Imagine a basketball arena or football stadium crowded with excited fans cheering on their teams. That’s what an esport tournament is all about – the gamer’s version of athletic championships. Teams compete head-to-head in their favorite video games, often with a massive audience watching on in real time, and the winner takes home a big cash prize.
The history of esports dates back to 1972, when Stanford University hosted the world’s first gaming competition. The students took turns playing Spacewar, and though the winner’s prize seems modest today (a year’s subscription to Rolling Stone magazine), this was the beginning of a long-lasting trend in competitive gaming.
Esports tournaments are not only a global phenomenon, they’re also an increasingly profitable industry. The top players are high-paid professionals, competing for millions of dollars in prizes across a variety of events and leagues. But a wide range of people also participate in esports, from grassroots competitions to large-scale international events that sell out stadiums.
While many players play solo, a few of the most recognizable names in esports have their own eSports teams. These organizations can be sponsored by brands or cities and include multiple professional gamers. Team members are often ranked based on their performance, and their standing can influence the matchups they face during a tournament.
Keep up with the latest esports tournament news, including updates from the Major Championships and regional leagues. We’ll get a better picture of the qualifiers and contenders for the first CS2 Major of the season after the results from IEM Katowice and Blast Spring.