This article was taken from the May 2015 issue of WIRED magazine. Be the first to read WIRED's articles in print before they're posted online, and get your hands on loads of additional content by subscribing online.
Boosted by the growth of live-casting platforms such as Twitch (acquired for £585m by Amazon last year), pro-gaming has become a multi-million pound enterprise, with top tournaments regularly filling stadiums. Elite players are building avid followings and can expect to earn athlete-esque wages, with prize funds at major events often reaching into six figures or more. With e-sports descending on the UK for the Insomnia festival in Coventry on April 3, WIRED rounds up the stars to watch in 2015.
Tomas 'Gunshy' Jones, UK
Despite being just 23, GunShy is one of the longest-serving players in the European Call of Duty community -- he has won more than £42,160 over the past eight years. Welsh-born Jones first played competitively in 2007, at a LAN event in Birmingham, where he took first prize. "I wanted to prove to my parents that I can get something out of this," he says.
James 'Firebat' Kostesich, US
In 2014, aged 18, Kostesich became the Hearthstone World Champion at the BlizzCon World Championships. Having made more than $100,000 (£70,000) from tournaments, he now earns money streaming matches on Twitch from the Team Archon house in Texas. He learned to play the strategy card-game during long shifts directing trucks on their shipping routes.
Ted 'Pyrion Flax' Forsyth, UK
Many e-sports commentators are former pro players, but YouTuber Ted Forsyth has blazed a sarcastic, surreal trail of his own. "My angle was, 'I am bad at this game and I don't understand it'," he says. It built Forsyth, 39, a legion of fans and earned him the opportunity to record an official set of sounds for Dota 2's in-game announcer.
Nate 'Ataraxia' Mark, UK
Mark, 22, is the mind behind team Titan, which placed second in the SMITE World Championship in January. It earned him a share of the $522,452 pot. His resolve and determination, as well as the unique ways that he builds his characters, set his playing style apart. "I needed to be ‘best' at something," he says. "I wasn't into physical sports, so it translated into video games."
Katherine 'Mystik' Gunn, US
The highest-earning woman in e-sports, California-based Katherine Gunn, 26, has claimed over $200,000 in prize money over the years. Her biggest title? "Winning season two of reality TV show WCG Ultimate Gamer," she says. Alongside video game play-offs, competitors fought in real-world recreations of well-known gaming scenarios, for a $100,000 pot.
With millions watching and over £23m awarded in prizes last year, here are the biggest events in e-sports.
**SMITE World Championship**January A $2.6m fight in Atlanta's Cobb Energy Centre.
The InternationalAugust Dota 2 teams gather in Seattle and battle for a huge prize pool of $10.9m.
LOL WorldsOctober The League of Legends World Championship draws huge crowds for its $2m finals.
Dreamhack WinterOctober Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’s Swedish leg offers a $500,000 prize pool.
This article was originally published by WIRED UK
