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Playing competitive video games professionally started slowly but has grown into a major entertainment industry. Esports now attract a large global audience and has become a multi-million dollar enterprise.
Back in the 1970s and 1980s, video gaming competitions were starting to emerge and were mostly centered around arcade games then progressed to professionals that play a poker game online.
The growth of online multiplayer games through the internet sparked the foundation for modern esports.
In the late 1990s, competitive players were competing with games like Quake and StarCraft. They began organizing tournaments and leagues with cash prizes.
The industry accelerated in the 2000s with the launch of organizations like the Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL) and the Electronic Sports World Cup (ESWC). They helped legitimize esports by organizing large-scale international tournaments.
South Korea played a pivotal role. StarCraft became a national phenomenon there and local televised esports matches attracted millions of viewers.
In the early 2010s, new streaming platforms like Twitch changed the way esports were consumed. Viewers could now watch live matches and interact with other fans.
Streaming platforms provided an opportunity for aspiring players to showcase their skills and gain their own following.
Popular games like League of Legends, Dota 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Overwatch further propelled esports into the mainstream.
These games had dedicated competitive tournaments and leagues, attracting top players from around the world. Prize pools for major events started to increase significantly, often reaching millions of dollars, thanks to sponsorship deals.
Today Esports events have evolved into large-scale productions, often held in arenas and stadiums.
Major tournaments like The International (Dota 2) and the Electronic Sports League’s Intel Extreme Masters and World Championship (CS:GO and others) draw massive audiences both online and in-person.
The annual League of Legends World Championship, hosted by Riot Games, is the pinnacle of competitive League of Legends. Teams from different regions battle it out over several weeks to claim the Summoner’s Cup.
Likewise, the Capcom Cup is the culmination of the Capcom Pro Tour, the official Street Fighter V esports circuit organized annually by Capcom.
Meanwhile BlizzCon is a major gaming convention hosted by Blizzard Entertainment, with tournaments involving popular games like World of Warcraft, Overwatch and Hearthstone.
Events like these feature professional teams competing for substantial prizes and matches are broadcast worldwide.
Esports has witnessed a remarkable increase in prize money. At the time of writing Saudi esports tournament bosses have announced their latest event will have the biggest prize pool yet.
The Gamers8 event ‘Land of Heroes’ will have a pool of US $45m (£38m). The previous highest pool was 2021’s Dota 2 event, which had $40m (£34m) on offer.
Top teams and players
Major esports teams and players who have achieved recognition in the industry include:
• Team SoloMid (TSM): One of the best-known North American teams, TSM has gathered a large fan-base. It has consistently performed at a high level in the League of Legends Championship Series.
• Fnatic: A prominent European team, Fnatic has a long line of successes in League of Legends.
• Faker (Lee Sang-hyeok): This legendary player from South Korea is reckoned to be one of the greatest League of Legends players of all time. A quiet-looking bespectacled school drop-out, Faker has since won multiple world championships and is now associated with the team T1 (previously SK Telecom T1).
• Team Secret: A European powerhouse in the Dota 2 world that has won numerous tournaments.
• OG: This bunch made history by winning The International, Dota 2’s most prestigious event, twice in a row with what were considered to be brilliant innovative strategies.
• Astralis: A Danish team that has become a huge force in the CS:GO scene by winning multiple major tournaments.
• Natus Vincere (Na’Vi): Na’Vi is a Kiev-based Ukrainian organization with a strong CS:GO team. Successful despite the conflicts in their home country, they were the first team to win three premier tournaments.
• San Francisco Shock: This professional team has been successful in the Overwatch League, winning the championship in both 2019 and 2020.
• Lee “Carpe” Jae-hyeok: Carpe is a highly regarded DPS player from Philadelphia Fusion considered to have exceptional physical skills.
The popularity of esports led to the formation of professional leagues and franchises. Games like Overwatch, League of Legends and Call of Duty now have established city-based franchised leagues.
The recognition of esports as a legitimate form of sports has also grown.
Players and events are now sponsored by major companies. Some colleges and universities have started offering esports scholarships and esports is being considered for inclusion in international sporting events like the Asian Games and the Olympics.
Overall, the rise of esports has been driven by rapid technological advances, passionate players and increased mainstream acceptance.
With the growing support from fans, sponsors and the gaming industry, esports is expected to keep expanding fast in the years to come.
