Esports tournaments bring competitive gaming to huge audiences, with the winner walking away with a big prize. But the competitions also have to navigate legal complexities and ensure player welfare.
From small gaming meetups to international championships, esports show how far competitive video games have come. They may not yet rival professional basketball or football tournaments in size, but they’re already changing the way we think about gaming and entertainment.
While the term “esport” might sound a bit nerdy, these events are often as intense as any athletic championship. Hundreds of gamers compete in teams, fighting for trophies, cash prizes and international recognition in a variety of online multiplayer video games. And like athletes who train relentlessly for their sport, esport athletes devote their lives to mastering their craft.
Esports include a wide range of gaming genres, from multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) and first-person shooter (FPS) to fighting, card, and real-time strategy games. But the most popular tournaments are focused on titles such as League of Legends, Dota 2, Counter-Strike, Valorant and Overwatch. Many esports follow a system of league play with sponsorship-backed teams, with promotion and relegation based on performance.
From a Chinese team’s historic win at Dota 2 to a US player’s 14-hit combo, this week in esports features plenty of highlights and low points. Plus, a new bug in an iconic League of Legends game has fans on edge, and a top Hong Kong team looks to punch its ticket to MSI 2025.