Gaming and competitions have been a part of human culture and tradition for thousands of years. So too have the types of games that people play both for entertainment and competition. In 2024 the world of gaming is more global and connected than ever before, with unique gaming traditions and cultural competitions happening all over.
Evolution of Ancient Games into 2024 E-Sports Spectacles
Some of the most popular e-sports today actually evolved from ancient games at Roll XO and sports. For example, football/soccer is now a multi-billion dollar industry, with the FIFA World Cup viewed by over 3.5 billion people in 2024. And chess which originated in 6th century India, now has multiple major online and over-the-board competitions, including the landmark human vs. machine faceoffs between grandmasters and AIs.
So which gaming traditions and cultural competitions stand out as truly unique in 2024? Here are some of the fascinating genres and world championships that showcase the boundary-pushing nature of modern gaming.
Extreme Mind-Body Gaming Hybrids
As gaming has expanded globally, different cultures have combined it with physical and mental challenges to create entirely new sports. These mind-body hybrids test players in creative ways.
Chess Boxing Competitions Gain Popularity
One such hybrid that has gained popularity over the last decade is chess boxing which alternates rounds of chess with boxing. Chess boxing tournaments have been held in India, Russia, the UK and now in the United States as well. The 2024 Chess Boxing World Championship in Moscow has a ₽12 million prize fund and is broadcasted to over 90 countries.
Table: Chess Boxing Tournament Growth
| Year | Number of Tournaments | Total Prize Fund |
| 2014 | 3 | $12,000 |
| 2019 | 12 | $230,000 |
| 2024 | 25+ | Over $2 million |
This combination of brains and brawn makes for a fascinating spectator sport – the chess creates suspense and strategy while the boxing provides exhilarating action. As more people discover chess boxing, its global popularity looks set to continue rising.
Go Tournament Innovations
The ancient Chinese strategy game Go has also seen some modern innovations in recent years. In 2024, an AI program called HanDol from South Korea defeated 9-dan professional Go player Lee Se-dol to win the AI Go Champions Tournament and $300,000 prize. This follows DeepMind’s AlphaGo AI beating Lee back in 2016.Including AI players makes Go tournaments more intriguing to fans, as they get to root for either humans or machines!
Another creative new Go format is the Coupe d’Asie Team Relay Tournament where teams of players face off in a relay style. This adds drama and allows different strategies like sacrificing points to tire out opponents. The 2024 Coupe d’Asie has 32 countries competing for the $400,000 top prize.
Epic E-Sports Championships
Alongside these gaming-hybrid sports, more traditional e-sports have also grown tremendously with the biggest tournaments now featuring record-breaking prize pools and drawing in millions of viewers.
International Tops $50 Million Prize Pool
Dota 2’s annual tournament The International has set prize pool records for five years straight. In 2024, it became the first e-sports tournament to offer more than $50 million in winnings, further cementing its status as the world’s richest gaming competition. Top players spend all year earning qualification points at majors and minors to earn a coveted invite to The International grand finals held annually in Stockholm, Sweden.
The two finalists face off in a best-of-five championship match with the winning team taking home over $15 million in 2024. This life-changing payout is inspiring more young people to pursue professional gaming careers through Dota 2.
League of Legends Worlds Viewership Now Over 200 Million
While The International may have the most money, League of Legends World Championship draws in the most viewers – over 200 million tuned in live in 2024! The global growth of e-sports is proven by Worlds now being broadcast in 18 languages. And similar to The International, Worlds also has a play-in group stage where teams can qualify, making the tournament more inclusive and unpredictable.
The 2024 Worlds finals returned to Seoul, South Korea which is still considered the Mecca of competitive gaming. There, China’s JD Gaming prevailed over Korea’s T1 to claim the $4.5 million championship trophy in front of a sold-out crowd of over 65,000 fans at Incheon Stadium.