COMMUNITY EVENT SPOTLIGHT: maiMASTER 2023: THE FIRST

Welcome to COMMUNITY EVENT SPOTLIGHT where we feature small-scale and niche communities and their breakthrough events! In the local industry where there are many communities that deserve to be known and hoping through this written feature, we'll reach and bridge gaps with each other.

maiMASTER 2023: THE FIRST is the Bacoor Gang's 1st Anniversary Tournament that happened last July 23, 2023; The first and grandest community-driven event hosted in Quantum SM Bacoor, Cavite became the talk of the local maimai community!

maiMASTER (or maiMASTER: Bacoor) is Bacoor Gang Council and maiMASTER Committee's Flagship Tournament Series held at their home base at Quantum SM Bacoor and planned to be held every year starting from the first tournament of the main series, "maiMASTER 2023: THE FIRST".

The tournament features two Divisions, Casual and Pro that offer players of diverse skill levels a competitive experience based on SEGA's official tournament "KING of Performai".

QUALIFYING SONGS AND RESULTS

The Qualifying Period for the tournament was conducted from July 9, 2023, until July 21 2023 and the qualifiers were announced the day after (July 22, 2023). The community's debut Top 8 Qualifiers proved promising and exciting competition ahead for both the Casual and Pro Divisions.

TOURNAMENT PROPER

The commentators for both Divisons are local 15k Players Hiro "roseneko" (left), and Jamal "JCNA2122" (right).
Photo: Chris Joji Haro

Finalists from the Casual Division competed against each other in the Final Round to be the first “maiMASTER Champion”. MUTE.exe (pictured on the left) v.s. dagaycom (pictured on the right).
Photo: Chris Joji Haro

The finalists from the Pro Division competed against each other in the Final Round to be the first “maiMASTER Champion”. H2hoe☆ω☆ (pictured on the left) v.s. FG. Basil (pictured on the right)
Photo: Chris Joji Haro

WINNING FINALISTS AND RESULTS

dagaycom wins the Casual Division and becomes the first ever “Casual: maiMASTER Champion”! He receives a trophy, maimai Poster, 500 php worth of Gift Certificates, and Discord Nitro while MUTE.exe as the runner-up receives a maimai Poster, and 300 php worth of Gift Certificates.

FG. Basil wins the Pro Division and becomes the first ever “Casual: maiMASTER Champion”! He receives a trophy, maimai Poster, 500 php worth of Gift Certificates, and Discord Nitro. H2hoe☆ω☆ as the runner-up receives a maimai Poster, and 300 php worth of Gift Certificates.

The four aforementioned winners will also get maiMASTER Finalist T-Shirt to be delivered at a later date! 

The bracket for both Casual and Pro Divisions became the most hyped tournament that happened in a community-driven event!

THE FUTURE OF maiMASTER

Concluding their first successful event, the Bacoor Gang Council and maiMASTER Committee officially teased and confirmed an upcoming tournament 'Re:maiMASTER' and more info for their upcoming tournament will be available soon on maimai Philippines Facebook Page and Discord Server.

AUTHOR'S NOTE

Photo: Chris Joji Haro

Movements like these should go often as the Music Rhythm Game Community scene in the Philippines is still in the niche category and maiMASTER proved that events like this make sense and the power of the community. On their post-event, they were thanking me for igniting the competitive scene in the local music rhythm game scene and it's heartwarming to know as well as the movement has been finally rewarding in a big momentum, pretty unexpected. That gave my team and I hope to ignite more people in the community to follow through even through tough times organizing it.

We wish nothing more than congratulations on this giant milestone that the organizers and the community have made. Thank you for bringing the light on what a community should've been and hoping other communities and groups would step forward and bring light even through the darkness. The Angels of EXOSIA Project is under your wings on strengthening the community as we all Ascend to Greatness!