Top 5 Websites to Watch Esports - Competitive Gaming Online
The Resurgence of Competitive Gaming
Competitive gaming is currently experiencing a period of significant growth and popularity. The launch of titles such as Starcraft II, League of Legends, and the latest iteration of Counter Strike, each intentionally developed with competitive gameplay as a core element, has revitalized the gaming community.
A robust ecosystem of tournaments centered around these and numerous other games is now flourishing.
Challenges in Finding Viewing Options
Despite the increasing prominence of esports, locating reliable platforms to watch professional competitions can prove difficult. Many websites dedicated to professional gaming suffer from usability issues, infrequent updates, or complete inactivity.
Identifying trustworthy sources often requires considerable searching using search engines, particularly for those unfamiliar with the landscape. To streamline this process, a curated list of resources has been compiled.
This compilation aims to alleviate the time investment typically needed to discover quality streaming and tournament information.
The intention is to provide a readily accessible guide for enthusiasts seeking to follow their favorite professional gamers and teams.
Major League Gaming
Founded in 2002, Major League Gaming (MLG) is a gaming league based in the United States. This makes it one of the longest-running esports organizations currently operating.
Focus and Game Coverage
The organization primarily concentrates on the PC titles Starcraft 2 and League of Legends. Additionally, MLG offers some coverage of fighting games, including Mortal Kombat.
Content Available on the MLG Website
The MLG website features a dedicated video section. This section contains a substantial archive of videos sourced from recent esports tournaments.
While the content isn't always the very latest in competitive play, a wide variety of matches are available for viewing.
Live Stream Access
Access to live game streams is available through the purchase of a session pass. Alternatively, a membership can be acquired to grant access to multiple game broadcasts.
Notably, certain bundles for accessing these streams are exclusively sold at retail locations such as Gamestop and Toys-R-Us.
GOMTV.net
GOMTV.net is dedicated to showcasing competitive Starcraft 2 gameplay, specifically from a Korean viewpoint.
The platform was established to broaden the reach of Korean play internationally, primarily through the Global Starcraft 2 League (GSL).
The GSL has since become a highly regarded and widely followed league within the Starcraft 2 community.
Historical Significance
For a considerable period, Korea served as the central location for competitive Starcraft 2. However, access to tournaments held within the country was limited for international audiences.
GOMTV.net aimed to bridge this gap, making Korean competitive Starcraft 2 more accessible to a global viewership.
User Experience and Content Availability
The website is known for its straightforward navigation, offering comprehensive coverage of events.
It excels at clearly presenting the tournament schedule and spotlighting prominent players.
A substantial amount of content is freely available both on the GOMTV.net website and its associated YouTube channel.
Subscription Options
For those seeking a complete, real-time viewing experience, season passes are available for purchase.
These passes begin at a price of $14.99, granting access to live broadcasts and exclusive content.
Twitch.TV
Twitch.TV stands out as a premier live streaming platform, encompassing a diverse range of gaming content. Beyond popular titles such as Starcraft II and League of Legends, the site features newer games like Guild Wars 2 and DOTA2.
A Broad Spectrum of Content
While primarily known for competitive gaming, Twitch.TV also hosts streams dedicated to gameplay walkthroughs, commentary, and general entertainment. Nevertheless, a significant number of channels are devoted to showcasing competitive esports action.
Many channels are managed directly by professional gamers, offering enthusiasts the opportunity to track their strategies or gain valuable insights. This provides a unique connection for dedicated fans.
Why Twitch.TV Excels
From the options available, Twitch.TV is a highly recommended platform. It boasts an extensive game library, a consistently active streaming community, and coverage of games even before their official release.
Standard definition streams are accessible without charge. High-definition viewing is available at no cost on select streams, with a small subscription fee required for others.
Key features include a wide variety of content and the ability to follow professional players.
Husky Starcraft Commentary
Keeping current with professional gaming can be achieved through subscriptions to platforms like GOMTV or Twitch.TV channels. However, consistently being first to view matches isn't always the most rewarding experience.
Not all competitive matches deliver high excitement; some can prove to be rather uninteresting. This is precisely why many enthusiasts, including myself, frequently choose to watch commentary from Husky, a prominent Starcraft 2 analyst.
Why Choose Husky's Channel?
Husky’s YouTube channel provides curated highlights of recent, compelling matches. Viewers are treated to a series of games characterized by dramatic upsets, narrowly avoided defeats, and intense battles between seasoned professionals.
A significant advantage of utilizing a YouTube channel is the accessibility of content. Matches are available for viewing at any time, without cost. Furthermore, the platform supports playback in 1080p resolution.
This level of visual clarity isn't always guaranteed on other platforms, even those requiring a paid subscription. The convenience and quality make Husky's channel a valuable resource.
Starcraft 2 fans seeking engaging and readily available content will find Husky’s channel to be a consistently reliable source of entertainment.
Protato Monster
Protato Monster serves as a readily available resource for gameplay footage within the League of Legends player base.
A new “Top 5 Plays” video is released each week, supplemented by additional content like “Lucky Plays” and “Players Choice” selections.
Content Focus & Style
The majority of videos are concise, lasting only five minutes. Given that full League of Legends replays can sometimes be lengthy, concentrating on key moments is a beneficial approach.
Protato Monster’s commentary is delivered with energy and clarity.
Accessibility & Quality
All videos are hosted on YouTube, ensuring free access for viewers.
Most content is available in 1080p high definition.
League of Legends players can easily find and enjoy exciting gameplay highlights through this channel.
Final Thoughts
While numerous platforms host competitive gaming broadcasts, certain ones were excluded due to their perplexing user experience. ESL TV serves as a prime illustration of this issue.
Frequent technical difficulties and inconsistent video playback are common complaints on this platform, alongside others.
Seeking Further Recommendations
If you are aware of an excellent resource for viewing competitive gaming content not mentioned in this overview, please share it in the comments section.
I am especially keen to learn about websites specializing in coverage of first-person shooter esports.
