Esports, also known as electronic sports, are organised multiplayer video game competitions. Typically, a team of professional gamers compete against other teams to win medals and prizes. Esports tournaments feature popular video games such as League of Legends, Overwatch, Counter-Strike, Dota 2 and the fighting game-specific Evolution Championship Series.
The esports tournament scene is booming in 2025. In the first quarter alone, over 100 major events took place. In addition to major titles like Rocket League and League of Legends, a number of niche tournaments attracted huge audiences.
In this edition of Esports Tournament News, we take a look at what happened at these tournaments and the people who made them happen.
Esports tournaments are a major part of the global gaming culture. They’re attracting big audiences, and they’re becoming a part of the mainstream. But what do they mean for the future of the video game industry?
The second Esports World Cup (EWC) has kicked off in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The prize pot for the event is $70m. Unlike in regular sporting competitions, players don’t represent their countries and instead join organisations such as the world-renowned Team Liquid. BBC Newsbeat went behind the scenes of their HQ to see what it takes to compete at such a high level.
The Esports World Cup 2025 is a month-long competition featuring major international leagues for various titles. In June, Counter-Strike, Rocket League and League of Legends all host notable competitions to find the best global teams in their respective fields.
