Chennai: Despite some people still seeing esports as a hobby for young people playing on their mobile phones, it has quietly become a multi-million rupee industry in Chennai. The city now boasts professional e-gamers who represent India internationally, earning between 1 to 2 million rupees monthly. Acknowledging this shift, the Tamil Nadu government has embraced esports by including it in the CM Trophy competition.
Originating from Chennai, Sudin Dinesh never envisioned competing on a global platform while playing online games with friends at local gaming centers equipped with basic PlayStation kits and personal computers. Initially a form of relaxation, gaming soon became a serious pursuit for him. Dedicating himself to a professional career, he practiced for 10 hours daily, achieving victories in tournaments across the country.
His growing reputation led to a contract with a gaming organization in Delhi that organized FIFA competitions in major Indian cities. This opportunity propelled him to the 2015 Esports World Championship, where he was recognized as one of the top 32 players globally. Dinesh, who has since retired but now holds a high-ranking position as the Head of Production at Esports Club in Bengaluru, states, "Just like traditional sports, e-gamers have a limited career span." He predicts that many young individuals will soon enter this profession, as evident from the increasing viewership of esports livestreams on social media.
In Chennai, gamers typically attract an average of 300,000 to 400,000 viewers when streaming live, with top performers reaching up to 1.7 million views. Most of these viewers are beginners observing how professional gamers tackle in-game challenges. Apart from revenue generated through streaming, gamers receive rewards from tournament organizers and brands eager to form partnerships with successful teams.
The scope of esports has expanded significantly. In 2010, the prize pool for a FIFA tournament in Chennai was ₹500,000. In contrast, a recent Battlegrounds tournament in Kochi, India's equivalent of PUBG, offered a prize pool of ₹20 million. Game companies from South Korea and the United States are increasingly hosting tournaments in various countries.Indian cities are promoting esports to a wider audience. In late November, Chennai will host a major event featuring the top e-gamers in the country. Not all players are professionals, as individuals like Kirubakaran Sundar Rajan, a doctor from Georgia, gather with friends in Chennai to compete out of passion. Kirubakaran mentions that his motivation stems from the feedback he receives from live streams and the opportunity to connect with people worldwide. Some professionals, such as doctors and engineers aged between 20 to 40, see gaming as a means to enhance concentration, despite concerns about addiction on the rise. According to Dr. D Sidharth, who treats cases of back pain and stress related to excessive gaming on a monthly basis, many individuals play for 4-6 hours straight after work, impacting their sleep, posture, and eyesight. Game publishers have implemented self-regulatory measures, including setting limits on daily gaming to six hours and sending alerts every two hours to mitigate health issues, remarks Sriram Vishaal, the Head of esports at Skyesports, a tournament organizer. Unlike games of chance and betting, skill-based esports is not likely to come under scrutiny by the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority.
