Esports (short for electronic sports) are competitive video gaming competitions that attract massive audiences online and in person. These events showcase the skills of gamers who compete with each other in a wide range of video games, from first-person shooters to strategy titles, and can lead to lucrative sponsorship deals for players and teams alike.

These esports tournaments have grown to be so popular that they’re now more than just entertainment — they’re becoming a major player in the world of professional sports. Despite esports’ relatively young age, professional leagues now exist in the US and China, with franchised teams and sizable, sometimes nearly cult-like, fan bases — just like traditional sports. In 2022, the Asian Games will feature esports as a medal event.

Some of the world’s largest esports tournaments boast astronomical prize pools. Some are open to the general public, while others are invitational, reserved for top-ranked teams or athletes. While these high-level tournaments don’t get the same amount of media attention as some of the more popular competitions, they have an important role to play in esports’ diverse ecosystem.

This week marks the return of the Rocket League Major to Miami, where local team the Toronto Ultra should be a contender for the title. Riot will also be staging the second VALORANT Masters of the year in Hong Kong, which should give us a clearer picture of potential qualifiers and contenders after the regional kickoffs and the first Master’s Madrid. Defending champs Team Vitality, along with G2 and FaZe Clan, should be among the favorites, while the top teams from Korea and China are likely to make some noise too.