Yahoo capitalizes on its well-regarded Yahoo Sports with new esports push

Yahoo has launched a new section on its network dedicated to covering esports. The company hopes that it will eventually become the “premiere destination for all things” in the gaming world, providing not only original and syndicated content but also a bounty of video interviews and livestream of matches.

It makes sense for Yahoo to enter the esports arena, which could be worth $463 million this year and $1.1 billion by 2019, according to market research firm Newzoo. But it’s already lagging behind one of its main competitor for sports readers and viewers online: ESPN, which announced plans for covering competitive gaming in January. Game publishers are also trying to corner the esports market: Activision Blizzard, which has several games with thriving esports communities, acquiring Major League Gaming (which organizes competitive gaming events) in January.