The eSports community is expanding and shows no signs of slowing down. Many people have taken up gaming as a hobby as they sought entertainment and interaction while subjected to strict travel restrictions and lockdowns. Since then, the stage for competitive video gaming has grown as audiences have grown and gaming has become a profitable source of income. The number of eSports enthusiasts is expected to reach 577.2 million by 2024.
We previously discussed the incredible growth of eSports, but these events have been slowed by COVID’s restrictions on large public events and travel restrictions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, live streaming platforms saw tremendous success, increasing the reach of various eSports. However, most in-person events were cancelled for two years, much to the dismay of fans and professional players worldwide.
Now that the pandemic has subsided, more major tournaments and conventions are resuming physical events. Some have devised a hybrid programme structure so that fans who are unable to attend in person can still enjoy the live competitions and announcements.
Regional matches and leagues take place all year, leading up to the championships. Professional teams give their all to win and entertain their fans when grand titles and large prize pools are at stake. There are now dozens of major eSports events taking place around the world, with large prize pools. While many of these events have yet to announce dates or locations, we examine some of the most popular events for late 2022 and early 2023 in this post.
- 2022-2023 Le Mans Virtual Series
2022-2023 Le Mans Virtual Series
Venues: Sakhir, Bahrain; Monza, Italy; Spa, Belgium; Sebring, USA; and online
Dates: September 17, 2022 (Round 1), October 8, 2022 (Round 2), November 5, 2022 (Round 3), December 3, 2022 (Round 4) and January 14, 2023 (Round 5)
The renowned Esports endurance series comes back with a five-round tour for the 2022/23 Le Mans Virtual Series. It is the second installment of five seasons of endurance racing. The first Le Mans Virtual season began in September 2021 and concluded in February 2022. Teams from different motorsport and esports competitions are invited by the selection committee to enter the race.
The 2022/23 Le Mans Virtual Series kicked off at the race tracks of Sakhir, Bahrain, on September 17, 2022. The finale will be held at the Le Mans Virtual racing circuit on January 14, 2023, where drivers will be racing for 24 hours, vying for the championship title and their share of the $250,000 prize fund.
- The 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022
The 19th Asian Games Hangzhou 2022
Venue: Hangzhou, China
Dates: September 23, 2022 – October 8, 2023
eSports will be making its big debut at the Asian Games 2022 in Hangzhou, China. The Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) announced that eight video game titles were added to the roster, namely: FIFA, Dota 2, League of Legends, Dream Three Kingdoms 2, Hearthstone, Street Fighter V, and Asian versions of PUBG Mobile and Arena of Valor.
Each game will have a gold, silver, and bronze medal up for grabs. In total, 24 medals will be given out in China in 2022. In addition to those games, Robot Masters and VR Sports will be played as demonstration events at the games.
- League of Legends Worlds Championships 2022
League of Legends Worlds Championships 2022
Venues: Mexico City, Mexico; Madison Square Garden, New York City; Atlanta, Georgia; San Francisco, California
Dates:
- September 29, 2022 – October 4, 2022 (Play-Ins)
- October 7-10, 2022, and October 13-16, 2022 (Groups)
- October 20-23, 2022 (Quarterfinals)
- October 29-30, 2022 (Semi-finals)
- November 5, 2022 (Finals)
The World Championship 2022 is back for its 12th iteration with tournaments in Mexico City, New York City, Toronto, and San Francisco. This competition is the pinnacle of the League of Legends competition; 12 teams from diverse regions compete for the world champion title. Twenty four teams from Riot Games’ 12 professional leagues participate in the monthlong tournament.
Qualifications for the World Championships are a year-long process; players in various teams compete across 12 global leagues. Over 800 players will participate in the championship, climbing up the stages from Play-Ins starting September 29, 2022, until the Finals on November 5, 2022.
- Elite Series League of Legends Pro-Am Finals
Elite Series League of Legends Pro-Am Finals
Venue: Brussels Expo, Brussels, Belgium
Date: October 1, 2022
The GameForce in Brussels, Belgium, will host the Pro-Am Finals, the culmination of the Elite Series: League of Legends. With an €8,000 prize pool, 16 teams from the Elite Series and Benelux Regional League are invited to the Pro-Am Finals. The last two teams standing will fight to the victory for the coveted 2022 Pro-Am Champion title.
- Apex Legends Global Series Year 3
Apex Legends Global Series Year 3
Venue: Online and In-Person
Dates:
- October 8-10, October 15-17, October 22-24, October 29-31, 2022 (Preseason Qualifiers)
- November 6, 2022 – onwards (Pro League Split 1)
- January 2023 (Pro League Split 2 Qualifiers)
- June 2023 (Last Chance Qualifiers)
Following up on the major success of this year’s Apex Legends tournament, Electronic Arts (EA) is setting up preparations for the Apex Legends Global Series (AGLS) Year 3 with a preseason Split 1 for the remainder of 2022.
Split 2 and the rest of the tournament’s stages will unfurl in 2023. In addition to announcing competition schedules, EA also announces that AGLS Year 3 will be following an updated pro league for regular season matches. Every region’s Pro League can enter thirty (30) teams for maximum high-level competition and qualification chances.
AGLS Year 3 will also host three (3) in-person competitions. Finally, the total prize pool for the upcoming tournament is priced at $5,000,000.
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