eSports

Revealed: What does it take to become an esports star?

Published

5 years ago

September 14, 2020

George Miller

Reading Time: 3 minutes

Johan Sundstein aka ‘N0tail’ is the top-ranking esports player of 2020, with $6.9 million in prize money to his name
The average age of a top-ranking esports player is 24 for male players and 27 for female
Popular streaming sites have experienced a 20% increase in the number of hours streamed in lockdown

Esports have accelerated into the mainstream in recent years, providing many avid gamers with the opportunity to turn their passion into a career. And with prize funds reaching the millions, being on top of your game certainly pays off. So, what does it take to make it big in esports and how has the industry evolved? Intel explored the ins and outs of the growing esports world.

The making of an esports star

The most top-ranking male players of 2020 are from China (26%), and the most top-ranking female players are from the USA (42%)
Physical health must also be a priority when training for esports, as well as in-game performance

As an avid gamer, what would it take to break into the esports industry and what exactly does an esports star look like today?

Based on the 100 top-ranking male and female esports players of 2020, the average age is 24 for male players and 27 for female. Some are even as young as 16, demonstrating that progression is very possible at a young age.

To climb the ranks, players must be committed to perfecting their game and putting in the necessary training, both in-game and physically. Professionals specialise in one or two games, focusing their time and energy on perfecting their performance.

“The best game to get into when moving into professional gaming or streaming is something you actually enjoy,” explains Chris Ball aka ‘Sacriel’. “It’s clear to see when a streamer is forcing themselves to play a type of game they don’t enjoy just because they feel a ‘big’ game is their only option – so instead find something that you can be passionate about.”

Healthy eating and a good night’s sleep are also recommended for optimal performance.

Esports host, Frankie Ward says “Esports teams are beginning to bring their routines in line with more traditional sports. Counter-Strike team Astralis, for example, has a coach, sports psychologist, and a physiotherapist. They also have a nutritionist and a sleep doctor that they can access, should they need extra help.”

Aoife Wilson, Head of Video at Eurogamer also stresses the importance of physical health, adding that players should “make physical training a priority alongside in-game training, which can not only help with focus and mindset, but in preventing strain or injuries that can come with sitting at your computer for prolonged periods of time.”

The esports industry in 2020

The industry, which is currently worth $1.1 billion in 2020, is projected to be worth $1.8 billion by 2022
The top competing countries are the USA, China and The Republic of Korea

Esports have come a long way since their conception – from ‘Spacewar’ played on the first ever computer to ‘Dota 2’, best enjoyed on a specialist gaming PC. So, what does the industry look like in 2020?

Today esports have the potential to fill huge arenas with thousands of fans. Not to mention the additional at-home audience watching live competitions streamed online. The Intel® Extreme Masters, held in Katowice in 2017, was one of the largest esports events in history, with a live attendance of 173,000 and viewership of 46 million.

While many live 2020 esports events were forced to cancel in response to the coronavirus pandemic, some went ahead in a virtual format. In fact, popular streaming sites such as Twitch and YouTube experienced a 20% increase in the number of hours streamed in lockdown, suggesting gaming provided solace to many throughout quarantine.

The esports industry has grown by epic proportions in recent years. Over the last five years, revenue has tripled from $325M to $1.1 billion and audience size has quadrupled from 120M to 495M. What’s more, the industry is projected to be worth a huge $1.8 billion by 2022.

While the esports world is very much a global playing field, with players hailing from all around the globe, the top competing countries are the USA, China and The Republic of Korea. 2019 winnings totalled $41.3 million, $18.5 million and $16.5 million for the respective nations.

Streamer Chris Ball aka ‘Sacriel’ says, “as the technical limits on game engines get pushed further and further back with breakthroughs in computing prowess, I think esports and streaming is going to become more mainstream and I look forward to what the new technology brings us.”

You can view the full list of those make it to the top in the eSport industry here.

Bohdan Holovnov Head of Esports at DATA.BET

DATA.BET Reports +79% Profit Growth in Esports Betting for Q3 2025

Published

13 hours ago

November 18, 2025

George Miller

data.bet-reports-+79%-profit-growth-in-esports-betting-for-q3-2025

Reading Time: 2 minutes

The company continues to drive revenue across the esports vertical

DATA.BET, a trusted sportsbook solution supplier, reports a significant increase in esports betting performance in the third quarter of 2025. The results demonstrate sustained market demand, disciplined trading operations, and growing player engagement across partner platforms, leading to revenue growth and commercial performance for DATA.BET.

In the third quarter of 2025, esports delivered strong results across all major performance indicators. Compared to Q3 2024, the stake volume improved by 60%, while total profit grew by 79%, supported by a 12% improvement in margin efficiency. Player activity also strengthened, with the total number of placed bets up by 33%, and multiples seeing a rise of 53%. The active player base expanded by 126%, and the average bet size increased by 22%, indicating higher confidence and deeper involvement from users.

Across major esports titles, performance dynamics show how player preferences and event availability shaped the quarter. CS2 maintained its position as the leading discipline, with results including a 26.7% uplift in turnover and a 55% growth in profit, while the number of bets grew moderately by 2.5%. League of Legends demonstrated significant momentum, moving from the fourth to the second most popular discipline, overtaking Dota 2. Turnover increased by 290%, profit by 416%, and the number of bets by 221%. Rainbow Six also strengthened its position within the top five disciplines due to broader coverage and regional expansion across LatAm, leading to a 126% enhance in turnover, a 504% jump in profit, a 12.4% rise in bets placed, and a 100% expansion in match coverage.

According to Bohdan Holovnov, Head of Esports at DATA.BET, this performance is linked to deliberate product and trading enhancements aligned with player behavior: “We focused on improving uptime for the most popular in-play markets, including ‘Map – Total Kills’, ‘Map – Duration’, ‘Map – Winner’, and ‘Player – Total Deaths‘, especially in late-game phases where engagement peaks. This applies to both shooters and MOBA titles. Additionally, interval-based kill markets were introduced in League of Legends and Dota 2, enabling more frequent and dynamic betting opportunities. Another major driver was the expansion of Player Props across all top-tier disciplines, including CS2, Dota 2, League of Legends, and Valorant, in both pre-match and live formats. In shooters, ‘Total Deaths’ became a standout exclusive market, while official data coverage allowed us to expand Player Props across all tiers as well. This combination boosts both activity and margin efficiency across our clients.”

This upward movement is not only reflected year over year, but also quarter-to-quarter growth, with a profit percentage up by 13% compared to Q2 2025. This consistency highlights both sustained user interest and the stability of DATA.BET’s esports offering, even after expanding into sports betting in June 2025.

Bohdan Holovnov, the Head of Esports, mentioned: “Esports has proven its strength and reliability as a betting vertical. Quarter after quarter, we see steady engagement, growing turnover, and tangible revenue impact for operators. We’re pleased with the performance and even more excited about the momentum ahead, and we are scaling it together with our partners.”

The post DATA.BET Reports +79% Profit Growth in Esports Betting for Q3 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

Asia

UniPin Accelerates Esports Growth Through Nationwide Campus Esports Championship in India, Expansion to 50+ Universities in 2026

Published

7 days ago

November 12, 2025

Niji Narayan

unipin-accelerates-esports-growth-through-nationwide-campus-esports-championship-in-india,-expansion-to-50+-universities-in-2026

Reading Time: 2 minutes

UniPin, the leading digital entertainment and esports enabler across Asia, had launched the UniPin Campus Championship India, a large-scale interuniversity esports tournament designed to unite and empower student gamers through competition, collaboration and community building.

Running from October to December 2025, the championship will bring offline esports tournaments to eight major cities: Mumbai, Pune, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Lucknow. Winners from each campus qualifier will advance to the Grand Finale in January 2026, where they will compete for national recognition and esports glory.

The championship officially kicked off in Pune (MIT Pune, Oct 30) and Mumbai (NMIMS Mumbai, Oct 31). Both campuses recorded overwhelming enthusiasm from students eager to represent their universities, demonstrating the growing momentum of esports within India’s student communities. Packed audiences, spirited support and competitive gameplay marked a strong opening for the multi-city series.

“The UniPin Campus Championship India underscores UniPin’s ongoing commitment to cultivating the next generation of esports talent while strengthening a culture of collaboration, discipline, and sportsmanship among young players. As India’s gaming ecosystem continues to grow, we are proud to provide a platform that empowers students to showcase their skills, connect with the community, and pursue their passion at a competitive level,” said Paras Gupta, Manager of Esports, Community & KOL at UniPin India.

Expansion Vision: 2026 and Beyond

Building on the momentum of this inaugural championship, UniPin India is preparing an even larger nationwide initiative for 2026, with plans to reach more than 50 universities across India. The expansion aims to elevate intercampus esports into a mainstream student activity by integrating workshops on esports careers, community networking and developer engagement — not only fostering competition, but also building pathways into the gaming and digital entertainment industry.

This upcoming expansion signals UniPin’s long-term investment in India’s esports ecosystem and strengthens its commitment to making esports accessible, structured and sustainable at the grassroots level.

“This expansion is not just about growing the tournament footprint. By 2026, we aim to reach every major campus so they can have a thriving esports community supported by the right infrastructure, education, and exposure,” Paras added.

Through the UniPin Campus Championship, UniPin reinforces its mission to accelerate the growth of esports and digital entertainment in Asia by creating inclusive opportunities for young players to connect, compete and thrive.

The post UniPin Accelerates Esports Growth Through Nationwide Campus Esports Championship in India, Expansion to 50+ Universities in 2026 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

eSports

Globant and Riot Games Announce Partnership

Published

1 week ago

November 11, 2025

GamingAmericas.com

globant-and-riot-games-announce-partnership

Globant and Riot Games announced a multi-year strategic partnership to support some of Riot’s most critical innovation initiatives and fan communities across League of Legends and VALORANT Esports. This collaboration brings together Riot’s world-class esports experiences with Globant’s global expertise in digital reinvention.

As its new digital transformation partner, Globant will support some of Riot Games’ most critical tech initiatives, including future explorations in artificial intelligence that augment esports viewing experiences and mobile integration capabilities. During the multi-year partnership, the two companies will push the boundaries of technology to unlock teams to deliver richer, more tailored experiences for millions of players and fans globally.

“Globant shares our commitment to deliver the most resonate and engaging experiences for players and fans around the world. Their deep expertise in technology will help us accelerate areas of the business so Rioters can focus on pushing creative boundaries of what’s possible in esports and live events,” said David Mulhall, Global Head of Esports Partnerships and Business Development at Riot Games.

“We are thrilled to join forces with Riot Games to expand the future of gaming and esports. This partnership reflects our shared belief that technology and creativity can reshape how communities connect, play, and experience entertainment,” said Martin Migoya, Co-founder and CEO of Globant.

Globant brings extensive experience across media, entertainment, and gaming that reinforces its role as a transformative technology partner. Through its Media & Entertainment and Games Studios, the company supports global organizations in areas such as content creation and management, streaming platforms, game development, art services, quality assurance, product management, and ongoing live operations. Globant is also a trusted partner to leading sports and entertainment brands, including FIFA and Formula 1. By combining deep industry expertise with advanced technologies like AI, Globant has established itself as a key enabler of innovation and fan engagement for some of the world’s most influential organizations in sports, media, and gaming.

The post Globant and Riot Games Announce Partnership appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.