Challenge accepted: how to take part in (and win) online game tournaments

Not so long ago, online game tournaments used to be something you cobbled together with your friends by all logging into the same lobby. Now competitive eSport tournaments regularly fill traditional sports stadiums, with thousands of spectators desperate for the chance to see who's going to be victorious playing their favourite game.

So how does someone transition from casual player to tournament champion?

First, you need to have an overview of the eSports landscape. Online gaming tournaments fall into different categories, which are sometimes dependent on the game of choice. The simplest mode is 1v1, where two single players compete mano a mano. Players can also play as doubles (2v2) or in groups of three (3v3 battles). Larger teams of four or more can compete in multiplayer games.

Choose a game that's right for you

One of the most popular genres to play competitively is the multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA), also known as action real-time strategy games (ARTS). Games that fall under this category are the immensely popular League of Legends and Dota 2. At their top level, these games have cash pools of $20 million and upwards. 

If you want to put the 'sport' into eSport, EA’s FIFA series has tournaments built around it. Though the prize funds don't compare to the MOBAs', it can still be very competitive, especially in countries that have strong football teams.

Other popular games include the various titles in Activision’s Call of Duty series, a first-person shooter (FPS) that attracts gamers of all skill ranges. The series has combined sales of over 150 million, and it's a good place to start to build up skills.

Play against aspiring pro-level players

Before you can blag an invite to The International, Valve's prestigious annual Dota 2 tournament, you have to create a name for yourself in online tournaments. Many sites host competitions now, but the best-known are Major League Gaming, Gamer Saloon, and World Gaming. Players need to register to compete, often paying a small fee that's put into the cash pool.

Different tournaments charge different prices depending on the game you compete in and your skill level, so shop around to find the best arena for you. You may even find tournaments that are free to enter, where the rewards tend to be credit for future tournaments rather than cash. The more you win, the more tournaments you can try and enter, though as a general rule, the more expensive a tournament, the higher the reward.

Practice, practice, practice makes perfect

One of the key components of any sport, whether on a pitch or on a PC, is practice. Players have to master the controls of the game, as well as a thought-out strategy if they're acting as part of a team. If you live in South Korea, one of the world’s largest online gaming markets, you can move into a gaming house and play video games with your team all day, and possibly all night too.

However, another prerogative is to purchase a high-end gaming laptop. Key features on your wish list should be a high resolution screen, pure power to run the games online, lightweight so you can practice wherever you go, as well as fast response to reduce input lag. The ROG Strix GL502 is ideal, with a 15” Ultra-HD screen, tactile keyboard and an intelligent thermal design to keep the system cool during marathon gaming sessions. And ROG Strix GL702 is another great pick as it was the official gaming laptop used at the professional level in TI6 (The International 6) .

 

By Andrew Rainnie