1. E-sports
E-sports stands for electronic sports. This is a term to
describe the play of video games in a competitive
environment. Tournaments are held at big LAN (Local
Area Network) events or even online and often
include a wealthy prize pool. Top professional players
manage to make a comfortable living by competing.
These events are getting bigger and bigger everyday
as they gain more momentum and backing.

2. Games
The most common games played competitively are real time strategy games
such as “Starcraft 2”, fighting games such as “StreetFighter” and first person
shooter games such as the “halo” franchise. Any game can be played
competitively but these games are designed and therefore lend themselves to
a competitive environment, usually due to the skill required and depth of
strategy involved. The skill difference between new players of these games and
the best players in the world is massive and there is always, always room for
improvement. This creates an exciting concept that is not only fun to play but is
also extremely fun in terms of a spectator sport.

3. Events/tournaments
There are many, many tournaments held all over the world allowing players to
compete and attracting huge crowds of fans to spectate and cheer on their
favourite players. Events such a MLG (major league gaming), the GSL (global star
league) and Dreamhack all attract a huge crowd and put up a substantial prize pool
for the winners and runners up.
MLG: GSL:
1st $5,000.00 Dreamhack:
Winner: $85,700 Winner: $11,000
2nd $3,000.00 Runner-Up: $25,700
3rd $2,000.00 Runner-up: $4000
Semi-Finalists: $8,600
4th $1,400.00 Quarter-Finalists: $3,400
5th $1,000.00 Round of 16: $1710
6th $700.00 Round of 32: $430 USD
7th $500.00 Round of 64: $260 USD
8th $400.00

4. South Korea
South Korea is the home of e-sports. Competitive gaming is their national sport, it is as
big there as American football is in the USA or football is here in the UK. They host the
biggest tournaments by far such as the GSL and even have dedicated television shows
covering the action and news in the world of e-sports.
The top level players are comparable to rock stars, earning a very decent living and
having hordes of adoring fans. The most popular game played is “Starcraft :
BroodWar”, the predecessor to Starcraft 2. This game requires the strategic mind of a
chess player and the hand speed and accuracy of a top level pianist, creating an
exciting and eventful environment for players to compete, and this is shown by the
amount of people that show up to the events to spectate.