In Chennai, esports has transcended its perception as a mere hobby for youth engaging with mobile phones, transforming into a lucrative industry worth crores. The city now boasts a cohort of professional e-gamers who compete globally and earn impressive 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 competition.
One such success story is Sudin Dinesh from Chennai, whose journey from casual gaming sessions with friends at local gaming parlors to international competition showcases the industry's growth. Initially, gaming served as a leisure pursuit for Dinesh, but as he honed his skills, it became a serious endeavor. Devoting 10 hours daily to practice, he achieved victory in tournaments across India, eventually attracting the attention of a gaming organization based in Delhi. This partnership opened doors for him to compete in the 2015 Esports World Championship, where he ranked among the top 32 players globally.
Reflecting on his career, Dinesh notes the transient nature of esports careers akin to traditional sports. Despite retiring from professional competition, he now holds a lucrative position as the Head of Production at Esports Club in Bengaluru. Highlighting the industry's promising future, he anticipates an influx of newcomers into the profession, evident from the increasing viewership of esports livestreams on social media platforms.
Chennai's esports scene garners significant attention, with livestreams typically attracting 3 to 4 lakh viewers, while top players can reach up to 17 lakh viewers. These livestreams serve as educational platforms for novice gamers seeking insights into mastering in-game challenges. Apart from streaming revenues, gamers receive rewards from tournament organizers and collaborate with brands seeking to sponsor successful teams.
The esports landscape has witnessed exponential growth, with prize pools for tournaments escalating drastically over the years. For instance, a FIFA tournament in Chennai offered a ₹5 lakh prize pool in 2010, whereas a recent Battlegrounds tournament in Kochi featured a staggering ₹2 crore prize pool. International game publishers, particularly from countries such as South Korea and the US, are actively organizing tournaments in the Indian esports market, indicating a promising future for the industry.Indian cities are working to promote esports, with Chennai set to host a major event featuring top e-gamers by the end of November. Not all players are professionals, as individuals like Kirubakaran Sundar Rajan, a doctor from Georgia, come together with friends in Chennai to play out of passion. For some, gaming provides a platform for global networking and interaction through streaming. Professionals in various fields, such as doctors and engineers aged 20 to 40, see gaming as a means to enhance concentration, but concerns about addiction are on the rise. Dr. D Sidharth notes that many individuals play continuously for 4-6 hours after work, impacting their sleep, posture, and eyesight. To address these issues, some game publishers have implemented self-regulatory measures such as limiting daily gaming to six hours and sending alerts every two hours to prevent health problems. According to Sriram Vishaal, Head of esports at Skyesports, esports, a skill-based activity, is not likely to come under scrutiny by the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority, which focuses on games of chance and betting, unlike rummy or poker.
