In a 2020 article, Forbes Magazine called the esports industry a “Billion Dollar Opportunity.” Since then, this sector has become one of the fastest-growing environments. In fact, esports in 2022 was valued at $1 billion, seeing a rise of almost 50% from the previous year.
Moreover, the rise of live streaming services like Twitch has made esports events more accessible to fans. Today, e-gaming tournaments pull in over 500 million viewers worldwide each year. Many professional teams practice to compete in top events raking in millions of dollars.
Even non-players can show their support for their teams by live streaming or betting. So whether you are a gaming enthusiast or a first-timer, you should definitely check out the following esports tournaments this year.
The International 2023
The DOTA II International Tournament is easily the most lucrative in e-gaming. Sometimes simply called the International, the competition is known for its high prize money. In fact, most editions of the tournament have a prize averaging $25 million. Moreover, the amount grows with each succeeding competition.
The International stakes are generally high, but there are many ways to acquire the jackpot. For example, Tundra Esports, the winner of the 2022 edition, raked in $8.5 million in prize money. However, other teams could also get a part of the bounty. For example, the two runner-ups, Team Secret and Team Liquid, won $2.46 and %1.7 million, respectively.
First held in 2011, the Dota II Tournament is well-known even outside the gaming community. Many tune in to watch the matches and even bet on the teams. The International is an exciting time for gamers, as it marks the conclusion of the year-long DPC or Dota Pro Circuit.
The Circuit consists of three significant tours
- Spring
- Summer
- Winter
Dota teams compete in the leagues and tournaments involved to earn points. For example, each Tour will feature a Regional League and a Major League. The groups compete in these events to get enough win points to be eligible for the Tournament.
From the three tours, 12 teams with the most points are selected for the Dota II competition. The International stands out from most tournaments as the game developer, Valve, organizes it. Moreover, the battle pass system allows the hosts to offer huge team prize pools.
Valorant Champions Tour 2023
Starting in January 2023, VCT, the Valorant Champions Tour is currently underway. Though new to the circuit, the Riot Games title is a fan-favourite and will include venues like
- Seoul
- Berlin
- Los Angeles
The VCT Masters tournament, or the finale, is slated to be held in Seoul, South Korea. This a tactful move by the organizers, as Valorant has been seeing massive popularity in the region. Compared to the International, the Valorant Champions Tour prize pool is low. For the latest editions, players had a chance to win $57,530. However, as Riot Games’ first non-virtual event in the Asia Pacific region, the finale will undoubtedly draw a large crowd.
With Split 1 complete, the Valorant Challengers League 2023 South Asia Split 2 will be held from 29th April to 11th June. Unlike the predecessor, the event will feature a cash pool of $100,000.
Fans of the game will know that the tournament is split into two phases. For VCT Split 2, the following teams will proceed to the Playoffs after competing in the Group Stage.
- Orangutan
- Gods Reign
- Velocity Gaming
- True Rippers Esports
- Revenant Esports
- Medal Esports
- Reckoning Esports
- GodLike Esports
- MLT Esports
- Aster Army
If interested, you can stream the event live on Youtube, Facebook, or Twitch. With 10 qualifying teams, it will be a long tournament. Those betting can use mobile casinos with free spins to get wins in between the matches.
League of Legends Worlds Championships 2023
With the knockout rounds just complete, the League of Legends Worlds Championships
It is gearing up for the finale. The spirits are high as the 2023 edition will be returning to South Korea after a gap of 5 years. Moreover, with several home teams making the knockout rounds, the event is bound to be even more exciting.
Based on the results, the following are the top contenders for the League of Legends Worlds Champion 2023 trophy
- Team Jingdong Gaming, or JDG, from China
- Team Gen G, from South Korea
- Team G2, from Europe
- Team T1 from South Korea
- Mad Lions, from Spain
- Cloud 9, from the USA
- Bilibili Gaming, from China
- Golden Guardians, from the USA
With a $2.23 million prize pool, League of Legends Worlds Championship 2023 is bound to be historic. The tournament is the most important event for League of Legends players and fans alike. The 2022 edition drew a record viewership rating of $5.15 million, cementing the game’s position as the most popular MOBA title.
2023 marks the 13th edition of the League of Legends Worlds Championship. The various rounds for the tournament kicked off in a 2-day event in January. The finale will be decided based on the team’s performance in three stages, namely
- Play-ins
- Swiss
- Knockouts
The Swiss Round has notably been revamped for this year’s edition. For the 2023 tournaments, 16 teams will face off in 5 rounds. Following the general Swiss format, they will compete until they get 3 wins/losses.
Once this round is complete, the teams will proceed to the Knockout Stage, the Quarterfinals, the Semifinals, and then the Final.
Conclusion
The esports industry is expected to achieve a valuation of at least $5.7 billion by 2030. In fact, in 2023 alone, 540 million people worldwide will watch esports. This number may even grow to 640 million in just 2 years. Coupled with a CAGR expectation of 21.9%, these tournaments have the potential to be as popular as sporting events in the future.
