The eSports industry has been on fire in the past few years. It’s now considered the world’s fastest-growing sport, and in 2021 surpassed traditional sports like golf and ice hockey in terms of global viewership.1

Originally referred to as electronic sports, the term has been broadened to include a variety of video game competitions with prize pools in the millions. Popular tournaments include League of Legends World Championship, the Valorant series, Dota 2’s International, and the fighting games-specific Evolution Championship Series (EVO).

Much like traditional sports, eSports teams consist of highly skilled players who practice together, refine their skills, and compete in high-level matches against other teams and individuals. The most successful teams are rewarded with significant prize money, global recognition, and endorsement opportunities.

Esports tournaments can be held in person or online. They can also be broadcast on YouTube, Twitch, and certain cable and satellite networks. Large tournaments can sell out major arenas, such as New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

The competitions are typically organized by a series of events ranging from regular season matches to playoffs and championships. The finalists are then ranked according to their performance. The winners are awarded the coveted title. Some eSports tournaments have had high-profile controversies, including cheating (sometimes using banned substances), instances of discriminatory language, and controversy over whether the competition is actually a sport. For example, in 2015 a member of the Cloud9 team publicly claimed that he and his teammates were using Adderall to enhance their performance, which prompted the ESL to institute randomized drug testing for competitors.