘being a powerhouse multi-gaming professional team in South-east Asia’. Based out of Singapore, Chaos Theory will look to provide support to budding esports teams and ‘help them grow, manage and monetise themselves via a mix of training and development, work experience and various sponsorship opportunities’.

Drew Holt-Kentwell, Chaos Theory

There are reportedly 200,000 esports enthusiasts in Singapore, which is a 5.1% share of the total online population. The choice of Singapore over the Philippines (which hosts ESL One Manila and the Valve Manila Major) to base an esports org looking to dominate the South East Asian region may surprise some, but the country’s technological infrastructure and position as a business capital of the world (and all that comes with that status), make the decision fully comprehensible. 

It’s no surprise too that co-founder Drew Holt-Kentwell is a man who knows the business side of the industry. Holt-Kentwell is an esports veteran of 11 years and the former Head of Global Esports at Razer.

Of the launch he said: “The esports industry is exploding, and there is a huge talent pool here with untapped potential. Chaos Theory was set up to establish new professional standards for the industry, and change the way esports teams in South-east Asia are seen and run. We want to equip esports professionals with the experience and skills that they need, to cultivate world-class players and show that a career in esports is viable.”

Chaos Theory will offer full employment contracts for players competing at the top of their disciplines. Benefits include pension fund contributions, private medical healthcare for members, and a keen focus on specialist game and strategy coaching, alongside other benefits from partners and sponsors. Chaos Theory have a range of partners already on boarding including Foodpanda, medical concierge Zero Dot One, Corsair, Sector Six Apparel, and Singaporean LAN café chain Colosseum.

The involvement of these partners is particularly cool with Zero Dot One they’ll provide access to an injury management program with a view to staving off injuries common in esports such as carpal tunnel. 

Whilst Chaos Theory has kicked off with League and Overwatch, it already had plans to enter PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, Mobile Legends and Dota 2. In addition it plans to enter other countries in SEA such as Vietnam, Thailand, and the Philippines in the near future. As mentioned previously, Philippines is an obvious choice to expand into in this region with the major tournaments which take place in Manila, and moreover the government’s recent decision to back and support the esports industry. 

The League of Legends Chaos Theory team, formerly known as “Battle Bunnies”, is made up of six young upstarts with extensive SEA tournament experience. Team captain Zhang Ke Xin said: “We’re grateful to pioneer this exciting new venture with Chaos Theory. It’s encouraging that there is a support system in place, that will help us get closer to a fully-fledged professional esports career.”

Esports Insider says: This is extremely exciting news for the South East Asian esports scene. Chaos Theory looks to be a thoroughly professional, motivated and ambitious new organisation with plans to start in Singapore but expand across the region. It’s moves like this that the scene needs and we wish them all the best!