The rise of eSports

Over 2.7 billion of the world’s population play some kind of computer game. Many play for fun, but a growing number are playing competitively in structured competitions and tournaments. These events see professional game players pitted against each other, battling it out for prizes that reach hundreds of thousands and even millions of dollars. Popular games include League of Legends, Counter-Strike Global Offensive, Fortnite, Call of Duty and Overwatch.

At the moment, around 557 million people tune in annually to watch eSports events — a figure that is expected to grow year on year. As we move into 2021, some are even forecasting that eSports could even surpass the popularity and market size of professional sports.