Professional gaming’s popularity has exploded, and with that comes their major events getting more and more attention. These professional gaming events are selling out arenas and being nationally televised on networks like ABC.
The field is also getting more competitive, with gamers around the world improving their skills to compete for millions of dollars. Learn all about the top professional gaming events that show why esports should be taken seriously.
Fortnite World Cup
Due to the game’s increased popularity, Epic Games launched the Fortnite World Cup in 2018. Last year’s tournament took place at Arthur Ashe Stadium, home of the U.S. Open for tennis in Flushing Meadows, New York.
The event took place over three days, with winners competing for a $30 million prize pool. 16-year-old Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf took home the $3 million first-place prize this year.
Overwatch League Grand Finals
At this year’s Overwatch League Grand Finals at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, the San Francisco Shock took down the Vancouver Titans for $1.1 million. The event was held for thousands of fans in a sold-out crowd and aired on ABC.
League of Legends World Championship
Riot Games hosts the League of Legends World Championship, another tournament among the top professional gaming events in the world. The tournament began in 2011, and 24 teams have competed for the top price since 2017.
The remaining teams who have made it to the semi-finals are Invictus, FunPlus Phoenix, G2 Esports, and SK Telecom T1.
Call of Duty Championship
The Call of Duty League Championship takes place every year, with last year’s tournament holding a $2 million pool. Over 32 teams competed for the Call of Duty World League Championship in 2019.
bTeam eUnited defeated 100 Thieves for the championship, playing Call of Duty: Black Ops 4 for PlayStation 4. With their win, eUnited received an $800,000 price.
The International
Through a crowdfunded prize pool, The International sees 18 teams compete in the video game Dota 2 via a double-elimination format. This year’s competition saw the team OG from Europe take the crown along with the Aegis of Champions trophy.
