Introduction
League of Legends， commonly known as LoL， is one of the most popular esports games in the world. This article will discuss the rise of LoL as an esports game and its impact on the gaming industry.
The Early Days of LoL Esports
LoL was released in 2009， and it didn't take long for it to become an esports game. In fact， the first LoL world championship was held in 2011， just two years after the game's release. However， the esports scene was not as developed as it is now – prize money was in the tens of thousands of dollars， and the viewership was relatively low compared to today's standards.
The Growth of LoL Esports
Despite its humble beginnings， LoL esports has seen tremendous growth over the years. In 2019， the LoL world championship had a prize pool of $2.2 million， and the viewership exceeded 100 million. The game has also spawned numerous professional leagues in different regions， including the League of Legends Championship Series (LCS) in North America and the League of Legends European Championship (LEC) in Europe. These leagues feature teams made up of the best players in their respective regions and offer significant prize money and opportunities for success.
The Impact on the Gaming Industry
LoL's success has led to a significant impact on the gaming industry. More and more companies are investing in esports， and even traditional sports teams and organizations， such as the Philadelphia 76ers and FC Schalke 04， have invested in LoL teams. Esports is becoming more mainstream and is even being considered for inclusion in the Olympics. LoL's success has also led to the growth of streaming platforms such as Twitch， which provides a platform for fans to watch their favorite players and teams compete in real-time.
The Future of LoL Esports
LoL's popularity shows no sign of slowing down， and it seems that the game will continue to be a prominent esports game in the years to come. Riot Games， the developer of LoL， is always introducing new features， champions， and game modes， which keeps the game fresh and exciting. It's likely that we will see more leagues and tournaments being developed in the future， providing even more opportunities for players and teams to compete.
Conclusion
LoL has risen to become one of the biggest esports games in the world， and its impact on the industry has been significant. As the game continues to develop and grow， we can expect to see even more success and excitement in the world of LoL esports.