Chennai has seen the transformation of esports from a mere pastime for young people playing on their mobile phones to a lucrative industry. The city is now home to professional e-gamers who represent India at global events, earning monthly incomes ranging from 10 to 20 lakh. Recognizing this trend, the Tamil Nadu government has embraced esports by incorporating it into the CM Trophy competition.
One such success story is Sudin Dinesh from Chennai. Initially, Dinesh played online games casually with friends at local gaming parlors using basic PlayStation kits and personal computers. However, his hobby soon turned into a serious pursuit, with Dinesh dedicating 10 hours a day to practicing and winning tournaments across India. His skills caught the attention of a gaming organization in Delhi, which led to his participation in the 2015 Esports World Championship where he achieved global recognition as one of the top 32 players.
Dinesh, who has now retired from professional gaming, currently holds a high-ranking position as the Head of Production at the Esports Club in Bengaluru. He believes that the esports industry will continue to attract more young professionals, as evidenced by the growing viewership of gaming streams on social media platforms. In Chennai, gaming streams typically garner an average of 3 to 4 lakh views, with top performers reaching up to 17 lakh views. These viewers are often beginners learning strategies from professional gamers during in-game challenges.
Apart from streaming revenues, gamers earn rewards from tournament organizers and collaborations with brands seeking to partner with successful teams. The esports industry has witnessed significant growth over the years, with prize pools increasing substantially. For example, a recent Battlegrounds tournament in Kochi featured a ₹2 crore prize pool, showcasing the rapid expansion of esports in India. Game publishers from countries like South Korea and the US are also actively organizing tournaments in the region.Indian cities are promoting esports with an upcoming event in Chennai in late November featuring top e-gamers from the country. Not all players are professionals, as individuals like Kirubakaran Sundar Rajan, a doctor from Georgia, engage in gaming for fun with friends in Chennai. Kirubakaran mentions that for him, gaming is about receiving feedback from streams and connecting with people worldwide. Some professionals, such as doctors and engineers aged 20 to 40, see gaming as a way to enhance focus, but concerns about addiction are growing. Dr. D Sidharth notes that many players spend 4-6 hours gaming continuously after work, leading to issues like sleep disturbances, poor posture, and vision problems. To address these concerns, some game publishers have implemented self-regulatory measures such as limiting daily gameplay to six hours and sending alerts every two hours to reduce health risks, according to Sriram Vishaal, Head of esports at Skyesports. Unlike games of chance and betting, which are monitored by the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority, skill-based esports is unlikely to be scrutinized.
