The Top Esports Tournaments You Need to Watch

by Chiara Quiocho / March 23, 2019

Esports is a rapidly growing industry that’s been drawing in thousands of fans per tournament. Esports’ impact in South East Asia can’t be denied when it’s slated to join other traditional sports such as basketball and baseball as a medaled event in the 2019 Southeast Asian Games. Whether you’re new to esports or you want to broaden your horizons and follow other titles, it might seem daunting to get into a new esport. That’s why we’ve compiled the top five esports tournaments you need to start watching today.

1. DOTA 2 – The International

One of the forerunners in the esports industry, DOTA 2 has endured throughout the years with its complex gameplay. What started out as a mod for World of Warcraft 3 is now considered the first Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA), and was one of the first to incorporate team play so effectively. In fact, walk into any Pinoy computer shop, you’ll definitely find people still playing DOTA 2.

The International is an annual DOTA 2 tournament held by Valve, the game’s developer. The International collects the top teams to battle it out for some of the largest prize pools in esports with The International 2018’s breaking the record with over $25,000,000 in prize money. The bonus? Homegrown Filipino teams have made it to the The International, so even if you’re not familiar with the scene, you have someone to root for.

2. League of Legends Worlds

One of the biggest esports in the world, League of Legends (LoL)’s success came from streamlining and simplifying DoTA2’s complicated gameplay and one of the first free-to-play MOBAs, making it accessible to new players. LoL has managed to surpass even the NBA in terms of viewership for its Worlds championships.

Worlds is LoL’s premiere tournament, drawing the top teams from regional qualifiers. Just like its colorful graphics, LoL’s esports productions tend to be lavish affairs drawing massive crowds. You’ve probably seen K/DA, their wildly popular K-Pop music video featuring the characters. LoL’s Worlds 2018 featured them as holographic popstars as the opening number. Worlds has produced legends like Faker, a South Korean player, who has become a household name in his home country.

3. CS:GO Majors

Counter Strike has been a presence in the gaming world for quite some time now and it’s still going strong. Valve’s Counter Strike: Global Offensive is one of the biggest First Person Shooter (FPS) titles out there. Unlike a lot of FPS games, CS:GO doesn’t let players respawn after being killed until the round is over. This allows even losing teams to turn things around with a few smart plays and sick skill shots. CS:GO’s emphasis on individual skill and economy management makes it exciting to watch. If you’re a fan of exciting FPS action, this is the esport for you.

CS:GO’s Majors are CS:GO’s most prestigious tournaments, sponsored by Valve in partnership with an organizer. In the Majors, 16 teams duke it out for the title: eight new teams from a qualifying round and the top eight from the previous Major.

4. Overwatch League

Blizzard Entertainment’s FPS-MOBA hybrid arena shooter has garnered a strong esports following with The Overwatch League (OWL). OWL started out strong in its inaugural year, becoming one of the most watched esports of 2018. OWL follows a traditional sports franchising structure with teams representing various cities around the world.

Spectating an Overwatch match may come off as confusing for first-time viewers as the game features a fast pace and multiple abilities that can be triggered all at once. But the fast pace and the blend of ability management and aim ability make the game a thrill to watch. The game’s success also owes a lot to its charismatic and colorful cast of playable characters who make it more fun to spectate.

5. Evolution Championship Series

More popularly known as EVO, The Evolution Championship Series stands apart from the other tournaments on this list by showcasing multiple games. As the largest fighting game tournament (it’s been around since 1996!), EVO holds multiple tournaments for games like Tekken, Soul Calibur and Street Fighter. It’s a showcase of individual skill that requires both dexterity and quick, strategic thinking with competitors having to know the combos of their chosen fighter and then outwitting opponents with a flurry of moves.

EVO’s competitors are a diverse bunch, with more women in esports than a lot of titles out there. One of EVO’s multiple Title winners, SonicFox, who was named esports personality of the year in 2018, identifies himself as “gay, black and a furry”.

Other esports to watch out for in 2019:

While these five have been garnering millions in both prize money and viewers, other titles are gearing to break into the scene. In 2019, we’ll see titles like Fortnite, whose popularity has launched it into the mainstream, have the top players build, shoot and dance their way to victory in the Fortnite Championship Series.

Another title to look out for is Farming Simulator. Don’t laugh! While the game doesn’t seem as exciting as magical battles and heart-pumping gunfights, the game has been thriving through smaller tournaments and a strong following. It’s interesting to watch!

A battle royale game similar to Fortnite, APEX Legends has been growing in popularity. A lot of the major esports teams have begun looking at potential players and fielding teams, expecting that this new game will take off as an esport.