The esports industry has come a long way in the past few decades and shows no signs of slowing down. Now that the pandemic is easing, more major tournaments and conventions are announcing the return of physical events.
League of Legends World Championship
Location: South Korea
Dates: TBA
The League of Legends World Championship is one of the world's largest and most popular annual esports tournaments. This year the event will bring together the best teams from across the globe to compete for the Summoner's Cup. In addition, Riot Games announced a revamped format for the 22-team tournament, with a double-elimination play-in stage and a Swiss-style format for the main stage. With its talented players, a huge prize pool, intense gameplay, and high-stakes matches, the League of Legends World Championship is sure to be one of the biggest esports events in 2023. So get ready for an unforgettable experience!
Intel Extreme Masters
Location: Katowice, Poland
Dates: 10 – 12 February 2023
The first big CS:GO tournament of the year will be the annual 24-team Katowice event. The tournament will be hosted by Intel, one of the world's largest and most innovative technology companies.
Featuring players from different nationalities and an impressive prize pool of US $500,000, the EPT Championship will crown the official World Champion.
League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational
Location: London, England
Dates: 2 – 21 May 2023
Riot Games' midseason international League of Legends tournament will return to Europe for the first time since 2018. This year the event will look a little different from previous years, with more teams and a double-elimination play-in and bracket stage. 13 teams from China, Europe, North America, and South Korea will compete for the prestigious Mid-Season Invitational trophy. It is also the first time the event will be held in London. So get ready for a thrilling tournament that will decide who takes home this year's championship title!
IEM Cologne
Location: Cologne, Germany
Dates: 25 July – 6 August 2023
Next to IEM Katowice, IEM Cologne is one of the year's most prestigious CS:GO tournaments. This 24-team tournament will be held in Germany and will gather thousands of gamers from all over the world. The event provides an intense and exciting atmosphere allowing gamers to showcase their skills and strategies, and offers a great platform for networking with other professionals in the industry. With its intense competition and vibrant atmosphere, IEM Cologne is sure to be a great experience for any CS:GO fan!
Fortnite World Cup
Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
Dates: TBA
The Fortnite World Cup is a huge and highly anticipated annual esports tournament. The event will feature some of the world's best Fortnite players, with millions of people expected to watch the game online. This year it will gather 75 different duo teams with a prize pool of $4 million.
While the main event will be held in Copenhagen, other tournaments will also be hosted across several different regions and feature various competitions. These include solo, duo, and squad competitions, as well as creative competitions.
EVO Japan 2023
Location: Tokyo, Japan
Date: 31 March – 2 April 2023
EVO Japan 2023 is an upcoming event that will be held in Tokyo, Japan. This event will gather the world's best fighting game players from all over the world, competing in various tournaments. EVO Japan 2023 promises to feature game titles TEKKEN 8, The King of Fighters XV, Guilty Gear Strive, and Street Fighter V. With a variety of games on offer; there's something for everyone at EVO Japan 2023. Whether you are a fan of traditional fighting games or prefer more modern esports titles, this event has it all!
Valorant Champions Tour 2023
Location: Seoul, South Korea
Dates: TBA
Valorant Champions Tour 2023 is a competitive esports tournament for the popular first-person shooter game Valorant. The tournament will feature teams from all over the world in a series of online and offline competitions.
VCT 2023 will introduce more leagues, global events, and partnerships. For instance, challenger events will take place side by side with other tournaments for players to level up and reach Ascension tournaments. To top it all off, casual players can join in the competitive experience of VCT 2023 with an all-new competitive in-game experience.
TEKKEN World Tour Finals
Location: Amsterdam, Netherlands
Dates: 4 – 5 February 2023
The TEKKEN World Tour series from Bandai Namco brings you an international online and offline tournament series where the best compete for bragging rights in their region. The event has 5 Offline Master Events and 13 Regional Final Events across the globe to highlight the best talent in the world.
This year, Amsterdam sets the stage for the grand TEKKEN World Tour Finals in February 2023. 24 players from 16 regions across the globe will fight their way to win the Championship title and their share of the $100,000 prize pool.
CS: GO – BLAST Paris Major 2023
Location: Paris, France
Dates: 8 May – 21 May 2023
CS: GO Major events always gather millions of concurrent viewers all across the globe. Keeping the momentum going, Valve intends to bring the next leg of the CS: GO Major to Paris. The unique thing about this particular major is that BLAST will act as the tournament organizer. The $1.25 million prize pool is the largest for any CS:GO tournament that has been announced for 2023 so far.
Esports Universe Summit 2023
Location: Cyberport, Hong Kong
Dates: 1 – 2 December 2023
The Esports Universe Summit 2023 is a 2-day event that will bring together the world's biggest brands, top teams, investors, content creators, and game developers. While not exactly a tournament, the event provides a great opportunity for networking, connecting, and learning about the esports industry.
