I remember when I was younger playing against my family and friends Madden Football on the Sega Genesis and playing for hours. Some of the games would always come down to the final possession and those few seconds were always intense. Nowadays, gaming has come a long way from playing next to your opponent to playing against someone in another state or even country. With the arrival of online gaming, you could be playing against someone down the block or in another part of the world. 

Playing with someone online is always fun, but imagine playing against others for not only the fun but also for money. Esports is that next step in gaming. These tournaments have been going on for a while, but they are finally being noticed for what they are and they are nail-biting, suspenseful, and edge-of-your-seat exciting at the same time. If Gil and I were to ever enter one of these tournaments, we would probably be out in a few seconds. The players who play in these tournaments have gaming skills that we can only dream of. 

If you would like to see the biggest gaming event this year, check out the Worlds Championship and see how exciting Esports can be. 

Here’s some info about Esports and Chris Hopper, who was recently in town to promote the Worlds Championships. 

Esports have become particularly appealing to NBA players Rick Fox, Magic Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal who all have some investment in LoL teams.  Rick Fox is the owner of Echo Fox and some of the biggest LoL players in the North American region while Magic Johnson is part owner in Team Liquid, a North American team that has already qualified for this year’s Worlds after a series of defeat.   Shaquille O’Neil is one of NRG Esports’ investors, as well.

Viewership for the Worlds 2017 reached new viewership milestones, packing the Beijing National Stadium (Bird’s Nest) and rivaling those of major traditional sporting event finals. LoL Esports games are broadcasted live to millions of fans in 18 different languages in a global celebration that allows gamers to connect, play and have fun.  The action begins in Seoul, South Korea on October 1st and ends at Incheon Munhak Incheon Stadium on November 3rd.

Chris Hopper (Chopper), Head of North American Esports at Riot Games, oversees the operation of the North American League of Legends Championship Series.  He has worked tirelessly to professionalize the Esports industry, attracting sponsors such as State Farm & Jersey Mike’s and advocating for players’ salaries.  Under his leadership the NA LCS incorporated a franchise model, combining endemic operators such as Team SoloMid, Cloud9, and Team Liquid with traditional sports teams such as the Golden State Warriors, the Cleveland Cavaliers , and Houston Rockets into a single property. During his tenure, the NA LCS attracted sponsors such as State Farm & Jersey Mike’s and saw the average starting salary for players rise above $320,000. Additionally, Chris works alongside the College League of Legends team to advise on its development in North America which currently sees the participation of 300 colleges & universities.

Prior to his position as the Head of NA LCS Chris Hopper worked on Riot Games Central Esports Team that sought to professionalize esports around the world. During this period, the League of Legends esports ecosystem grew to 14 regional leagues, over 113 professional teams, 860 full time players and sold out multiple iconic arenas, including New York’s Madison Square Garden, the Los Angeles’ Staples Center and the Beijing National Stadium (also known as the Bird’s Nest).

League of Legends is a fast-paced, competitive online game that blends the speed and intensity of an RTS with RPG elements. Two teams of powerful champions, each with a unique design and playstyle, battle head-to-head across multiple battlefields and game modes. With an ever-expanding roster of champions, frequent updates and a thriving tournament scene, League of Legends offers endless replayability for players of every skill level.

Riot Games was founded in 2006 by Brandon Beck and Marc Merrill with the intent to change the way video games are made and supported for players. In 2009, Riot released its debut title League of Legends to worldwide acclaim. The game has since gone on to become the most played PC game in the world and a key driver of the explosive growth of Esports. Players are the foundation of our community and it’s for them we continue to evolve and improve the League of Legends experience. Riot Games is headquartered in Los Angeles, CA and has 23 offices worldwide.