I've never been enthusiastic about traditional sports - I didn't enjoy playing them that much when I was younger, so maybe I just can't identify at all with the

I've never been enthusiastic about traditional sports - I didn't enjoy playing them that much when I was younger, so maybe I just can't identify at all with the players. However, I've always been passionate about video games, which is probably why professional gaming is so appealing to me. Following the pro scene, you become really attached to individual players and teams - their unique personalities, skills, and the complex team-based strategy that the game calls for. Unlike traditional sports, pro esports players are streaming frequently on twitch - you have much more direct contact to them. You can watch them playing in solo queue (i.e. in a non-professional environment, away from the rest of their team), and they'll often joke around, talk to their viewers (who talk in a chat attached to the channel), and explain what they're doing and their decision-making as they play the game. So, you watch League of Legends because of the crazy plays that Faker makes, or the mind-blowing support mechanics of Madlife. You rooted for Dignitas because of how hilarious QTPie is on his stream, or maybe you've been following TSM since the Baylife days, standing by them when they falter and cheering madly when they make a showing in an international tournament. The Koreans have been dominant for years, but every year it feels like the NA teams are slowly inching closer in terms of skill. You go to a bar in San Francisco where they play matches live, and you're surrounded by people who are just as passionate as you. On top of all of that, you have Riot Games, which has invested themselves entirely in building a sport, not just a game, and making fans feel like they're valued and loved. Maybe you even have professional aspirations yourself - there's a challenger circuit for the best amateur teams, that's also run by Riot Games, where the best teams make it into the professional circuit. Playing professionally pretty much guarantees you six figures of income, from streaming and sponsorships. So, people are into esports the same reason they're into any sport. You fall in love with the teams, the players, and the rivalries, and you get to watch people who have dedicated their lives to being incredibly skilled at a game that's both more technically demanding than anything else you can think of, and requires perfect coordination between team members.