Esports tournament news is a vital part of the eSports industry. Dedicated teams and athletes compete in organized events, often with large prize pools and broadcast coverage. These competitions are often categorized as open, meaning that anyone can participate, or invitational, which requires specific credentials to qualify for.
Various video games are popular amongst eSports competitors, with the most common being multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), first-person shooter, fighting game and real-time strategy games. Unlike traditional sports, eSports competitions are often held in professional venues, and players are considered athletes who train and compete with other teams or individuals. Esports has become particularly popular in East Asia, and is a growing industry in Europe and the Americas.
In team-based eSports, sponsored teams play multiple games throughout the course of a season to determine their overall standing in the competition. Based on their performance, the top teams may be promoted into higher leagues and those that finish poorly can be relegated to lower divisions. This practice is similar to that used in many European and Asian professional sports leagues.
Esports tournaments can be a great way to showcase the skills of a professional gamer, and attract new audiences to a video game. However, the industry must also remain vigilant about match-fixing, which is when a competing team deliberately manipulates the outcome of a game for illicit financial gain. While the threat of match-fixing is less severe than in some other sports, it remains a significant issue for the eSports industry and must be addressed if it is to continue to grow at its current rate.