Esports tournaments take multiplayer video games to the next level by putting professional players in a real-life arena or online to compete against one another for huge prize pools. Typically organized by some of the world’s biggest video game companies, they are broadcast to millions of viewers and sponsored by global brands.
With massive crowds and multimillion-dollar prize pools, esports are revolutionizing the way people follow and engage with video games. In the world of esports, teams of professional gamers battle it out in a variety of video game genres, such as multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), first-person shooter (FPS), fighting games and card or strategy games. Some of the most popular esports include League of Legends, Dota 2 and Counter-Strike.
March 2025 sees a host of events kick off, including Apex Legends’ first season, VALORANT Masters Bangkok 2025 and IEM Spring, as well as Capcom Cup 11, Street Fighter 6’s biggest event of the year. The International, a prestigious Dota 2 tournament with an average prize pool of more than $40 million, is also set to occur.
With the rise of esports in popularity, major companies such as MLG (Major League Gaming) and Electronic Sports League (ESL) have emerged to serve as governing bodies for various game franchises and organize competitive play for their respective communities. In addition to acting as a sort of gatekeeper, these organizations also offer services such as player recruitment and coaching, as well as broadcasting and analytics for their events. Some of the world’s most famous esports athletes have come out of these organizations, such as Faker in League of Legends and s1mple in Counter-Strike.