“HATYAI ESPORTS YOUNG FEST” Kicks Off in Spectacular Style A massive turnout from all sectors reinforces Hat Yai’s position as Southern Thailand’s esports hub for the fifth year

Posted by adminesport June 19, 2026 in ACTIVITYTOURNAMENT

The South’s major esports tournament, “HATYAI ESPORTS V YOUNG FEST 2026,” has officially begun. The opening ceremony was held on the afternoon of June 18, 2026, at Suwanwong Building, Jiranakorn Stadium, Hat Yai Municipality, Songkhla Province.

The ceremony was attended by Mr. Narongporn Na Phatthalung, Mayor of Hat Yai; Mr. Santi Lothong, President of the Asian Electronic Sports Federation and the Esports Association of Thailand; and Mrs. Pornpen Phitphiboonphan, Director of the Education Bureau.

Mayor Narongporn said Hat Yai Municipality recognizes the value of esports in encouraging children, young people, and the public to spend their free time productively. The municipality also aims to develop esports athletes, officials, and personnel in Songkhla, helping them build the skills needed to compete and organize events to international standards. The initiative has been carried out in partnership with the Esports Association of Thailand and the Songkhla Esports Club for five years. It also seeks to advance esports as a professional sport that can create jobs, generate income, and bring recognition to individuals, families, and the country.

HATYAI ESPORTS V YOUNG FEST 2026 runs from June 18 to 20, 2026, from 9:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Suwanwong Building, Jiranakorn Stadium, Hat Yai Municipality, Songkhla Province. The event features four main activities:

1. “ROV SCHOOL WAR” — A RoV tournament featuring three age divisions: under 12, under 16, and under 18.
2. “FREE FIRE YOUNG DROP” — A Free Fire tournament for players aged 15–18. The champions will receive in-game prizes and 3,000 diamonds, while the second- and third-place teams will each receive in-game prizes and 2,000 diamonds.
3. “COSPLAY MEETING” — Participants are invited to dress as characters from games, anime, or any other theme they enjoy, and meet, chat, and take photos together. Certificates from Hat Yai Municipality and premium prizes from RoV and Free Fire are also up for grabs.
4. “FANART” — A fan-art contest inspired by RoV and Free Fire, under the theme “Capture the spirit of Hat Yai through your own lines and imagination.” Artwork must be drawn by hand. Primary school students will use A4 paper and may choose any coloring technique; secondary school students will use A3 paper and poster paint or acrylics. Participants may also include a heartfelt letter to the RoV and Free Fire teams, sharing their feelings and favorite memories through their artwork. Organizers will pass the letters on to the respective game teams. Prizes include cash, a trophy, and a certificate from Hat Yai Municipality.

More than 680 participants from 32 schools across 11 southern provinces have signed up for the activities: Surat Thani, Satun, Trang, Phatthalung, Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Krabi, Phang Nga, and host province Songkhla. They will compete for a total prize pool of 150,000 baht and the tournament’s honorary trophies.