Esports tournaments take video games to the next level – they are like the gamer version of an athletic championship. Professional players gather in world-class arenas or stream live online to millions of viewers, going head-to-head for prize money and brand sponsorships. Esports are revolutionizing the way consumers follow, watch, and interact with video games and are backed by some of the largest video game companies and global brands.
Some of the most popular esports tournaments feature teams playing multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), first-person shooter, fighting game and real-time strategy (RTS) video games. The esports community is incredibly diverse and has players from all over the globe with differing backgrounds, interests and skills. This allows for a wide range of competitions that are suitable for many different audiences and demographics.
Larger esports tournaments usually feature pre- and post-game commentary and in-match casting from a team of analysts. This is similar to traditional sports broadcasting and is an important element in helping the esports community develop its identity as a legitimate sporting event.
The most famous esports competitions are the League of Legends World Championship, Dota 2’s International and Counter-Strike’s Major Championships. Some of the most well-known esports players include Faker, one of the greatest League of Legends mid-laners of all time, and s1mple, whose precision and consistency in CS:GO competition has earned him numerous accolades. Other notable esports organizations are Astralis, who have dominated the CS:GO scene with multiple high-profile victories, and Team Liquid, who won the inaugural League of Legends World Championship in 2011. Valorant is another top-tier esports tournament that features some of the best teams and highest-stakes matches in the world.