MANILA - In a bid to keep people — specifically gamers — indoors amid a global coronavirus pandemic, a group of Filipino esports enthusiasts have organized a "lockdown" Dota 2 tournament with some P50,000 at stake for winning players.

South.gg has opened applications for the tournament, titled "Lockdown," its Facebook page said, with applications running until Friday, March 27.

"Let us prove that humanity is more contagious than this pandemic. As a community of gamers let us show we can influence others to stay at home and enjoy some games with friends,” the group said of the tournament.

The tournament sought to pool in 64 players, and start with a single-elimination round. It hopes that it will be graced by some big names in local esports.

The semi-finals will be a best of three series, while the finals will be a best of five matchup.

Applicants are required to like the group’s official page, and its Facebook group and share the poster publicly.

"Anyone with a gaming setup at home" can join, organizers said.

The tournament will run from March 28 to April 3. Players are required to be online during their scheduled games.

• Online gaming booms as virus lockdowns keep millions at home

Luzon and some parts of Visayas and Mindanao are currently under community quarantine, with some areas prohibiting people from going out of their homes amid the spread of COVID-19, which has already infected 636 people; among which are 38 deaths and 26 recoveries.

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