Does Dota 2 Deserve a Spot On Espn?

In July 2014, many ESPN viewers were treated to something new. The channel broadcasted the biggest DOTA 2 tournament dubbed The International. DOTA 2 is a video game. 

Image source: www.rockpapershotgun.com

For several years now, MOBA or Multiplayer Online Battle Arena games such as DOTA 2 have been tagged as e-sports. This is because of the competitive scene and the huge following and support from fans and its developer Valve. Valve is mostly known for its hit first person shooter game Counter Strike. 

The said tournament had a prize pool of over $10 million, the largest ever in the competitive gaming scene at the time. This prize would go beyond $15 million in later years. The International hosts teams from around the world with popular teams coming from North America, Europe, CIS, South East Asia, and China. 

Over 40 professional teams attended the tournament. Some teams got direct invites due to prominence or overall great performances in previous tournaments while the rest battled it out in rigorous open qualifiers. 

Professional DOTA 2 games can also be watched with live sports casters as they spectate the live match and give stats, insights, and blow-by-blow commentaries as teams clash in a flurry of spells. 

DOTA 2 wasn’t ESPN’s first attempt at broadcasting e-sports. Prior to the telecast of The International 2014, the channel partnered with Major League Gaming to host a Call of Duty tournament in Austin. 

Image source: http://www.gamingtech.asia/ 

Hi there, my name is Shaun Benderson. I’m a college student from the University of Florida. I love sports and can’t get enough of sports writing. To know more about the world of sports, drop by this blog.