In Chennai, esports has transformed from a mere pastime for young people playing on their mobile phones into a lucrative industry worth millions of rupees. The city has produced professional e-gamers who now represent India on the global stage, earning between 10 to 20 lakh rupees monthly. Recognizing this growing trend, the Tamil Nadu government has embraced esports by incorporating it into the CM Trophy competition.
A prime example is Sudin Dinesh from Chennai, who started playing online games casually with friends using basic PlayStation kits and computers in local parlors. His hobby soon turned into a serious pursuit as he dedicated 10 hours a day to practice and started winning tournaments across the country. This success led to a contract with a gaming organization in Delhi, which opened doors for him to compete in the 2015 Esports World Championship, where he gained recognition as one of the top 32 players worldwide.
Dinesh, now retired as a player, has transitioned into a high-paying role as the Head of Production at an Esports Club in Bengaluru. He notes that esports, like traditional sports, has a limited career span but anticipates a surge in young professionals entering the industry, evident from the increasing viewership on social media livestreams. In Chennai, gamers typically attract 3 to 4 lakh viewers on average during livestreams, with top performers reaching up to 17 lakh views. Most viewers are beginners keen on learning from professional gamers in action.
In addition to streaming revenue, gamers earn rewards from tournament organizers and partnerships with brands seeking to collaborate with successful teams. The esports industry has seen exponential growth, with prize pools increasing significantly over the years. For instance, a recent Battlegrounds tournament in Kochi featured a prize pool of ₹2 crore. International game publishers from countries like South Korea and the US are now organizing tournaments in the region, further fueling the expansion of esports in India.Cities in India are increasingly promoting esports, with Chennai set to host a major event featuring top e-gamers by late November. Not all players are professionals, as individuals like Kirubakaran Sundar Rajan, a doctor from Georgia, join friends in Chennai to play for the love of the game. Sundar Rajan values the feedback from streams and the opportunity to connect with gamers worldwide. Gaming is seen by some professionals, including doctors and engineers aged 20 to 40, as a method to enhance concentration, despite concerns about addiction. Dr. D Sidharth, who treats cases of back pain and stress related to excessive gaming on a monthly basis, notes that many players spend long hours gaming after work, impacting their sleep, posture, and eyesight. Some game publishers have implemented self-regulatory measures, such as limiting daily gaming to six hours and sending alerts every two hours, to address health concerns. Sriram Vishaal, Head of esports at Skyesports, mentions that skill-based esports is less likely to be monitored by the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority compared to games of chance and betting, like rummy or poker.
