The global Esports industry is currently worth $1.38 billion. And while it is still significantly leaps and bounds away from the total value of the gaming market, it has come a long way in recent years. Experts estimate that it will continue to grow at a CAGR of 21 percent between 2022 and 2029, which is phenomenal. This may explain why more and more countries are recognizing esports as a sporting activity. Most recently, Wales, amid an online gaming boom, founded an esports team that has already competed in Commonwealth Games’ Esports Championships. Here is a closer look at the team’s progress thus far.
Esports Wales
Founded in 2018, Esports Wales is a community interest company that manages esports development in Wales. The aim of the company is to raise esports to the national level and represent gamers in local and international tournaments. Esports Wales is also the current esports governing body in the country.
But while esports is gaining ground in Wales, it is still a relatively new concept. Esports Wales lobbies to get support for the game while encouraging new members to join the Wales esports team. As in the gaming industry, where consumer incentive is provided through perks like promotions and UK’s best casino bonuses, Esports Wales sponsors tournaments across the country to attract talent.
The company’s professional teams also scout these games to identify talented amateur players, who are then trained to compete for the Wales esports team.
Recent Funding
As a community interest company, Esports Wales – and, by extension, the Wales team – relies on funding for its operations. Creative Wales contributed £25,000 to the national team in 2022 to help it grow. Additionally, the funding was earmarked to help establish a Welsh esports league for increased representation in the UK and other international markets. As Dawn Bowden, Deputy Minister for Arts and Sport, put it, supporting the country’s first-ever team will “…will further support the growth of the games industry in Wales.”
2022 Commonwealth Games’ Esports Championships
Following funding and support from the government’s Creative Wales agency, the Welsh esports team participated in the 2022 Commonwealth Games’ Esports Championships. During the tournament held in Birmingham between August 6 and 7, Wales won Gold in the Rocket League Open, Bronze in the eFootball Open, and Silver in the eFootball Women. The Welsh group fielded teams in three other categories – Rocket League Womens, Dota 2 Open, and Dota 2 Womens – although they did not win any medals here. The three medals were a major win for the country’s first-ever sports team.
Other Competitions
Over the last two years, the Welsh team has held an online event called Welsh Masters to showcase Welsh esports talent. The group also hosts Community Cups throughout the year, complete with exciting prizes in different gaming categories. Esports Wales, in turn, has organized multiple international friendlies with teams like Esports Ireland and Esports Scotland.
Beyond that, Esports Wales is a proud International Esports Federation member and has participated in international competitions like the World Esports Championship.
Conclusion
Competitive video gaming is growing at an alarming rate and is set to dominate the gaming market in several years. Aware of this momentum, Esports Wales put together the country’s first esports team, which is already making impressive strides in the esports world. It will be exciting to see how the funding and government support helps push the team at the international level.