ESWC- a brief overview

One of the biggest spectacles in gaming, the electronic sports world cup to start on the 21st october till the 25th october to be held in Paris, France during the Paris games week.

We will discuss and give a brief overview of the contenders to the throne for each of the game.

The games that will be played in ESWC this year are

1. Starcraft 2 Wings of Liberty- This game is an individual strategy game, it has the highest prize pot in the eswc of 66 thousand US dollars.A total of 48 players are competing for the prize. India’s very own Nickunj “Rog.raZiel” Bansal would be carrying India’s hopes on his shoulders. The Koreans are the most dominant in this game. But we could expect Nickunj to raise a few eyebrows.

2. Counter Strike 1.6 – This an fps game, it’s a team game with 5 members each. Its prize pot is of 33 thousand US dollars with 20 teams vying for glory. There is no Indian participation in this game as India was not granted an ESWC slot for counter strike 1.6. We can expect the scandinavians to be top dogs in this game with the likes of SK gaming and fnatic, but defending champions Natus Vincere of Ukaraine will not go down without a fight.

3. Counter Strike 1.6 (women)- We will see the ladies battle it out for top glory and to decide who the top team is amongst them. Female gaming has seen a huge rise over the past few years especially in the scandinavian and North American countries. A total 16 teams are participating and vying for a prize of 25 thousand US dollars. The counter strike female section is probably the most competitive section we have seen. There is always a high amount of change in the top echelon of this section as none can predict which team will oust the other. If we were to point out frontrunners, we would go for the two german teams Team Thermaltake and Team ESC Gaming, only on the basis of the level of competition prevalent in their intra national scene.

4. Counter Strike Source- This is the sequel we can say to counter strike 1.6 released in 2004. It will be most remembered by star sports viewers on the CGS. But after the CGS , counter strike source went through a period of playing second fiddle to counter strike 1.6. After a huge online voting which was literally like a parliament bill to make cs:s as it is known a part of the eswc. It got approved and will make its debut this year. Again there is no indian participation in this game. There are 12 teams vying for the top spot and for 22 thousand US dollars. Such was the online popularity of this game not only did the game get selected but it also given the chance to be the closing game of the eswc on the 25th of october. The favorites in this game are the french and one of the most dominant teams ever in esport known as TEAM VERYGAMES. Since 2010 they have not lost a single competition they have taken part in. Other teams which could give a fight are Team LDLC.COM (FRANCE), TEAM DYNAMIC (CANADA), CHECK SIX GAMING (USA). It will be quite a task to oust team verygames.

5. DOTA 2- Defense of the Ancients 2 is a fantasy strategy video game. Twelve teams will fight it out for 22 thousand US dollars. The final team list has not been published yet by ESWC. But this a high intensity game which fills stadiums across the world and is one of the post popular fantasy games. There will be again no Indian participation in this game.

6. Fifa 11- The most popular sports game in the world Fifa 11 has been there in the eswc since its inception. With 48 players trying to get their hands on the title of the best fifa player in the world and the coveted prize of 17 thousand US dollars. The intensity of each fifa game in the eswc can be compared to that of a real football match. There are players from all around the world competing in this game. It is the most “cosmopolitan” game in the eswc. But again there is no indian participation in this game. I asked Sagar “dubesx” Vyas , one of the county’s best fifa players and he said ” We are good enough to play in the eswc, its just sad that we dont get that chance”. This game will certainly bring out the highest emotions of the gamers and spectators alike.

7. Trackmania Nations Forever- A racing game which was made for the eswc especially and is considered one of the hardest racing games, Tmnf as its known by gamers alike has 16 players. 15 from Europe and 1 from Asia and i would like you all to guess who that one is? Yes you guessed right he is India’s Naveen “AAA” Uraon or Nuraon. He is probably the most experienced campaigner in the indian esport world, and will most certainly be a flagbeared for indian gaming in Paris. We all hope he atleast gets a top 5 finish. The french trio of carl, YoYo and Rapt look the most dangerous with form on their side, with no kalle “Frostbeule” Videkull taking part, it is an open field for all players to go for the win!! And yes not forgetting the comeback man and defending champion Fredrik “Bergie” Bergmann who will me looking to make it back to back wins. 15 thousand US dollars is what they will be fighting for.

So this was a brief overview of the games that will be present in the biggest spectacle of gaming the ESWC . On behalf of the indian e-sports community i would like to wish the two indian participants Naveen Uraon and Nickunj Bansal, the best of luck!!