Esports: How to Become a Pro Gamer and Compete in Tournaments

If you have a passion for gaming, getting started in the world of esports in the UK can be thrilling and rewarding. There is something for everyone, including professional events, amateur leagues and casual gaming tournaments. 

So if you’re looking to get started on your esports journey, read on for an overview of the industry, how to get into competitive esports and some tips and tricks to help you get the edge on your competitors.

 

How to get into esports

1. Choose a Game

Before entering the world of esports, it’s a good idea to choose a game you enjoy. Popular games like Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Fortnite and League of Legends are all excellent options. Make sure the game meets your interests and ability level by doing some research on it.

2. Join Online Communities

It’s easier to meet new people and learn more about the game you’re interested in by joining online gaming communities. These online forums may provide you with strategies, guidance, contests and a chance to practice your skills.

3. Train

After you’ve mastered the fundamentals, it’s time to begin training! If you want to be competitive, you’ll need to practise quite a bit. You’ll have to work on your in-game strategies as well as develop quick reflexes, good hand-eye coordination and mental clarity.

4. Join Tournaments

You can enter tournaments and even join a pro esports team with enough effort, practice and skill. Keep up with competitions for your game and be prepared to travel if necessary. While some tournaments can be online, the in-person ones make for the best experience.

 

 

How is esports developing in the UK?

In the last few years, esports has grown quickly in the UK. The rise in popularity of video games and streaming on platforms like Twitch and Youtube has led to an increase in competitive gaming in the UK, both on a professional and recreational level.

Due to the widespread popularity and accessibility of games like League of Legends, Overwatch and Counter-Strike, the UK esports industry is expanding considerably. Nowadays, professional esports teams participate in competitions like the Commonwealth Esports Championships, EPIC.LAN, ePremier League and ESL One Birmingham. Players can now become full-time pro gamers and support themselves through esports thanks to the professionalisation of the industry in the UK.

The British government is funding the esports sector in the UK, too. In addition to funding big tournaments and investing in infrastructure, the government has introduced the Video Games Tax Relief (VGTR) scheme, which allows a 20% tax break on all UK-approved games.

Ultimately, the popularity of video games, the professionalisation of the sport and some government support are fueling the expansion of esports in the UK. The UK is poised to build on its reputation as a great grassroots esports nation and establish itself as a major force in the international esports scene.

 

What is the British Esports Federation?

The British Esports Federation is a nonprofit organisation that was founded in 2016 with the goal of promoting esports in the UK, raising awareness of the industry, enhancing standards and fostering new talent. 

To promote esports in the UK and highlight the advantages of competitive gaming, it works with the media, creates its own content and forges relationships with academic institutions. 

The first esports BTEC qualification in the world was developed by British Esports Federation and global education publisher Pearson in April 2020. From September 2020, educational institutions worldwide, including those in the UK, can offer these new qualifications to students, with confirmed funding from the Education and Skills Funding Agency in the UK.

British Esports announced an exclusive university-level partnership with the College of Esports in December 2021. With the aim of providing relevant industry expertise to the degree program and enriching its learning materials, British Esports has helped develop the degree and provided guidance to the College of Esports. This partnership ensures the degree’s relevance to students and the industry as a whole.

 

 

Who are the top eSports teams in the UK?

There are several top esports teams in the UK, but here are a few notable ones:

• Fnatic – Fnatic is a global esports organization with a strong presence in the UK. They have teams that compete in popular games like League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and Rainbow Six Siege.
• Excel Esports – Excel Esports is a UK-based esports organization with teams that compete in popular games like League of Legends, Valorant, and FIFA.
• Team Endpoint – Team Endpoint is a UK-based esports organization with teams that compete in games like CSGO, Rainbow Six Siege, and Rocket League.
• London Spitfire – London Spitfire is a professional esports team that competes in the Overwatch League. They are owned by Cloud9 and represent the city of London.
• exceL Ladies – exceL Ladies is a UK-based all-female esports team that competes in games like CS:GO, Valorant, and League of Legends.

 

What esports games are the most popular? 

One of the most popular and competitive esports games is League of Legends (LoL). Developed by Riot Games, LoL is a multiplayer online battle arena (MOBA) game where two teams of five players compete to destroy the enemy team’s base. The game is played at a fast pace and requires exceptional teamwork, strategy, and skill. Professional LoL players compete in the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS), where teams from North America and Europe compete for a chance to win the World Championship and a share of the $6 million prize pool.

Another highly competitive esports game is Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO). Developed by Valve Corporation, CS:GO is a first-person shooter game where two teams of five players compete in rounds to complete objectives or eliminate the enemy team. The game requires excellent aim, reflexes, and teamwork. The CS:GO competitive scene is known for its high level of skill and strategic gameplay and the game’s biggest tournament is the CS:GO Major Championship, where the world’s best teams compete for a whopping $1 million prize pool.

Dota 2 is another popular MOBA game developed by Valve Corporation. Like LoL, two teams of five players compete to destroy the enemy team’s base. Dota 2 requires excellent teamwork, communication, and strategic thinking to succeed at the highest level. The game’s biggest tournament is The International, where the best teams from around the world compete for a share of the $40 million prize pool.

Overwatch, developed by Blizzard Entertainment, is a first-person shooter game where two teams of six players compete to complete objectives or eliminate the enemy team. The game requires excellent teamwork, communication, and strategic thinking. The Overwatch League is the biggest esports league for the game, where teams from around the world compete for a chance to win the grand finals and a share of the $5 million prize pool.

Finally, Fortnite, developed by Epic Games, is a battle royale game where 100 players compete to be the last player standing. The game requires excellent shooting skills, quick reflexes, and strategic thinking. The game’s biggest tournament is the Fortnite World Cup, where players from around the world compete for a share of the $30 million prize pool.

 

 

Where can I play eSports competitively in the UK?

There are several online leagues and competitions you can join if you want to play esports competitively. Popular games include first-person shooters, multiplayer online battle arena games, collectable card games and fighting games.

To succeed, you’ll need to improve your equipment, interact effectively with teammates, and study your game. Playing video games in competitive tournaments is a viable source of money for professional gamers. There are tournaments at the entry-level that welcome amateur competitors.

The top esports platform in the world, ESL Play, offers competitions and leagues for various types of games and skill levels. The British Esports Championships is a nationwide 12-and-over video game competition for students that includes competitions in League of Legends, Rocket League, Overwatch 2 and Valorant. 

The event’s Spring Split is presently in progress, and more details on how to participate in the 2023–24 season will be released as soon as possible. In terms of contests, mobile gaming has witnessed a rise in popularity as well. Among the most well-known games include Call of Duty: Mobile, Clash Royale, PUBG: Mobile, and League of Legends: Wild.

Simply put, you can play competitive esports anywhere, at any time. Outside of the major in-person events and leagues, there are hundreds and maybe even thousands of competitions that you can participate in online. These include online leagues like ESL and FACEIT, as well as offline tournaments like the Insomnia Gaming Festival and the UK Esports Open.

 

eSports at Big Creative Education

Big Creative Education has its own eSports team, The Blackhorse Knights, who have successfully competed in the British Esports Championships and Digital Schoolhouse Super Smash Bros. Ultimate Team Battle. We also run an ESport course in our brand new Digital Future Campus. 

The team is mostly made up of students from ourNextGen and Games Design course and is currently training ahead of applying to compete professionally. If you’re interested in learning more about esports at BCE, come and check out our eSports arena in our Digital Futures campus, rigged out with eight top-end computers! Our student-led esports team live stream tournaments from our state-of-the-art Esports Arena using an Open Broadcast System.

This is a multipurpose dedicated eSports arena, which can be used for social gaming, VR and digital workshops for esports tournaments, professional education workshops and social gaming parties.

There is a range of high-spec equipment at BCE’s eSports arena, including:

• 8 x tournament-level gaming computers with pro chairs and headsets 
• 4k screens
• Open Broadcaster Software (OBS) for live streaming
• 4 x VR headsets 
• Nintendo Switch and Xbox with 4 controllers for social gaming

You can present work to others with the large PA system and a giant screen incorporated into the arena. There is an iPad-controlled mixing desk so that live productions can be filmed and broadcasted, and we have casual open spaces designed for the use of VR, motion capture and mixed reality.

 

So if you want to join like-minded gamers at BCE’s esports arena while studying for your dream creative career, then come along and get involved!