MANILA -- With six medals at stake, competitive video gaming or esports debuted in the Southeast Asian Games at the FilOil Flying V Center on Thursday, effectively putting it on the same pedestal as other sporting events in the biennial multi-sports competition.

Perceived to be one of the fastest-growing sports worldwide, esports has taken a much bigger stage with higher prize pools on the line.

• sports seen to boost viewership of 'biggest' SEA Games ever

Now, as it makes its multi-sport event debut in the SEA Games, nine countries will parade some of the region’s best athletes in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang, Hearthstone, Arena of Valor, Tekken 7, Starcraft II, and Defense of the Ancients II (Dota 2) — bannering national pride.

Malaysia and Vietnam will open the tournament in the Mobile Legends: Bang Ban qualifier rounds to be held at around 12:15 p.m., Thursday.

Flagship Philippine national team Sibol‘s 27 players, who are bidding to strike six golds, will start their campaign at around 6:55 p.m., when Jacinta “Jia” Dee takes on Malaysia’s Yew Weang Kean in PC card game Hearthstone.

Sibol will then take on Thailand in the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang qualifiers at 8:40 p.m.

The livestream of the games will be available on Sibol’s official Facebook page.