Amateur tournaments develop future professionals in the esports scene

Many viewers wonder about the origin of players who stand out in major competitions like CBLOL or VCT. Just as it happens in football, the competitive universe of electronic games has a grassroots category dedicated to developing new talent.

Function of grassroots tournaments

These events, both amateur and semi-professional, constitute the first point of contact for various players with a structured competitive environment. It is in this context that they gain experience in playing collectively, managing competition pressure, respecting schedules, collaborating with coaches, and understanding organizational dynamics.

GG League Initiative

Phelipe Cerezzo, founder of Liga GG, which organizes amateur and semi-professional championships for League of Legends and VALORANT, explained that the lack of such a space motivated the creation of the initiative in 2018. He stated: 'We realized there were thousands of talented players, but few paths for them to be seen. We decided to create this bridge between the dream and professionalism.'

Learning and Athletic Development

Grassroots tournaments serve as the gateway to the esports competitive scene, allowing newcomers to participate in organized championships, gain experience, and attract the attention of larger teams. In these environments, competitors learn to handle the pressure of live broadcasts, maintain a training routine, work in a team, and improve skills that go beyond mere game mechanics.

For Cerezzo, this process is fundamental for the formation of any athlete. He compared it to football, saying: 'The base is where it all begins. Just as in football there are development categories, in esports it is the same. No athlete arrives prepared at the highest level without competing before. It is in the base that the player learns discipline, communication, teamwork, emotional control, and builds competitive experience.'

The esports ecosystem involves much more than just players. Professionals such as commentators, analysts, broadcasters, League Ops (responsible for tournament operation), designers, video editors, observers, and social media managers also use grassroots tournaments to develop their skills and build their portfolios.

Cerezzo pointed out that Liga GG has seen commentators, analysts, League Ops, tournament administrators, designers, broadcast producers, social media managers, photographers, video editors, and content creators start their journeys. He concluded that 'The base trains professionals for the entire ecosystem, not just athletes.'

Impact on the Brazilian Scene

For many competitors, grassroots tournaments represent the first chance to participate in a structured environment, enabling teams to identify talents that might otherwise go unnoticed in ranked matches. This model has been crucial for the growth of the Brazilian competitive scene. According to Phelipe Cerezzo, over 120 players who went through Liga GG reached the professional level, confirming the importance of these competitions in developing new talent.

Although not all participants reach the professional level, the experience gained in these championships drives player evolution and expands their career options in esports.

Grassroots tournaments go beyond sports rivalry, as they foster community building. They bring together not only players but also people interested in esports, strengthening a network of mutual collaboration. For Cerezzo, this sense of belonging indicates that the project has achieved its purpose.

He observed that Liga GG transcended the function of a mere championship when participants remained involved even after being eliminated, staying in the Discord, watching broadcasts, and interacting with other teams. It was at that moment that they realized they were building a community.

Conclusion on the Future

In summary, although the focus is often on major championships, it is in grassroots tournaments that the future of esports truly takes shape. It is there that players and professionals have the first space to develop skills, gain experience, and find opportunities for advancement in this market. The CEO of Liga GG emphasized that the beginning is the most vital step, because 'Every professional started as a beginner. The important thing is to take the first step and seize every opportunity to evolve.' Investing in the base strengthens the entire structure of the Brazilian esports market, forming professionals, uniting communities, and consolidating the competitive scene.

olhardigital.com.brJuly 20, 23:08

E-sports broadcasting behind the scenes: roles and professionals involved in online competitions

E-sports attract millions of viewers globally in tournaments across various titles, including VALORANT, League of Legends, Counter-Strike, and Street Fighter. Similar to conventional sports, hosting each championship requires a large team of professionals.

Roles of Broadcast Professionals

One of the crucial roles in this process is the caster. The term derives from 'broadcast caster' in English and designates the specialist who conducts the e-sports broadcast. This work ranges from narration and commentary to detailed analysis and contextualization of events occurring inside and outside the game.

Although the term caster encompasses multiple tasks, each professional has a specific responsibility. The narrator, known as play-by-play, focuses on describing in real-time everything that happens during the match. The commentator, or color caster, enriches the broadcast with analyses, providing context about the teams, strategies, and interesting facts, helping the audience better understand every move.

Preparation Before Broadcasting

In practice, the caster's work begins well before the official start of the broadcast. The professional dedicates time to researching the teams, studying the players, monitoring the latest game updates, and organizing their notes. They often use a personal notebook to record statistics, trivia, and relevant information that may arise during the competition.

Part of the routine is preparing one's voice and aligning details with the team to ensure the best possible execution. During the week, it is common to follow players' broadcasts to observe training, identify the most used agents, and fundamentally, know the 'comfort picks'—those choices in which each player demonstrates greater confidence and better performance.

The Complete Broadcast Team

Besides casters, an e-sports broadcast features several other specialists working in collaboration. The broadcaster is the technical person responsible for going live with the broadcast, managing scene changes, displaying graphics, statistics, and replays so that the audience has a complete view.

The League Operations professional, or League Ops, manages the operational side of the event. Their duties include organizing match lobbies, confirming the readiness of all teams, solving any technical problems, and ensuring that the championship strictly follows the established schedule and regulations.

Observers have the function of controlling the camera within the game environment. They decide which players should be followed, anticipate the most important movements, and capture decisive moments so that no crucial play is missed by the viewer.

Conclusion and Invitation to Viewers

By understanding what happens behind the live signal, an invitation is extended: anyone who has never watched an e-sports competition in real-time should choose a game they prefer, such as League of Legends, VALORANT, Fortnite, or another competitive title, and watch a broadcast. It is likely that the viewer will discover that, besides the matches themselves, there is a vast team dedicated to turning every championship into a complete spectacle.