Chennai has witnessed the quiet transformation of esports from a mere hobby on mobile phones to a lucrative industry worth crores. The city is now home to professional e-gamers who compete internationally, earning monthly salaries ranging from 10 to 20 lakh. The Tamil Nadu government has recognized this trend and included esports in the CM Trophy.
Sudin Dinesh, hailing from Chennai, started as a casual gamer playing locally with friends but eventually turned it into a full-time career. By dedicating 10 hours daily to practice and participating in tournaments nationwide, he gained recognition and a contract with a gaming organization in Delhi. His success led him to compete at the 2015 Esports World Championship where he achieved a top 32 ranking globally.
Comparing esports to traditional sports, Dinesh acknowledges the competitive nature of the industry and emphasizes the rising popularity of the profession, especially evident through social media live streams. In Chennai, live streams by gamers attract viewers ranging from 3 to 17 lakh, with beginners keen on observing professional gameplay.
Apart from streaming revenue, gamers earn rewards from tournament sponsors and brands seeking collaborations with winning teams. The esports industry has witnessed significant growth, evident from the substantial rise in prize pools over the years. What began as a 5 lakh prize pool tournament in Chennai in 2010 has now escalated to events with multi-crore prizes. With the involvement of international game publishers, such as those from South Korea and the US, organizing tournaments, the scope of esports continues to expand.Indian cities are introducing esports to the public. In late November, Chennai will host a major event featuring top e-gamers in the country. Not all players are professionals; some, like Kirubakaran Sundar Rajan, a doctor from Georgia, join friends in Chennai to play for fun. Kirubakaran said, "For me, it's about connecting with others through streams and networking globally." Some professionals, such as doctors and engineers aged 20 to 40, see gaming as a way to enhance focus, despite concerns about addiction. Many play for 4-6 hours straight after work, impacting their sleep, posture, and eyesight. Dr. D Sidharth treats three to four cases monthly of back pain or stress attributed to excessive gaming.
Game publishers have implemented self-regulation measures, like limiting daily gaming to six hours and sending alerts every two hours to prevent health issues, according to Sriram Vishaal, Head of esports at Skyesports. Skill-based esports is less likely to be monitored by the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority, in contrast to games of chance and betting like rummy or poker.
