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World’s best gamers battle it out in Sydney as Australian ‘eSports’ takes off

Forty top professional gamers took part in the Intel Extreme Masters.

Forty top professional gamers took part in the Intel Extreme Masters. Photo: Facebook/ESL

The world’s best were at Sydney’s Olympic Park once again this weekend, but the battles were in cyberspace rather than on a sporting field.

Forty top professional gamers took part in the Intel Extreme Masters — a mecca for video game enthusiasts.

About 10,000 keen gamers packed the precinct at the weekend to watch the stars play Counter-Strike — a multiplayer first-person shooter that pits teams against each other in simulated battle — while hundreds of thousands more tuned in from overseas.

Nick Vanzetti, the managing director of ESL Australia, the local arm of the world’s largest “eSports” organisation, said gaming was more accessible than ever Down Under.

“We’ve been building up this concept and this event for roughly two years,” he said.

“We’ve set this up and designed it as a permanent place in the calendar year on year.”

Big bucks up for grabs

There was more than bragging rights on the line at the event, which has a prize pool of $260,000. The winning team gets $100,000.

Mr Vanzetti said the event was not just for gamers.

“It was really cool to see a number of dads and their kids coming in,” he said. 

Intel Extreme Masters

More than 10,000 people flocked to watch the games unfold. Photo: Facebook/ESL

“This is a new form of entertainment and a good way to spend the weekend with family.”

Tyler “Tucks” Reilly, the captain of Chiefs CS:GO team, is still getting used to his status as an eSports celebrity.

“This is one of the biggest events in the world so just having this come to Australia is huge,” he said.

“Everyone just comes up to us and asks for photos and signatures, it’s crazy.”

Chad Burchill used to be a professional gamer, but recently retired to become a broadcast analyst.

He said the concept had a bright future in Australia.

“If we see the AFL teams get involved and start buying teams like we’re seeing in the rest of the world, we’re seeing NBA teams picking up their own gaming brands, eSports in Australia could be huge,” he said.

– ABC

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