The biggest gaming tournaments

22 September 2019

Modern gaming is no longer just a hobby for people who prefer to spend their time on their own, it brings people together and builds whole communities centered around specific games. And nowhere is this more visible than in gaming tournaments. Their popularity skyrocketed in recent years to the point where no one is now surprised to see the whole arenas fill up with fans who want to see their favorite players and teams compete against each other.

Big events can not only gather the best-known gamers in one place but create great promotional opportunities as well. The gaming industry is constantly growing, with the number of people who play regularly getting bigger with each year. So it’s no secret that a lot of money is involved, and you can clearly see it when you look at the prizes offered to the best players. Whether you want to take part in a tournament, or you’re just keen to see it happen with your own eyes and feel the incredible atmosphere created by thousands of fans rooting for their favorites, here are some of the biggest competitions you’ll find around the world.

World Cyber Games

This huge competition is fashioned after the Olympic Games with players from different countries taking part in smaller, regional events before the best teams can make their way to the big finale. The place where the main tournament is hosted is different each year, and in 2019 it was the city of Xi’an in China. In this year’s edition players showed their skills in Dota 2, Honor of Kings, Clash Royale, and Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne among others with the prizes amounting to $612 000 in total.

Overwatch League Grand Finals

The Grand Finals’ first edition took place in 2018 to determine the champion of the Overwatch League. The format is based on the traditional sporting championships where individual teams compete against each other in regular playoffs to climb their way to the top. We will have a chance to observe the contenders for this year’s title on September 29 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, where we will find out who will be crowned as the winners of the season. The total amount of money available to win is $1.7 million.

League Of Legends World Championships

It’s one of the tournaments that enjoys the biggest popularity with a huge number of fans from around the globe tuning in to watch the main events unfold. There is no fixed place where the competition takes place with the game being taken to various venues in different parts of the world year after year. The edition of 2019 will take place in Paris, France with 24 teams receiving the invitation to enter the championships and compete for the main prize of $1 million and the 70 pounds Summoner’s Cup.

The International

This annual competition is held by Valve Corporation for their video game Dota 2. Each year 18 teams earn the right to take part in the tournament based on their performance and results. There’s no fixed prize pool, but rather a crowdfunding system that allows The International to achieve higher figures with each edition (the latest one amounting to over $34 million). The winners are also awarded the Aegis of Champions trophy.

FIFA eWorld Cup

In order to find the best e-footballer in the world, each player of the game can enter the qualifying. Thanks to this open format, millions of gamers from each corner of the world are able to try their hand in the competition and gain a chance to show off their skills in front of a huge audience. With that being said, with the number of experienced contenders, getting out of the initial stages won’t be an easy task for amateur players. The winner of the 2018 edition earned $250 000 for his achievement.