The gaming sector in Canada is showing some promise in recent years, as more than half of the population identifies themselves as gamers. Now, gaming is not limited to entertainment anymore, as gamers can now take part in competitions professionally and win huge prizes.
These gaming tournaments are known as Electronic Sports or eSports in brief.
Now, if you’re looking forward to making a professional career out of gaming, then this article will surely help you in knowing the popular eSports games and the upcoming eSports tournaments in which you can take part. However, there are other opportunities to earn from eSports as well. For example, eSports events are regularly featured in no wagering casino Canada, where you can bet and win real money.
Most Popular eSports Games in Canada
Esports tournaments feature hundreds of games, and the popular ones preferred by Canadian gamers have been listed below:
- CS: GO – The iconic first-person shooter game by Valve Corporation is the most played team game in eSports tournaments. It also pulls the maximum earnings in these events.
- StarCraft II – The real-time strategy game by Blizzard Entertainment, with a sci-fi theme, boasts the most number of eSports players in the country.
- Dota 2 – Another popular creation of Valve, Dota 2 is a 5v5 multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game. The most-played game on Steam, Dota 2, offers lucrative prizes to the players.
- Fortnite – Players also prefer to play Fortnite in eSports tournaments, the player vs. environment cooperative game developed by Epic Games.
- Valorant – The latest inclusion in the list, Valorant by Riot Games is a 5v5 first-person tactical shooter game popularly played in eSports events.
Highly Anticipated eSports Tournaments of 2023
Before taking part in an eSports event, it is important to keep track of the biggest upcoming tournaments and know the ins and outs of them.
League of Legends World Championship 2023
The 13th rendition of the most popular eSports tournament, the League of Legends World Championship by Riot Games, is set to be held in South Korea. The dates are yet to be announced, but players are expecting the tournament to be organized between September – November.
The tournament will feature 22 teams of 5 players, out of which 3 teams from the USA and Canada can participate. The top 3 teams of the LCS (League of Legends Championship Series), which takes place bi-annually in summer and spring, qualify for the World Championship from the North American region.
The tournament is going to be streamed live on Twitch and YouTube.
The International 2023
The annual world championship of Dota 2, The International, is one of the biggest eSports organized by Valve. The International 2023 is expected to be held in October, but the exact dates and the venue are yet to be announced.
This 5v5 tournament features 18 teams – the top 12 from Dota Pro Circuit (DPC) and 6 directly invited teams. You need to take part in the ‘Majors’ and the regional leagues of DPC to stand a chance of qualification.
The International has the highest prize pool for a single-tournament eSports event, reaching a whopping $40 million in 2021.
CS: GO Major Championship
Playing in the Majors is a dream of every Counter-Strike fan. The Majors 2023 is set to take part in BLAST Paris, with 24 top CS: GO teams from around the world competing for the title. The dates have already been announced, a two-week window from 8th to 21st May.
Prior to the tournament, teams need to take part in Regional Major Ranking (RMR) events to earn their spot. The invited teams are classified into three groups – the Legends and the Challengers for the top-ranked teams, while the Contenders feature the lower-placed teams. North and South American teams have 1 Legend, 2 Challenger, and 3 Contender spots reserved for them.
Dream Hard, Kill Harder
One must remember that most eSports tournaments are team events. So, besides polishing your personal skills, you require proper coordination with your gaming buddies.
Winning a major eSports event can bring all the glory to your professional career as a gamer. The pathway is difficult, for sure, but you can reach the top anyway.
