BBC Newsbeat
Crew LiquidThe second Esports World Cup (EWC) has begun in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Over the following seven weeks, groups from world wide will compete throughout 25 video games together with Name of Obligation, League of Legends and EA Sports activities FC (EA FC).
Up for grabs is a share of $70m (£50m).
There are prizes for people and groups however, regardless of the event’s title, gamers do not compete for his or her international locations.
Most are members of organisations comparable to Crew Liquid, one of many world’s greatest esports squads.
BBC Newsbeat went behind the scenes at their HQ to seek out out why the EWC is so necessary to them, and why they really feel they can not ignore the controversial contest.
Situated in Utrecht within the Netherlands, Crew Liquid’s base is an element workplace, half online game arcade and half luxurious scholar lodging.
There are two rooms the place team-mates can compete head-to-head or on-line, and streaming cubicles the place they’ll broadcast reside to followers on Twitch.
A lot of Liquid’s prime gamers reside and practice within the constructing, the place an on-site chef offers three meals a day, all of them designed to spice up focus and response occasions.
When play is figure and work is play it is necessary to differentiate between the 2, and members inform Newsbeat they spend about eight hours a day coaching within the run-up to main competitions.
A type of is Levi de Weerd.
Like many others he bought into EA FC (previously referred to as Fifa) as a toddler.
Now aged 21, he is made enjoying in opposition to the very best in opposition to the world right into a profession.
He says being a part of Crew Liquid will get him entry to the high-spec services and skilled coaches.
“We’ve got a gameplay coach, we’re analysing video games from tournaments previously and in pleasant video games the place we strive issues out. We’ve got efficiency coaches and psychological coaches too,” he says.
Being in a single place, he says, is extra necessary than you would possibly assume.
“I feel it is necessary to have a great surroundings with coaches, with gamers and employees to get a great chemistry”, he says.
Getty PicturesAs a result of EWC rivals do not characterize their international locations, groups are ready to usher in expertise from world wide.
YanYa, a part of Crew Liquid’s Apex Legends squad, joined from his dwelling nation of Mexico.
He says the EWC is “the very best feeling on this planet since you are enjoying the very best gamers”.
“You get quite a lot of pleasure. You get quite a lot of adrenaline,” he says.
Crew Liquid wish to one-up their efficiency final 12 months, after they completed second total behind Saudi facet Crew Falcons.
YanYa insists that does not have an effect on him, although.
“I do not really feel stress, I really feel assured,” he says. “We have been practising rather a lot.”
Crew LiquidParticular person efficiency is a key a part of the EWC and there are massive money prizes for successful gamers.
However there are additionally particular bonuses for the membership championship – the group that wins probably the most occasions total will get $7m (£5m).
Extra gamers means an opportunity to compete in additional occasions, and a higher probability of netting that prime prize.
Levi is a reasonably new member of Crew Liquid, which he joined when his former facet was absorbed into it.
Consolidation – larger esports groups swallowing smaller ones – and mergers have change into extra frequent, and never simply due to the prizes up for grabs.
A number of esports organisations have gone bust lately after a large funding increase within the scene fizzled out.
Crew Liquid’s founder and co-CEO Victor Goosens says protecting the cash coming in is extra necessary than ever.
Crew LiquidWhereas prize cash is not every thing, Victor says the EWC is financially necessary for Crew Liquid.
“It is one other supply we will plan round and undertaking our 12 months for and that permits us to construct the corporate and set up ourselves as a sustainable esports organisation”, he says.
He says the group is “formidable” with its plans to win the membership championship, after inserting second final 12 months.
Victor admits it’s a necessity to compete in as many occasions as potential to be able to take the highest spot, however that “it isn’t price increasing in case your core rosters aren’t already nice”.
You have to entice the very best expertise.
So when on-line chess was added as an occasion at this 12 months’s Esports World Cup, Crew Liquid signed up the world’s prime chess grandmasters Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana.
ActivisionSome esports followers have been vital of groups participating in an occasion hosted, and largely funded, by Saudi Arabia.
The dominion has been accused of quite a few human rights violations and has strict legal guidelines proscribing what girls can do.
Like different Center East states it has been closely criticised for its anti-LGBT legal guidelines – homosexuality is punishable by loss of life.
It is closely invested tens of millions into sport, video video games and esports, which critics argue is an try to spice up its public picture.
There was backlash.
Particular person gamers have chosen to not take part, comparable to Avenue Fighter 6 professional Chris CCH, who declined a spot at this year’s contest after qualifying by way of a partnered occasion.
However, given its ever-growing ties to esports, he admitted that avoiding any Saudi-linked contests altogether would have made it virtually inconceivable for him to hold on competing.
Victor says it is a “delicate and difficult scenario to navigate” for Crew Liquid, which has publicly supported homosexual rights.
“We have been very outspoken that we consider in esports for all,” says Victor.
“So there is a contradiction. However we consider that if we wish to be round in 5 or ten years’ time we have to play on the EWC.”
