Once upon a time, the idea of videogame-based tournaments was little more than a fringe concept that was played out by aspiring competitors in the backrooms of gaming stores. But as the 21st century rolled in, Esports gained serious momentum and today some of the world’s biggest tournaments rival those of traditional sports. From multi-million dollar prize pools to viewership numbers that eclipse some of the most celebrated sports events, esports tournaments have established a global presence that is hard to ignore.
Like traditional sports, esports tournaments feature teams of players competing against one another. These competitions may be hosted by a game publisher or a professional organisation, with the larger events being governed by esports governing bodies, often representing a particular region. Often, these governing bodies are more concerned with acting as an oversight body for the industry rather than directly organising specific tournaments.
While the growth of esports has been impressive, there is still much to be debated around whether these events truly represent legitimate sports. Many of the same problems faced by traditional sports – such as cheating, performance-enhancing drugs, and match fixing – have found their way into the industry, with controversies ranging from the blatant to the downright absurd.
The year 2025 promises to be a busy one for esports tournaments, with notable competitions set to take place across a number of titles. April kicks off with a number of major Counter-Strike 2 events, while June sees the start of RLCS Season 7, VALORANT’s Stage 2 international leagues and League of Legends’ MSI 2025.