Esports, or electronic sports, refers to organized, competitive video gaming where individuals or teams compete in popular video game titles for prizes, recognition, and entertainment. The growth of esports has been remarkable, with its roots traced back to arcades in the late 1970s and competitive events like the 1972 Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics at Stanford University, often considered the first major video game tournament. Esports rapidly evolved through the 1990s with multiplayer games, the rise of online connectivity, and the popularity of PC games such as Counter-Strike and StarCraft, which began attracting professional players and spectators worldwide.
