Picture a crowded basketball arena or a packed football stadium, and you might be seeing an esports tournament. These video game championships are the gamers’ version of athletic championships, and the top teams usually walk away with a prize money to boot.
Players range from high-paid professionals hired by professional gaming organizations to compete on the world stage, like Faker (League of Legends) and s1mple (Counter-Strike), to lower-tier competitors who participate in grassroots events and leagues that form a key part of this burgeoning sport’s infrastructure. But esports tournaments aren’t complete without an audience, either a live one in a physical venue or the millions of viewers tuning in each day on streaming video services.
2025 is shaping up to be a busy year for esports tournaments, with a variety of games kicking off their global leagues and championships this month. But navigating the calendar can be a challenge because the ecosystem is so diverse, with each game having its own unique schedule.
January was one of the hottest months for esports this year, and February should be equally action-packed. March brings the first RLCS Major of the year, while April features the opening rounds of the new VALORANT Champions Tour regional leagues. In May, we’ll get a better sense of the contenders after the Americas, Europe and China regions kick off and before the Masters Madrid event in early June.