Chennai: While some still consider esports a hobby for young people playing on their mobile devices, it has quietly become a multi-crore industry in Chennai. The city now boasts professional e-gamers who represent India at global competitions, making 10 to 20 lakh per month. Recognizing this trend, the Tamil Nadu government has embraced esports by incorporating it into the CM Trophy.
Sudin Dinesh from Chennai, who used to play online games with friends at local parlors using basic PlayStation kits and personal computers, never expected to compete on an international level. Initially, gaming was a way to relax, but it soon became a serious pursuit. Dedicated 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 based in Delhi that organized FIFA tournaments in major Indian cities. This opportunity enabled him to compete in the 2015 Esports World Championship, where he was recognized as one of the top 32 players in the world. "Just like traditional sports, e-gamers have a limited career span," says Dinesh, who has retired and now holds a high-paying position as the Head of Production at Esports Club in Bengaluru. "Many young people will soon enter this profession, as evident from our social media livestream viewership."
In Chennai, gamers typically attract 3 to 4 lakh views when they livestream, with top players reaching up to 17 lakh views. The majority of these viewers are beginners, learning from professionals on how to overcome in-game challenges. In addition to streaming revenue, gamers receive rewards from tournament organizers and brands seeking to collaborate with successful teams.
The scale of esports has significantly expanded. In 2010, the prize money for a FIFA tournament in Chennai was ₹5 lakh. Last month, a Battlegrounds (India's version of PUBG) tournament in Kochi offered a ₹2 crore prize pool. Game developers from countries like South Korea and the US are increasingly hosting tournaments in the region.Indian cities are promoting esports. In late November, Chennai will host a major event featuring the top e-gamers in the country. Not all players are professionals; some, like Kirubakaran Sundar Rajan, a doctor from Georgia, join friends in Chennai to play for the love of the game. Kirubakaran says he enjoys the feedback from streams and the opportunity to network with people worldwide. While some professionals, such as doctors and engineers aged 20 to 40, see gaming as a tool to enhance concentration, concerns about addiction are on the rise. According to Dr. D Sidharth, who treats cases of back pain or stress related to excessive gaming, many individuals play for 4-6 hours continuously after work, which can impact their sleep, posture, and eyesight.
Certain game publishers have implemented self-regulatory measures, such as limiting daily gaming to six hours and sending alerts every two hours to prevent health issues. Sriram Vishaal, Head of esports at Skyesports, a tournament organizer, mentions that unlike games of chance and betting, skill-based esports is not likely to be scrutinized by the Tamil Nadu Online Gaming Authority.
