I have been into gaming since my childhood.

A lot of my childhood memories go hand in hand with gaming solo and with friends. The sense of nostalgia when I replay those games, the very ones which I played throughout my childhood, is just overwhelming. I remember playing Mario 64 when I was a child and thinking that it was simply the greatest thing ever. Of course the graphics weren't that "tight" back then as they are now but whenever I think of those memories, I think of the game as almost life-like. Even in the games of that era, everybody had a great sense of competition, if not sportsmanship. It was a battle for the highscore, the battle for the crown of the king of the ladder. It was a war for the bragging rights, and everybody knew that winner takes all.

And then there were the high-school days, when me and my friends did LAN parties where we played Counter-Strike.

Even in this small circle of friends, when you were put into the game, the competition rose as high as the sky. And man was it fun. It was a very intense experience every time. Winning was the most important thing, because, again, the winner took all.

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Now everything has changed, for the better obviously.

That competition amongst the circle of gamers in LAN parties has transformed into a professional sport. eSports.

If you browse different online forums about different teams that professionally play a particular game such as League of Legends or Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, you'd find that there's almost a sense of hooliganism much akin to the football hooliganism prevalent in many countries such as England. People support their favorite teams, and even bet on them. Virtual betting is a topic that deserves it's own article, so I'll save it for later.

eSports has helped support gamers throughout the world both financial and mentally.

Previously gaming professional was only thought of as a "joke", but now it's a very real thing, and in my opinion it deserves to be recognized on a wider platform as a real sport. I've heard of rumors about the possible inclusion of eSports into the future Olympics but they are only rumors at this point.

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Streaming games on different websites such as twitch.tv and hitbox etc. is not only informational for the viewers, but it's also a strong financial base for the successful streamers, much like youtube. You can stream anything you do online, and if you are unique enough, you might even acquire a loyal fanbase and regular viewership. And that's the key to unlock the mighty lock of success.

Competition among gamers is not a new thing, it has been there since the invention of... well, games.

eSports capitalize on that competitive sense by providing not only financial incentive for the e-athletes but also the bragging rights. The very bragging rights that were held in esteem between those small circle of friends at the LAN parties. But now the whole world knows your name, and they hold you in high regard. Now the fans argue back forth about who is the best player in the world a la "Messi or Ronaldo".

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eSports deserves to be recognized on a much broader platform and by a lot more publications, and I believe that in the coming years, it will surely establish itself as a professional career path for gamers who play with a burning passion.