ESL and Counter-Strike show that esports is more than just League of Legends and Dota 2

While Dota 2 sets records for prize pools that put many major traditional sports to shame, another Valve game is growing into something nearly as popular.

Competitive shooter Counter-Strike: Global Offensive had a massive weekend thanks to millions of viewers and the ESL esports organization. The ESL One tournament, which took place Saturday and Sunday in Cologne, set a new online audience record for Counter-Strike while simultaneously attracting thousands of in-person attendees each day. This is more evidence that esports has grown to gargantuan proportions even beyond the realm of multiplayer online arena battlers like League of Legends and Dota 2, which already have pro gaming on pace to generate $465 million by 2017.