BBC Newsbeat
Workforce 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 nations.
Most are members of organisations resembling Workforce Liquid, one of many world’s largest esports squads.
BBC Newsbeat went behind the scenes at their HQ to seek out out why the EWC is so essential to them, and why they really feel they cannot ignore the controversial contest.
Positioned in Utrecht within the Netherlands, Workforce Liquid’s base is an element workplace, half online game arcade and half luxurious pupil 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 dwell to followers on Twitch.
Lots of Liquid’s high gamers dwell 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 essential to tell apart 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 acquired into EA FC (previously often called Fifa) as a baby.
Now aged 21, he is made enjoying towards the very best towards the world right into a profession.
He says being a part of Workforce Liquid will get him entry to the high-spec amenities and skilled coaches.
“We now 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. We now have efficiency coaches and psychological coaches too,” he says.
Being in a single place, he says, is extra essential than you would possibly assume.
“I believe it is essential to have setting with coaches, with gamers and workers to get chemistry”, he says.
Getty PhotosAs a result of EWC rivals do not symbolize their nations, groups are in a position to herald expertise from world wide.
YanYa, a part of Workforce Liquid’s Apex Legends squad, joined from his house 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 a number of pleasure. You get a number of adrenaline,” he says.
Workforce Liquid want to one-up their efficiency final 12 months, once they completed second total behind Saudi facet Workforce Falcons.
YanYa insists that does not have an effect on him, although.
“I do not really feel strain, I really feel assured,” he says. “We have been practising rather a lot.”
Workforce LiquidParticular person efficiency is a key a part of the EWC and there are huge money prizes for successful gamers.
However there are additionally particular bonuses for the membership championship – the group that wins essentially the most occasions total will get $7m (£5m).
Extra gamers means an opportunity to compete in additional occasions, and a better probability of netting that high prize.
Levi is a reasonably new member of Workforce Liquid, which he joined when his former facet was absorbed into it.
Consolidation – larger esports groups swallowing smaller ones – and mergers have turn into extra widespread, and never simply due to the prizes up for grabs.
A number of esports organisations have gone bust in recent times after an enormous funding growth within the scene fizzled out.
Workforce Liquid’s founder and co-CEO Victor Goosens says preserving the cash coming in is extra essential than ever.
Workforce LiquidWhereas prize cash is not the whole lot, Victor says the EWC is financially essential for Workforce Liquid.
“It is one other supply we are able to plan round and venture our 12 months for and that enables us to construct the corporate and set up ourselves as a sustainable esports organisation”, he says.
He says the group is “bold” with its plans to win the membership championship, after putting second final 12 months.
Victor admits it is necessary to compete in as many occasions as attainable with a view to take the highest spot, however that “it is not price increasing in case your core rosters aren’t already nice”.
It’s essential to entice the very best expertise.
So when on-line chess was added as an occasion at this 12 months’s Esports World Cup, Workforce Liquid signed up the world’s high chess grandmasters Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana.
ActivisionSome esports followers have been crucial 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 limiting 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 thousands and thousands 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, resembling Road Fighter 6 professional Chris CCH, who declined a spot at this year’s contest after qualifying through 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 unattainable for him to hold on competing.
Victor says it is a “delicate and tough state of affairs to navigate” for Workforce 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.”
