There were 128 starting places for the Fifa tournament at Emmer Shopping; They disappeared in a short time. Why esports are becoming more and more popular.
They dribble, fake a shot and are annoyed at missed scoring opportunities – football is currently played with passion in the agglomeration of Emmen in Lucerne. However, not on the grass, but on the virtual playing field.
The days of esports are approaching for the fourth time at the Emmencenter. Among other things on offer: the Fifa football simulation game.
The tournament has not only attracted participants from the region for a long time. A 13-year-old boy came from Zurich with his uncle. He just swept his opponent 10:0 off the field. For him it is clear: “I want to win a prize.”
Games are becoming more and more popular.
The total of 128 starting places in the FIFA tournament were sold out in no time. No wonder: esports is steadily gaining popularity in Switzerland, according to a study by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences (ZHAW).
According to the survey, 41.7% of the Swiss population played a video game at least once a week in 2021, almost 8% more than in 2019.
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It’s not just young people who are looking for the console: half of those between 30 and 44 years old play at least once a week, and among those between 16 and 29 years old it is 57.7 percent. And the reputation of esports is also growing.
The fact that the professional game of Fifa, Fortnite or Call of Duty is increasingly recognized as a sport is mainly due to competition, says Steven Krucker, esports commentator at SRF. “As with any hobby, you measure yourself. In the end, esports is also about who is the best.”
Prize money that changes lives
According to the study, 565,620 Swiss describe themselves as e-athletes. About 110,000 of them make money from it.
In this country, however, only a very few could make a living from gaming in local esports leagues, says Krucker. “The big money is in international tournaments.” A good example is the shooting game Fortnite. “The prize money is in the tens of millions.” Sums that can change a life.
In Brazil, for example, children are cut out for Fifa because if they later win prize money, the whole family benefits.
There is no way around training.
To get to the top, the same applies to games: no pain, no gain. However, Krucker says, “Fun is the most important factor.” You need a game that pleases and arouses ambition. So it’s: practice, practice, practice.
Fun is the most important factor.
Young players would have the greatest opportunity to be ahead, due to the speed of reaction. “From the age of 30, this decreases.” Stamina is also required: because those who train professionally spend hours in front of the screen. “They watch how the opponent reacts and try to execute the flank even more perfectly, just like in real football practice.”
Finger exercises to warm up
Back to Emen. Once again, some leave nothing to chance. About Lorik, who is just warming up his fingers. He was also part of the competition here last year and narrowly missed out on the podium. This year he doesn’t want to let victory take him away.
While Lorik already dreams of a professional playing career, others ultimately prefer to play on real grass. “For me, gaming is not a sport,” says Leon. He lacks movement. “Here you just sit in front of the screen.” Out in the real world, there is more to experience.
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