Esports has always been a big part of the video game culture. For decades, gaming fans have been organizing different events to compete with other players, either individually or in teams. However, such events were primarily held between amateurs and on a very local level. Until the late 2000s, when esports started becoming a big thing.
Today, esports is equated to real sports. There are lots of local, national, and global leagues where players compete on a professional level. If you are a committed gamer, you can join these competitions too. Read on, and we will tell you about the best esports tournaments in the US that you can take part in as a student.
1. College League of Legends
The first one on our list is one of the biggest college-level esports events in the US. Founded in 2015, this championship has grown a lot. Today, it boasts over 400 schools that participate in it and 16 partner conferences. This event is also known for its huge prize pool. During this year’s season, the pool of $190,000 was spread between the winning teams in the following way:
- 1st place – $50,000
- 2nd place – $30,000
- 3rd-4th places – $15,000
- 5th-8th places – $10,000
One thing worth keeping in mind about this competition is that participation requirements are pretty rigorous. That is, you will need a lot of practice to get in. However, if you can find a reliable service to pay to write essay and ensure your homework is getting done, you will be able to devote more time to practice and join the league in the next season.
2. ESOGA
Another esports league that students can join is ESOGA (Esports & Online Gaming Association). This league was founded in 2019, so it’s relatively new in the industry. However, it was created specifically for youth players, which makes it a great choice for students.
When the league is on, participants compete in weekly gameplay sessions. The sessions include a variety of tournaments, monthly challenges, exciting events, and, of course, prizes. The prizes can be picked based on the number of points you’ve earned. During the previous season, the available prizes included free discords, gift cards for Nintendo, Xbox, and GameStop, gaming equipment, and more. The prize pool is being updated regularly, even during the season, so it’s worth competing in this league.
3. Evolution Championship Series
The next tournament on our list is perfect for you if you are a fan of fighting games, such as Street Fighter, Mortal Kombat, and similar. Founded in 1996, the Evolution Championship Series is the largest fighting games competition in the US, and it plays a huge role in this genre of video games.
Of course, since this tournament is so huge, becoming a participant isn’t easy. However, it’s definitely worth trying. The Evolution Championship Series is always a major event, with crowds of gamers, cosplayers, and large prize pools.
4. PlayVS
The next tournament on our list is also meant exclusively for students. PlayVS was founded in 2018. It started out as a high school esports platform. However, over the years, it grew and entered the collegiate scene with competitions in such famous games as Fortnite, Madden NFL, League of Legends, Rocket League, Overwatch, and FIFA.
Currently, thousands of schools all over the US are already a part of PlayVS. Participating schools hold lots of exciting tournaments and gaming events for young players. Best part? PlayVS supports young gamers by providing them with scholarships to cover their college or university education. The organization has already paid out more than $530,000 in scholarships to its participants.
5. National Association of Collegiate Esports
The National Association of Collegiate Esports (also known as NACE or NAC Esports) is another organization that supports the popularization of esports among college and university students. The organization was founded in 2016. By this time, it already hosts over 170 collegiate organizations among its members, and it keeps growing further.
The list of esports covered by NACE includes Fortnite, Counter-Strike, Rocket League, Overwatch, Call of Duty, Dota, and many other famous titles. The best part is that the organization and its partners regularly hold different esports events, including tournaments and championships. These events encourage student gamers from all across the US to compete for great prizes and, possibly, even get recruited by a professional esports team.
6. Major League Gaming
The last one on our list, Major League Gaming, is a professional esports organization located in the US. It was founded in 2002 and has been supporting the development of the esports industry since then. The organization holds video game tournaments in the US and Canada, where gamers can compete in a variety of games.
According to the organization, the primary mission of MLG is to make computer and console game competitions viable competitive and spectator events. Given that, needless to say, their tournaments are also very grandiose and exciting, not to mention generous prizes. So this is one more tournament to consider if you want to get into esports.
The Bottom Line
The esports industry has been developing rapidly over the past decade. Today, there are dozens of esports events and tournaments that feature various games and suit gamers of different ages and levels.
After reading this article, you now know about some of the major esports events in the US meant for students. Of course, these aren’t all the options that are there. Yet, each of these events is worth your attention, whether you want to be a participant or a spectator.
