BBC Newsbeat
Group 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 Responsibility, 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 match’s title, gamers do not compete for his or her nations.
Most are members of organisations equivalent to Group Liquid, one of many world’s greatest esports squads.
BBC Newsbeat went behind the scenes at their HQ to search out out why the EWC is so vital to them, and why they really feel they cannot ignore the controversial contest.
Situated in Utrecht within the Netherlands, Group 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 stay to followers on Twitch.
A lot of Liquid’s prime gamers stay and prepare within the constructing, the place an on-site chef gives 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 vital 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 kind of is Levi de Weerd.
Like many others he obtained into EA FC (previously often known as Fifa) as a toddler.
Now aged 21, he is made enjoying in opposition to the most effective in opposition to the world right into a profession.
He says being a part of Group Liquid will get him entry to the high-spec amenities and skilled coaches.
“Now we have a gameplay coach, we’re analysing video games from tournaments up to now and in pleasant video games the place we strive issues out. Now we have efficiency coaches and psychological coaches too,” he says.
Being in a single place, he says, is extra vital than you would possibly suppose.
“I believe it is vital to have a very good atmosphere with coaches, with gamers and employees to get a very good chemistry”, he says.
Getty PhotographsAs a result of EWC rivals do not symbolize their nations, groups are ready to herald expertise from world wide.
YanYa, a part of Group Liquid’s Apex Legends squad, joined from his house nation of Mexico.
He says the EWC is “the most effective feeling on the earth since you are enjoying the most effective gamers”.
“You get a number of pleasure. You get a number of adrenaline,” he says.
Group Liquid need to one-up their efficiency final yr, after they completed second total behind Saudi facet Group 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.”
Group 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 crew that wins probably the most occasions total will get $7m (£5m).
Extra gamers means an opportunity to compete in additional occasions, and a larger probability of netting that prime prize.
Levi is a reasonably new member of Group Liquid, which he joined when his former facet was absorbed into it.
Consolidation – greater esports groups swallowing smaller ones – and mergers have turn out to be extra widespread, 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.
Group Liquid’s founder and co-CEO Victor Goosens says holding the cash coming in is extra vital than ever.
Group LiquidWhereas prize cash is not every thing, Victor says the EWC is financially vital for Group Liquid.
“It is one other supply we are able to plan round and venture our yr for and that permits us to construct the corporate and set up ourselves as a sustainable esports organisation”, he says.
He says the crew is “formidable” with its plans to win the membership championship, after inserting second final yr.
Victor admits it is necessary to compete in as many occasions as doable in an effort to take the highest spot, however that “it is not value increasing in case your core rosters aren’t already nice”.
It’s essential entice the most effective expertise.
So when on-line chess was added as an occasion at this yr’s Esports World Cup, Group Liquid signed up the world’s prime chess grandmasters Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana.
ActivisionSome esports followers have been important of groups collaborating 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, equivalent to Road 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 nearly inconceivable for him to hold on competing.
Victor says it is a “delicate and difficult state of affairs to navigate” for Group 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 need to be round in 5 or ten years’ time we have to play on the EWC.”
