History of Esports: A Brief Timeline WELCOME History of Esports: A Brief Timeline Explore the captivating history of esports with our comprehensive timeline, featuring key milestones from its early origins to its modern-day global phenomenon. Delve into significant events such as the 1952 creation of OXO, the 1972 Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics, Atari’s 1980 Space Invaders Championship, and the establishment of Twin Galaxies in 1982. Witness the rise of major tournaments like the 1990 Nintendo World Championships, 1997’s Red Annihilation, and the 2000 World Cyber Games. Discover the impact of games like StarCraft, League of Legends, and Dota 2’s The International. This timeline highlights the evolution and growth of competitive gaming, showcasing how esports has transformed into a major entertainment industry. 1952 OXO – The Birth of Computer GamingIn 1952, a significant milestone in the history of computing and gaming occurred with the creation of OXO by Alexander S. Douglas. Developed as part of his doctoral dissertation at the University of Cambridge, OXO, also known as Noughts and Crosses, is widely regarded as one of the earliest known…Read More 1972 Intergalactic Spacewar OlympicsOn October 19, 1972, a group of students at Stanford University unknowingly made history by organizing what is now recognized as the world’s first esports tournament. Dubbed the “Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics,” this pioneering event marked the beginning of competitive gaming as we know it today. The competition centred around Spacewar!,…Read More 1980 Space Invaders ChampionshipIn 1980, the world of competitive gaming took a giant leap forward with the Space Invaders Championship, an event that would prove pivotal in bringing video games into the public spotlight. Organized by Atari, this tournament was the first large-scale video game competition of its kind, drawing participants and attention…Read More 1982 Twin Galaxies FoundedIn 1982, amidst the cacophony of bleeps and bloops emanating from arcades across America, a chap named Walter Day embarked on a mission that would forever change the landscape of competitive gaming. From the unlikeliest of places—Ottumwa, Iowa—Day founded Twin Galaxies, an organisation that would become the definitive authority on…Read More 1990 Nintendo World ChampionshipsIn 1990, while us Brits were busy with our Sinclair Spectrums and Amiga 500s, our American cousins were gearing up for what would become a landmark event in competitive gaming history. The Nintendo World Championships, a grand tour spanning 29 cities across the United States, was about to change the…Read More 1997 Red AnnihilationIn the spring of 1997, a groundbreaking event took place that would help shape the future of competitive gaming. The Red Annihilation tournament, centred around the popular first-person shooter Quake, marked a pivotal moment in esports history. Red Annihilation began as an online tournament, with over 2,000 participants competing in…Read More 1998 StarCraft ReleasedIn 1998, while many of us were still mucking about with our PlayStation ones and Nintendo 64s, a little company called Blizzard Entertainment unleashed a game that would change the landscape of competitive gaming forever. StarCraft, a real-time strategy game set in a distant, war-torn galaxy, hit the shelves and…Read More 2000 World Cyber GamesBack in the year 2000, while many of us were fretting about the Millennium Bug, a group of visionaries in South Korea were laying the foundations for what would become one of the most prestigious events in competitive gaming. The World Cyber Games (WCG) burst onto the scene, promising to…Read More 2003 Electronic Sports World Cup (ESWC)In 2003, while many of us were still getting our heads around broadband internet, the competitive gaming scene was about to receive a proper Continental shake-up. The Electronic Sports World Cup (ESWC) burst onto the scene, bringing a distinctly European flavour to the world of esports. Founded in France, the…Read More 2004 The Founding of Major League Gaming (MLG)In 2004, the competitive gaming landscape experienced a significant shift with the establishment of Major League Gaming (MLG). Founded by Sundance DiGiovanni and Mike Sepso, MLG emerged as a pioneering organisation in North American esports, aiming to create a structured, professional environment for competitive video gaming. From its inception, MLG…Read More 2009 League of Legends ReleasedIn October 2009, Riot Games introduced League of Legends to the world, a game that would go on to reshape the landscape of competitive gaming and become a cornerstone of the esports industry. League of Legends, often abbreviated as LoL, emerged as a standalone game inspired by the popular Warcraft…Read More 2011 The International (Dota 2)In August 2011, the esports landscape experienced a seismic shift with the inaugural edition of The International, a Dota 2 tournament that would redefine expectations for competitive gaming events worldwide. Valve Corporation, the developer behind Dota 2, launched The International as a showcase for their upcoming game, which was still…Read More 2017 Overwatch LeagueIn January 2017, the esports industry witnessed a revolutionary development with the launch of the Overwatch League (OWL) by Blizzard Entertainment. This innovative venture marked a significant milestone in competitive gaming, introducing a city-based franchise model that closely mirrored traditional sports leagues. The Overwatch League’s inaugural season featured 12 teams,…Read More 2019 Fortnite World CupIn July 2019, the esports world witnessed a watershed moment with the inaugural Fortnite World Cup. This event, hosted by Epic Games, the developer of Fortnite, took place at Arthur Ashe Stadium in New York City, a venue typically reserved for prestigious tennis tournaments. The Fortnite World Cup was remarkable…Read More Let’s explore Interested in more computer history? How about the History of Computers song?