by Raul Menchaca

HAVANA, Sept. 3 (Xinhua) -- Going online in Cuba may be costly and inconvenient, with internet access sometimes kilometers away, but that hasn't dampened enthusiasm on the island for competitive video gaming.

Also known as electronic sports, or eSports, pro gaming is spreading fast and already has its own organization.

Though Cuba's Association of Electronic Sports (ADEC) has yet to be officially recognized, it has served to promote and coordinate gaming in the capital Havana since 2007.

Javier Vidal, the 26-year-old president of ADEC, works as a network technician at a state company and dedicates his free time to the organization, whose stated aim is "to provide a structure for electronic sports, and create a competitive system and a space where gamers and Cuban spectators converge."

ADEC's board of directors is comprised of 15 enthusiasts who attend to the different eSports leagues currently active on the island under the group's aegis, including Starcraft, the first to be played in Cuba, World of Warcraft, FIFA, DOTA, Street Fighter and Mortal Combat.

"The major league is DOTA, with about 80 official teams, each one with at least five players, so there are about 400 players in Havana alone," said Vidal.

One of those teams, DK Reborn, participated last year in the DOTA World Cup qualifier for the North American region, ranking among the best 16 teams, which ADEC touts as a great success.

"Those guys were almost three steps away from qualifying for the top eSports tournament," said Vidal with pride.

Sponsorship could help the players up their game, said Vidal, noting the team could have done better "if we received more help, because in the end we represent the country."

Renier Gonzalez, a well-known sports anchor on Cuban TV, agrees Cuban gamers have the potential to compete in world championships.

"I think that if we have great athletes, why can't we have great athletes in video games?", asked Gonzalez.

"Who knows, but I'm sure that one day Cuba will participate in a world tournament, because there's talent among our players," Gonzalez said.

To that end, ADEC is trying to extend its reach nationwide.

Two weeks ago, at the 2018 Havana DOTA Master Tournament, teams from western and central Cuban provinces took part for the first time.

There's no cash prize at these tournaments, but at last weekend's FIFA eSports competition, for example, gamers can win T-shirts from major national teams or football clubs, a replica of the World Cup, and gold, silver or bronze medals.

The FIFA tournament features 128 players in direct elimination rounds watched by an audience that reacts as if at a stadium, cheering gamers' good moves and jeering their mistakes.

"There is quality to show that we can be at the level of foreign competitors and that we are as good as they are," Marlon Galans, a young computer engineer and gamer waiting to go on stage, said.

Youtuber and gamer Daguito Valdes, who manages the "Yohablofutbol" ("Ispeakfootball") video channel, indicated Cuban gamers may have a competitive edge due to the material drawbacks they face, which makes them more resourceful.

"We have limited access to hardware and to consoles or video cards, which are quite expensive, but I think Cubans overcome those obstacles to get their hands on the games," said Valdes.