Group 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 world wide will compete throughout 25 video games together with Name of Responsibility, 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 international locations.

Most are members of organisations comparable to Group Liquid, one of many world’s largest esports squads.

BBC Newsbeat went behind the scenes at their HQ to search 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, Group Liquid’s base is an element workplace, half online game arcade and half luxurious pupil 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 reside to followers on Twitch.

Lots of Liquid’s prime gamers reside and practice within the constructing, the place an on-site chef offers 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 taking part in towards the perfect towards the world right into a profession.

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

“We’ve got a gameplay coach, we’re analysing video games from tournaments previously and in pleasant video games the place we strive issues out. We’ve got efficiency coaches and psychological coaches too,” he says.

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

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

As a result of EWC opponents do not symbolize their international locations, groups are in a position to usher in expertise from world wide.

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

He says the EWC is “the perfect feeling on the planet since you are taking part in the perfect gamers”.

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

Group Liquid want to one-up their efficiency final yr, once they completed second total behind Saudi facet Group Falcons.

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

“I do not really feel strain, I really feel assured,” he says. “We have been practising loads.”

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 higher probability of netting that prime prize.

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

Consolidation – larger esports groups swallowing smaller ones – and mergers have turn into extra frequent, 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.

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

Whereas prize cash is not every little thing, Victor says the EWC is financially vital for Group Liquid.

“It is one other supply we will plan round and mission our yr for and that permits 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 yr.

Victor admits it is necessary to compete in as many occasions as doable to be able to take the highest spot, however that “it is not value increasing in case your core rosters aren’t already nice”.

It’s essential entice the perfect expertise.

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

Some esports followers have been crucial of groups collaborating 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 ladies can do.

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

It is closely invested hundreds of thousands 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, comparable to Avenue Fighter 6 professional Chris CCH, who declined a spot at this yr’s contest after qualifying by way of a partnered occasion.

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

Victor says it is a “delicate and difficult scenario to navigate” for Group 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.”

Hearken to Newsbeat reside at 12:45 and 17:45 weekdays – or hear again right here.