eSport – The sport will grow even more in 2023
Bogdan LashchenkoRemember how years ago gaming was considered childish and adults playing video games were not to be taken seriously? The world has changed, because today video games are seen from a completely different perspective and the average age of players has risen to over 40 years old. Video games are a popular way to spend time with friends, relax from everyday challenges and enjoy free time - But for others, they are also a pleasant profession and a way to make a living. E-sports has become a well-known sport and its players are followed and fanned in the same way as players of other popular sports.
The journey of e-sports has already started in the 1970s, but it became more popular mainly in the 1990s. However, e-sports only gained popularity in the 21st century. What used to be fun playing among friends has turned into professional level playing, where big money rotates in the prize pools and players are expected to dedicate themselves to playing.
The year 2022 was very successful in e-sports circles, because during the year millions of people have watched various tournaments on a global level, players have signed contracts with large companies such as Coca Cola. It can be said that esports circles have been hot during 2022 and the success has only grown. The popularity of competitive gaming has grown year after year, so we can expect the same kind of growth and popularity in 2023 as in the previous year.
The most popular events in e-sports
During 2023, e-sports will see several different events that will attract millions of viewers to the screens. Some of the events last only a few hours, while other events can last several days. The biggest e-sports also offer the biggest jackpots and the most exciting competitions. Although big competitions are not known at a tight pace, many smaller tournaments can also be held in the year.
The DOTA 2 tournament International is one of the most anticipated tournaments of the season, where the prize pool can reach tens of millions of dollars. Another of the biggest tournaments of the season is the CS:GO Major Championship, in which a whopping 24 teams participate. The League of Legends World Championship is one of the biggest esports events and is organized by Riot Games. In addition, Blizzard Entertainment organizes the Overwatch World Cup (OWWC). Along with these, smaller – but at the same time popular events – are for example FIFAe World Cup, Call of Duty League.
Popular eSports will continue to grow in 2023
Year after year, the most popular sports in e-sports have been League of Legends, DOTA 2 and Counter Strike, and especially Counter Strike: Global Offensive. The most popular of these among Finns is Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), but on an international level League of Legends (LoL) is one of the most popular games. In the 2022 world championship, LoL players competed for a prize pot of two million dollars, so the game is very big money.
If we go back in time a decade, the popularity of e-sports is not yet particularly high. Slowly, however, the popularity has grown and taken over the industry. Nowadays, it is possible to see news about e-sports, and Finnish e-athletes have also become familiar with the news. While e-sports is becoming more familiar, its viewer numbers are also growing. Nowadays, e-sports are also bet on for both small and large events, and it is no longer rare to find a site that also offers e-sports destinations.
Viewership numbers are growing year after year
In e-sports, it is believed that the sport will get even better on the world map when events are organized in a more spectacular setting. At the same time, it is believed that if large events are hosted all over Europe, the sport can become a better part of the culture. In Finland, this has been reflected in the fact that Elisa organized the Elisa Masters Espoo 2022 event in 2022. This, in turn, brought with it the belief that it is also possible to organize large e-sports events in Finland.
E-sports viewership has grown steadily year after year, as interest in e-sports and awareness of the sport's existence have grown. From year to year, e-sports has gained even more viewers, fans and bettors, all of whom have contributed to the sport's growth and popularity. More events around the world are expected in 2023.
Bogdan Lashchenko – content manager at EgamersWorld.Bogdan has been working at EGamersWorld since 2023. Joining the company, he began fillin the site with information, news and events.