Thousands have met this weekend in Colmar to the Esport Show. Amateur, professional or simply spectators. An event that has become a must for video game lovers in the Grand Est. A platform of almost 13,200m². Over 700 PCs, 300 consoles, 1,150 players and for the best € 25,000 of cash prize to be shared. Numbers to make you dizzy. Esport has exploded in recent years worldwide. Colmar was swept away two years ago.
Esport, vector of socialization
Besides, the big players flock there. We met Anthony “Zéta”, 24, a professional Fortnite player. Coming from Roubaix, he represents the QG Esports team. A regular in competitions. He connects them every weekend. “Colmar, for us it’s a training. We hope to win the prize. But it’s above all a way to go out, meet people, chat with other gamers. Video games contrary to what we think , are a real vector of socialization “. Zéta, a sports schedule. Weekend competitions. Workouts 7 to 10 hours a day during the week. “But I always give myself 1 to 2 hours of rest. Namely, real sport. Weight lifting or jogging is essential”.
No more image of the player alone in front of his screen cut off from reality
We are far from the image of the video game player, locked in his room, cut off from reality. Esport has become a sport in its own right. “We play as a team, we put together strategies, we train. The gamer today, if he wants to become a professional, it is imperative to have a real lifestyle. With rest times, a healthy diet. A physical condition “ explains Xavier-Noël “Xnoll” Cullmann president of the Zylat association, co-organizer of the event.
Income of up to € 20,000 per month
A sport with its language, its clubs and its business. “A very good player can win between 5,000 and 20,000 € per month. For the Grand Final of the Fortnite World Cup the winner pocketed $ 3 million “ says Nicolas “Tyxbo” Durrieu, BeGenuis manager. It is about a young American of 16 years, Bugha, a planetary star in the Esport, the Emonde. Kind of like Christiano Ronado in football.
Big show for Esport
So Colmar saw it big. Real show for the European final of Rocket League. The best teams from France, Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands compete on the stage in Hall 1 of the Expo Park. In short, players are on the stage in front of their computers. The game is projected on the big screen. Several points of view and everything is commented live by commentators. A real show, a virtual stadium, as you wish. 1,500 seats for spectators. Almost always taken. David Lamarre came with his children from Belfort to attend the final. “It’s nice, it’s a great atmosphere. “ He’s a Hearthstone addict. Her 12-year-old son, Mathis, of Fortnite, “It’s impressive to be around great players.”
A technical challenge
700 PCs and 300 consoles running at the same time. Miles of cables deployed, hundreds of places equipped for network play. The challenge is technical for Colmar Expo and the Zylat association. “We are very proud today to have been able to organize for the second consecutive year. It is a long-term job. At the beginning, we were looked at with big round eyes. Today, everyone understood that Esport is a sustainable phenomenon which affects more and more people “, explains Arnaud Jacquinez, Esport Colmar Expo project manager. The worst that can happen? “Power or network outage, but we’ve got it all covered, explains Xavier-Noel. There is always help. ”
–
