Esports 2023: All Major Events, Where to Watch Them

Upcoming popular eSports titles with prize pools

March 11, 2023, 10:58 AM
by Md. Mehedi Hasan

UNB News
Publish- March 11, 2023, 10:58 AM
Md. Mehedi Hasan
Update- March 11, 2023, 11:13 AM

Esports 2023: All Major Events, Where to Watch Them

Esport Event (Representational Image: Collected)

2023 is set to be a significant year for the eSports community. As the world have been recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic, restrictions have been eased. Major tournaments and conventions are announcing the return of physical events, while some have adapted to hybrid setups. The eSports industry is expected to grow, with a projected 577.8 million eSports enthusiasts by 2024. Let’s explore the most anticipated eSports events in 2023 and where to watch them.

All Major Upcoming e-Sport Events of 2023

CDL Major 3

The Call of Duty League (CDL) is hosting its third major tournament from March 9-12 in Dallas, Texas. This season's CDL has been marked by parity, with no dominant team emerging yet. Atlanta FaZe, the winner of Major 2, is favored to win this tournament due to their sustained excellence over the past few years.

However, Toronto Ultra, Boston Beach, Seattle Surge, Los Angeles Thieves, and OpTic Texas are all considered strong contenders. OpTic's popularity adds to the excitement, and the crowd is expected to be particularly lively if they go on a run. The tournament promises to be thrilling, with many teams competing for the championship title.

Smash Ultimate Summit 6

Beyond The Summit's Smash Ultimate Summit 6 will take place in Los Angeles, California, from March 23-26. The event has a reputation for showcasing the personalities of esports stars in intimate and casual settings, making it a beloved tournament for fans.

Unfortunately, this will be the last tournament organized by Beyond The Summit due to the company shutting down. Sixteen of the world's best Smash Ultimate players, including Sparg0 and Tweek, have qualified to compete, and the legendary player Hungrybox will also make an appearance. Collision 2023 will determine the final participant. This is a must-watch tournament for fans of Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.

Evo: Japan 2023

Evo: Japan 2023, a smaller version of the biggest fighting game event of the year, will be held in Tokyo, Japan from March 31 to April 2. Seven popular fighting games, including Street Fighter V, Tekken 7, and Guilty Gear Strive, will be played by top contenders such as Derek "iDom" Ruffin, Nathan "Mister Crimson" Massol, and Hajime "Tokido" Taniguchi.

Although Capcom Cup champion MenaRD is not registered to compete, the runner-up, Zhen "Rou" Kuang, will be vying for the title. William "Leffen" Hjelte, Vineeth "ApologyMan" Meka, and Julian "Hotashi" Harris are among the notable entrants in Guilty Gear Strive.

RLCS Winter Major

The RLCS Winter Major is the second global event of the 2022-23 Rocket League season, and it will be held in San Diego, USA. The tournament will feature 16 teams, and the defending champions, Gen.G from North America, will be among the contenders if they qualify.

Other North American teams expected to compete include G2, FaZe, Version1, and Spacestation Gaming. Strong European candidates for the tournament include Karmine Corp, Team Liquid, Team BDS, and Oxygen Esports, who made a big move by signing Finlay "rise" Ferguson.

Blast Copenhagen Major

The upcoming Blast Copenhagen Major will kick off the 2023-24 Rainbow Six Siege season. The event will be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, and with European teams having dominated the 2022-23 season, teams like G2, KOI, Wolves and BDS could be among the favorites to win this Major.

However, with roster shuffles and meta changes expected in the offseason, new contenders could emerge from other strong regions like North America and Brazil. Astralis, who finished fourth at the Six Invitational, will also be looking for a new organization this season.

League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational

The League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational is set to take place in London, England from May 2-21. The tournament, which features 13 qualifying teams from all nine LoL eSports regions, including the spring champs, will have a double-elimination play-in and bracket stage.

China's Royal Never Give Up is the defending champion, but Korea's T1 is expected to be a top contender, especially with their legendary player Lee "Faker" Sang-hyeok running it back with the same roster. After winning the LEC winter championship, Europe's G2 Esports has already qualified for the event.

CS: GO Major

The first CS:GO Major of 2023 will be held in Paris, France, from May 8-21. This tournament will have a prize pool of $1.25 million, making it the largest CS:GO event announced for the year so far. Team Vitality, the second ESL Pro League winners in 2022, are expected to be a top contender, with the home crowd cheering them on.

Other likely contenders include FaZe Clan, Natus Vincere, Heroic, Outsiders, G2 Esports, and Team Liquid, and we will have a better idea of the field after the IEM Katowice. The 24-team field will be determined through qualifiers in April.

VCT Masters: Tokyo

The VALORANT Champions Tour's Masters tournament is set to take place in Tokyo from June 11-25, marking Japan's first time hosting an international VCT event. The tournament will feature the top three teams from each league in the VCT America, EMEA, and Pacific regions, as well as an additional EMEA team due to Fnatic winning the LOCK//IN tournament. Early favorites to qualify and compete for the championship include Fnatic, LOUD, NAVI, NRG, and DRX.

The Evolution Championship Series (Evo)

The Evolution Championship Series (Evo), the largest fighting games tournament of the year, will take place in Las Vegas in August. Alongside the main competition, there will be a weekend-long celebration of the FGC, featuring show matches and other friendly competitions.

This year’s Evo Street Fighter tournament will feature Street Fighter 6, which is set to release in June. Last year’s winners of the most popular games were UMISHO in Guilty Gear Strive, Kawano in Street Fighter V, and Jae-Min "Knee" Bae in Tekken 7.

ESportsTravel Summit 2023

The ESportsTravel Summit 2023 is a major gathering for eSports event organizers, with a focus on travel and tourism. Attendees include organizers, sports commission representatives, event suppliers, and hotel chains who come together to learn more about the eSports industry, its impact on tourism, and how to profit from eSports events. The event will take place in Toronto, Canada and will provide an opportunity for networking and expanding knowledge.

Conclusion

The year 2023 is packed with major events across a range of popular esports titles, including League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Apex Legends, and VALORANT. These events will take place in various locations around the world, giving fans the opportunity to experience top-tier esports action live.

Whether you're a fan of fighting games or team-based shooters, there's something for everyone in the upcoming esports calendar. So, mark your calendars, get your snacks ready, and tune in to watch the world's best gamers compete for glory and huge prizes.