With an ever-expanding fan base, record numbers and a brand new cable show, eSports is becoming bigger by the second and shows no signs of letting up
It’s an exciting time to be an eSports fan right now.
It isn’t just the latest projections, estimating the global audience for the scene will be 215 million people by 2019. Nor that the money involved will smash the $1 billion mark by the same point.
It’s exciting right now. This weekend in fact. Why? Two crucial reasons.
ELEAGUE of Their Own
As mentioned in previous blogs, Turner Broadcasters and WME|IMG have partnered to broadcast Counter-Strike: Global Offensive live on television in America. And it’s finally here, starting this Friday.
The ELEAGUE show will air for three hours at a time across the next few months, with a $1.4 million prize pot on offer.
Among the 24 star-studded teams are Luminosity, Fnatic, Astralis, Natus Vincere and NiP, along with many more fan favourites. All massive names and right there on cable television. Luminosity are currently the favourites for the crown (4.00), with Fnatic on their heels (4.50) and Natus Vincere (5.00) close behind.
This is not the first time eSports has been on television, BBC Three broadcast the League of Legends World Championships live at the end of last year.
But this is the first significant step by a broadcaster to shape a tournament and put up some serious cash to make it happen, rather than just broadcasting it cold.
People were quick to dismiss the BBC broadcast as a one-off, a toe in the water. This is different, though. A declaration of importance and crucially – cash, but speaking of LoL…
LCS Party: Summer Split is Here
For all the League of Legends fans out there, it’s like Christmas has come early. The LCS Summer Split is back for the North American and European teams, and it’s been shaken up.
The biggest change is the format tweak: Matches will now be a best-of-three in the NA LCS, while EU LCS will instead go with a best-of-two standard.
We’ll have to keep an eye on how the differences between the two pan out, as each will change the pace and focus of matches. For now though, there are all the roster change news to keep us occupied.
We’re all chomping at the bit to see how Fnatic perform in the EU now they have talismanic captain YellOwStaR back on board (Hint: they’re second favourites at 3.75 to win the Split).
Plus, with G2 and Origin trading and swapping about members of each other’s teams, will it have a massive effect on their play?
Over in NA, Immortals are expected to return with a vengeance after disappointingly going out of the Spring Split Playoffs following a storming 17:1 regular season. Currently favourites (2.75), they’ll be hard to stop.
What’s more, week one sees the LCS Championship rematch between Team SoloMid and Counter Logic Gaming. Will this set the tone for the rest of the summer?
eSports has come a very long way in a remarkably short space of time. The recent announcement by ESL of the creation of the World eSports Association (WESA) is an even bigger step towards expanding its horizons and getting even more fans on board. For now, let’s enjoy the top action on offer.
Where next for eSports? Who will win ELEAGUE and the Summer Split? Let us know your thoughts @BetwayeSports today!
READ: The power and the glory: Will WESA treat the burns or fuel the fire?
