Workforce Liquid prepares for the Saudi contest

The second Esports World Cup (EWC) has begun in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Over the following seven weeks, groups from around the globe will compete throughout 25 video games together with Name of Obligation, League of Legends and EA Sports activities FC (EA FC).

Up for grabs is a share of $70m (£50m).

There are prizes for people and groups however, regardless of the event’s title, gamers do not compete for his or her nations.

Most are members of organisations similar to Workforce Liquid, one of many world’s greatest esports squads.

BBC Newsbeat went behind the scenes at their HQ to seek out out why the EWC is so vital to them, and why they really feel they cannot ignore the controversial contest.

Positioned in Utrecht within the Netherlands, Workforce Liquid’s base is an element workplace, half online game arcade and half luxurious scholar lodging.

There are two rooms the place team-mates can compete head-to-head or on-line, and streaming cubicles the place they’ll broadcast dwell to followers on Twitch.

Lots of Liquid’s prime gamers dwell and prepare within the constructing, the place an on-site chef supplies three meals a day, all of them designed to spice up focus and response occasions.

When play is figure and work is play it is vital to tell apart between the 2, and members inform Newsbeat they spend about eight hours a day coaching within the run-up to main competitions.

A kind of is Levi de Weerd.

Like many others he bought into EA FC (previously referred to as Fifa) as a baby.

Now aged 21, he is made enjoying towards one of the best towards the world right into a profession.

He says being a part of Workforce Liquid will get him entry to the high-spec amenities and skilled coaches.

“Now we have a gameplay coach, we’re analysing video games from tournaments prior to now and in pleasant video games the place we strive issues out. Now we have efficiency coaches and psychological coaches too,” he says.

Being in a single place, he says, is extra vital than you may suppose.

“I feel it is vital to have a very good setting with coaches, with gamers and employees to get a very good chemistry”, he says.

As a result of EWC rivals do not characterize their nations, groups are in a position to usher in expertise from around the globe.

YanYa, a part of Workforce Liquid’s Apex Legends squad, joined from his dwelling nation of Mexico.

He says the EWC is “one of the best feeling on this planet since you are enjoying one of the best gamers”.

“You get plenty of pleasure. You get plenty of adrenaline,” he says.

Workforce Liquid want to one-up their efficiency final 12 months, after they completed second total behind Saudi facet Workforce Falcons.

YanYa insists that does not have an effect on him, although.

“I do not really feel stress, I really feel assured,” he says. “We have been practising quite a bit.”

Particular person efficiency is a key a part of the EWC and there are huge money prizes for profitable gamers.

However there are additionally particular bonuses for the membership championship – the crew that wins essentially the most occasions total will get $7m (£5m).

Extra gamers means an opportunity to compete in additional occasions, and a larger probability of netting that prime prize.

Levi is a reasonably new member of Workforce Liquid, which he joined when his former facet was absorbed into it.

Consolidation – greater esports groups swallowing smaller ones – and mergers have turn into extra widespread, and never simply due to the prizes up for grabs.

A number of esports organisations have gone bust lately after an enormous funding growth within the scene fizzled out.

Workforce Liquid’s founder and co-CEO Victor Goosens says preserving the cash coming in is extra vital than ever.

Whereas prize cash is not all the things, Victor says the EWC is financially vital for Workforce Liquid.

“It is one other supply we will plan round and challenge our 12 months for and that enables us to construct the corporate and set up ourselves as a sustainable esports organisation”, he says.

He says the crew is “formidable” with its plans to win the membership championship, after putting second final 12 months.

Victor admits it’s a necessity to compete in as many occasions as potential with a purpose to take the highest spot, however that “it isn’t value increasing in case your core rosters aren’t already nice”.

It’s essential entice one of the best expertise.

So when on-line chess was added as an occasion at this 12 months’s Esports World Cup, Workforce Liquid signed up the world’s prime chess grandmasters Magnus Carlsen and Fabiano Caruana.

Some esports followers have been important of groups participating in an occasion hosted, and largely funded, by Saudi Arabia.

The dominion has been accused of quite a few human rights violations and has strict legal guidelines limiting what girls can do.

Like different Center East states it has been closely criticised for its anti-LGBT legal guidelines – homosexuality is punishable by dying.

It is closely invested tens of millions into sport, video video games and esports, which critics argue is an try to spice up its public picture.

There was backlash.

Particular person gamers have chosen to not take part, similar to Avenue Fighter 6 professional Chris CCH, who declined a spot at this 12 months’s contest after qualifying through a partnered occasion.

However, given its ever-growing ties to esports, he admitted that avoiding any Saudi-linked contests altogether would have made it virtually unattainable for him to hold on competing.

Victor says it is a “delicate and difficult scenario to navigate” for Workforce Liquid, which has publicly supported homosexual rights.

“We have been very outspoken that we imagine in esports for all,” says Victor.

“So there is a contradiction. However we imagine that if we need to be round in 5 or ten years’ time we have to play on the EWC.”

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