In Chennai, esports has transitioned from a casual hobby for young people playing on their mobile devices to a lucrative industry worth crores. The city now boasts professional e-gamers who compete internationally, earning monthly incomes ranging from 10 to 20 lakh. Recognizing this shift, the Tamil Nadu government has embraced esports by incorporating it into the CM Trophy.
Sudin Dinesh, a Chennai native, started his esports journey by playing online games with friends at local gaming parlors. What began as a way to unwind soon became a serious pursuit, with Dinesh dedicating 10 hours a day to practice and winning tournaments across India. His success led to a contract with a Delhi-based gaming organization, culminating in his participation at the 2015 Esports World Championship where he ranked among the top 32 players worldwide.
Reflecting on his journey, Dinesh acknowledges the short lifespan of professional gamers and has since retired to take on a high-paying role as the Head of Production at Esports Club in Bengaluru. He predicts a growing interest in esports as evidenced by the increasing viewership on social media platforms during live gaming streams. In Chennai, popular gamers attract an average of 3 to 4 lakh views, with top performers reaching up to 17 lakh views.
Beyond streaming revenue, gamers also earn rewards from tournament sponsors and brand partnerships. The esports industry has seen significant growth, with tournament prize pools escalating from ₹5 lakh in 2010 to multi-crore amounts in recent competitions such as the Battlegrounds tournament in Kochi last month. International game publishers are now organizing tournaments in India, indicating a promising future for the esports scene.Indian cities are working to promote esports, with Chennai scheduled to host a major event in late November that will showcase the top e-gamers in the country. Not all players are professionals. Kirubakaran Sundar Rajan, a doctor from Georgia, enjoys playing with friends in Chennai purely for the passion of it. "I value the interaction in streams and the opportunity to connect with a global community," he explains. Some professionals, such as doctors and engineers in the 20 to 40 age group, see gaming as a means to enhance concentration, but concerns about addiction are on the rise. Dr. D Sidharth, who treats cases of back pain and stress related to excessive gaming, notes that many players spend 4-6 hours playing continuously after work, which can have negative effects on their sleep, posture, and eyesight. Game publishers have implemented self-regulatory measures, like capping daily gaming at six hours and sending alerts every two hours to promote player health, according to Sriram Vishaal, Head of esports at Skyesports, a tournament organizer. Unlike games of chance and betting targeted by the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority, skill-based esports is not likely to face scrutiny from the regulatory body.
