In the heart of our archipelago, a digital revolution is quietly reshaping the social norms of the small islands of Maldives, moving far beyond the traditional confines of late-night "thila" chats and casual mobile matches. It is a relic of the past when gaming in the Maldives was just a quiet way to kill time between afternoon tea and sunset. 

Today, from the bustling cafes of Malé to the smallest jetties in the furthest atolls, you’ll find a community that has traded casual mobile matches for high-stakes competition and global dreams. It’s a scene that has grown faster than a speedboat crossing the Vaadhoo channel, fueled by a new era of ultra-low latency and a generation of players who are finally proving that "island life" is no longer a barrier to the world stage.

We aren't just playing for fun anymore; we are building a professional culture that is uniquely Maldivian, blending our tight-knit community spirit with a fierce competitive drive. 

In this feature, we’re catching up with one of the voices at the center of it all to see how the Maldives is leveling up and what it really takes to be a pro in the digital "Sunny Side of Life."

We had the pleasure of interviewing the assistant director of Marketing & sales of KUIS eSports, Mr. Shaan “Shanku” Saeed, discussing in great detail, the current gaming scene in the Maldives. 

"Gaming is no longer a “waste of time” as many people used to believe or just a leisurely activity to do in the past. It has evolved to become something that people can integrate into their lives and benefit from. However, although this may be the case, we as a community collectively need to work together and make sure this flow is constantly evolving. There’s a lot that still needs to be done, and a lot of issues that need to be publicly addressed if we want to see E-sports become an everyday topic of discussion and a full-time profession as we see in many developed countries."

“A lot of the gaming communities in Maldives started off as just a group of friends who wanted to play together but overtime grew into something more ambitious. They took inspiration from people, role models they look up to from other countries. Over time the clan grows as word spreads, and now, we see our communities grow larger day by day as more like-minded individuals are attracted. 

However currently it is not possible to sustain these clans in Maldives unless they are backed by a tech giant organization or a notable sponsor. Other communities who do not have this privilege are sustained purely based on their own ambition and determination, but most of the time this is not enough to carry the legacy of the clan and maintain it for generations.”

“It has allowed pro players to tap into their abilities as this technology has made game-play smoother by decreasing latency allowing them to perform better and compete on par with other competitors from different countries and in turn reach high levels of competitive play and instill their names among top leader-boards internationally.”

“First of all, this has allowed individuals who may not have had access to high tech peripherals the chance to showcase their talents. This has brought to light a lot of untapped talent that would otherwise have gone unnoticed and allowed them to partake in competitions and compete nationally and internationally, on par with existing players, if not better.

Secondly, the existence of these gaming hubs has allowed the total player base to grow, which in turn benefits our communities as we grow larger and Scout talents represent us in our teams.”

“Adding to the initiative of opening gaming hubs throughout the country, I believe if we keep at it, we can reach our goal. For now, we need to focus on making PCs and consoles and other peripherals more accessible, especially those living outside the greater Malé region. Focus on opening more tech shops within the local islands and more nationwide distribution of tech rather than foraging it in Malé.

Furthermore, to help build a generation that is more tech literate throughout the nation, we can integrate gaming and E-sports into extra curricula in schools and teach students to improve their familiarity and gain the basic knowledge regarding computer and console hardware.”

“There’s quite a considerable number of areas for development when it comes to E-sports in Maldives. First and foremost, quite importantly, we need to make sure our coaches are given the opportunity to receive proper licensing and development and government funded training programs, so that they are better equipped to help the players perform their level best. 

Furthermore, we need to invest in material outside the training grounds and provide our team managers and players with the opportunity to partake in Esports institutions and host seminars and training courses on Esports ORS. Another issue that is constantly witnessed within the E-sports scene is the fact that players are only able to compete internationally through one organization. 

“I think the government needs to take the lead in setting the rules of the gaming ecosystem.  If we’re talking about a National Gaming Guild, it should be built on clear standards that protect kids from being exploited, while also making sure their education and health aren’t compromised. That means things like fair contracts, access to counseling, and guidelines around training hours.

If both sides work together, you end up with an ecosystem where young athletes can chase their dreams without sacrificing their well-being. It’s about balance: making sure the excitement of E-sports doesn’t come at the cost of the players themselves.”

“Absolutely! The Maldives already has the makings of a gaming tourism destination. We're already recognized globally for our luxurious travel experiences and stunning landscapes. Now picture that combined with the excitement of an international E-sports championship.

If those pieces come together, the Maldives could host a championship that isn’t just another tournament; it would be a festival of gaming and tourism rolled into one. That’s the kind of vision that could put us on the map as the region’s E-sports capital.”