In Chennai, esports has transformed from a casual pastime for mobile phone users to a booming industry worth crores. The city now boasts professional e-gamers who compete internationally, earning monthly incomes ranging from 10 to 20 lakh. Recognizing this growing trend, the Tamil Nadu government has embraced esports by incorporating it into the CM Trophy.
Sudin Dinesh, a Chennai native, started his gaming journey by playing online games with friends at local parlors. What began as a way to relax quickly turned into a serious pursuit. Dinesh dedicated himself to practicing for 10 hours daily, achieving success in national tournaments and catching the attention of a gaming organization based in Delhi. This opportunity led him to the 2015 Esports World Championship, where he gained recognition as one of the top 32 players globally.
Dinesh, who has transitioned from professional gaming to a high-paying role as the Head of Production at Esports Club in Bengaluru, emphasizes the short shelf life of e-gamers. He predicts that many young individuals will soon join the profession, evident by the increasing viewership of esports livestreams on social media platforms.
In Chennai, esports livestream viewership typically averages 3 to 4 lakh views, with top performers attracting up to 17 lakh views. Viewers, mostly beginners, watch to learn from professionals tackling in-game challenges. Apart from streaming revenue, gamers also receive rewards from tournament organizers and brand sponsorships.
Over the years, the scale of esports has expanded exponentially. Prize pools have grown significantly, with recent tournaments offering substantial rewards, such as the ₹2 crore prize pool at a Battlegrounds tournament (India's version of PUBG) in Kochi. Game publishers from countries like South Korea and the US are increasingly hosting tournaments, indicating a bright future for esports.Indian cities are working to increase the popularity of esports. 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, enjoy playing with friends in Chennai out of passion. "I value the feedback from streams and the opportunity to network with people worldwide," he explains. Some professionals, such as doctors and engineers aged 20 to 40, see gaming as a way to enhance concentration, despite concerns about addiction rising. Dr. D Sidharth notes that many players spend 4-6 consecutive hours gaming after work, which can impact sleep, posture, and eyesight. He reports treating three to four cases of back pain or stress each month due to excessive gaming. To address these concerns, some game publishers have implemented self-regulatory measures, such as limiting daily gaming to six hours and sending alerts every two hours to promote better health practices. Sriram Vishaal, Head of esports at Skyesports, a tournament organizer, mentions that unlike games of chance and betting, skill-based esports is unlikely to be monitored by the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority.
