Esports tournaments are a massive part of the video game industry, with world-class arenas hosting events watched by millions and backed by global brands. Whether you’re a dedicated fan or an up-and-coming player, it’s hard not to be impressed by the amount of talent that goes into these high-stakes competitions.
While the legitimacy of esports as true sports has been debated, it is not without its problems. Just like traditional sports, esports have been subject to cheating scandals and other questionable behavior. For example, in 2015 a member of the professional team Cloud9 publicly claimed that all his teammates were using Adderall to boost their performance, leading the Electronic Sports League to start testing players for banned substances.
There are also plenty of other controversies surrounding the games themselves, including issues with copyright and intellectual property rights. But there are many benefits to the esports scene, too: job creation, economic growth, and social opportunities.
As a result of the increased popularity of esports, the industry has seen a boom in both professional and amateur players. There are now hundreds of esports teams competing at the highest levels and attracting large audiences of fans.
The biggest esports tournaments feature multi-million dollar prize pools and are broadcast on major television channels. Many of these shows have their own host and commentary teams, with well-known personalities offering up their opinions on the action. There are even esports governing bodies that act as oversight for the various genres of games, with some focusing on individual video game franchises while others are more holistic in their approach to regulating the industry.