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The largest eSports tournament of the year starts today. Current prize pool for 18 teams is 24,400,181 with another 10 days to go for it's crowd funded prize. It's currently about 400 thousand dollars away from being the largest eSports prize pool in history, with the previous record being The International 2017. The winning team will get just under 11 million dollars.

https://liquipedia.net/dota2/The_International/2018

For the first time it's taking place in Vancouver because it's normal venue, Seattle Arena, is under construction.

I'm sure I'm the only one who gives a shit, but I'm pretty pumped it's in Canada this year, and hope we can represent well. Maybe Valve will continue to hold it here instead of Seattle.

   

You're right, you are the only one who gives a shit.

   

Sort of, yes you might be.

I like playing games, but I find that 'skill' has a lot less to do with it than 'good internet' connections. I suck at some games, unless my PC is host, then I am a god. I've never played DOTA 2 though.

I sort of have a hard time classifying video games as 'sports' though. Fun, challenging, competitive, social - all yes. There are even injuries and cheerleaders. But is it a 'sport'?

That said, I like that Valve has moved it to Seattle.

   

I can assure you, at this game, and at this level, skill has far more to do with it. Especially since they're playing on a closed network with zero ping. There is an aspect of it for non-lan style tournaments, but not in major ones. And for most non-lan events, they're based by region, so a team in china isn't playing a team in north america where there is going to be a huge ping disadvantage.

Is something like golf a sport? Archery? Target shooting? Curling? Car Racing? Anything that is almost purely skill based? If people don't consider those sports, then at least they're consistent. But you can't call golf a sport and say this isn't. The logic doesn't fit.

   

That's cause everyone here are old fuckers.

   

I've attended LAN events before. Before the advent of widespread internet too! "Fragapalooza" The real heroes were the ones who brought their 2TB hacked together NASs' of MP3s and video captured TV series to share with the class.

I suppose looking at it like that, you could call it a sport even if it doesn't require much physical work.

   

Yeah, it's physical requirements are different. Extreme hand-eye coordination and reflexes combined with chess strategy x 5. So it's not stereotypical in that you need to run, or skate, or something like that. But has all the skill and strategy involved in any given sport.

Honestly, well done eSports are growing to an insane degree. Even professional athletes/organizations are taking notice and sponsoring teams now. 5 million people watched at the highest point last year. So it's nothing compared to something like football, but ultimately the difference is the access. All these guys stream when they practice and you can interact with them to an extent. And, if you're good enough, you can play with them. They practice by playing with randoms, so often the top player in a region can be in a game with the 250th player in the region.

   

Yea, I'm like the 91,294th player in the region.

   

If that's a sport, chess is also a sport, playing cards too.

By definition, a sport requires physical exertion. Remember when pro-golfers used to smoke while playing.

   

If people don't consider what I listed sports, then I have no issue with them not considering eSports a sport. I take issue when they argue something like golf is a sport but eSports aren't.

   

The lines are blurred.

   

Message to honorable parents: DO NOT LET YOUR KIDS PLAY VIDIOT GAMES!!!!

   

You just need to put on your glasses old man

   

I play video games and golf but will not say which I'm best at.

   

If you have to wear special footwear to play, then it's a sport,... so golf, curling and bowling are sports, video games are not.

   

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