The eSports highlights of 2016
New leagues, bigger prizes and a viewership that is growing at an incredible pace: video game tournaments have become the fastest growing sports market. Esports will continue to fill entire stadiums in the upcoming year.
Racing eSports?
With a huge fan base in real life, motorsport is still on the fringes in the digital world. In cooperation with the ESL, the game World Rally Championship 5 is expected to change that with a new racing league. So far, specific dates have not been announced but the races should take place during the actual rally season.
Gamescom for the masses
A stormtrooper and a Twi'lek standing together in harmony? In the world of Cosplay that is not a problem. At Gamescom, the pair make that dream a reality. The notorious German gaming event will take place from August 17-21 and should attract more than 345,000 visitors. The annually held fair also features top-notch esports competitions.
Champions League of Counter-Strike
Shooter fans get their money's worth at Counter-Strike's Major Championships. They take place three times a year at ELS One in Cologne. For the first edition of the Major Championships in 2016, Columbus, Ohio will be the host city. Starting April 1 and running until April 3, the top 16 Counter-Strike teams will compete against each other.
Dota 2: the cash cow
The most prestigious event in the Dota 2 universe is "The International," which acts as the biggest financial incentive in the world of eSports – and not only through merchandising. The team Evil Geniuses earned about 6.5 million dollars after winning in 2015. Although there are no dates set in stone for the next tournament, one thing is for certain: the prize money in 2016 will be even higher.
The highest honors of LCS
The biggest event at the end of the year is the League of Legends World Cup. A year earlier, a team from South Korea, STK, celebrated their win along with fans after a spectacular final in front of 12,000 spectators in Berlin. Tour dates for the upcoming season will most likely be announced in spring.