The Commonwealth Esports Championships came to an emotional conclusion on Sunday at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham, with England Esports finishing second overall with five medals total.
The partnership between the Global Esports Federation and the Commonwealth Games Federation has received big thumbs up from athletes and fans, both online and in person.
Last week, two worlds converged as over 100 athletes representing diverse Commonwealth nations and territories went head-to-head in three esports titles – Dota 2, eFootball, and Rocket League.
Staged concurrently with the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, the Championships represent a hugely significant moment in the evolution of esports.
“This is historic,” Paul J. Foster, CEO of the Global Esports Federation, said. “Fans of all ages will soon be cheering some of the very best esports athletes in the world to win medals for themselves and their country.”
The qualifiers in Nottingham saw some fierce action; 12 nations from different corners of the Commonwealth made it through to last weekend’s finals and showpiece event at the International Convention Centre in Birmingham.
Inside Esports England – A chat with the Commonwealth Games Finalists
Esports England achieved five medals overall, with the team claiming Gold in the women’s Rocket League final, alongside Silver in the Rocket League open.
Esports England also saw success in Dota 2, with the Open and Women’s Dota teams bringing home silver medals. Finishing off, England also clutched a bronze medal in eFootball, securing second place for overall medals with Malaysia ahead in first place.
England was not alone in their outstanding performance, as the rest of the UK grabbed several medals. Wales, Northern Ireland, and Scotland came in third, fourth, and fifth place respectively. The Commonwealth Esports Championships have achieved mainstream media and public attention over the last week, raising the question, is Esports a Mainstream sport?
Is Esports a Mainstream Sport?
- 2 min read
Robert Mullane
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When not working, you'll find me in VR or losing in bottom-tier Valorant matches. I write about all topic's tech and gaming with a particular focus on representation in gaming, virtual reality, and LGBTQ+ themes. If you're still not fed up with me, you can also catch me over on the Overclockers UK TikTok and YouTube accounts.
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