In the summer of 2015, one of my best friends introduced me to a game called Counterstrike: Global Offensive. It was a little different than what I was used to with first-person shooters and --to be completely honest-- I was not very good at it. Even though CS:GO didn't end up being a game I played like all my others, it introduced me to something that I was only vaguely aware of beforehand: eSports.

To many, the concept of eSports is odd. How is an industry whose foundation is essentially watching other people play video games successful? Why not just play the game yourself? If these questions are looked at from the perspective of other sports, it makes sense. Most people enjoy one or more professional sports, even without playing them. Surprisingly enough, eSports can be a lot of fun to watch, and --based on the explosion in popularity and profit-- millions of people agree. Views on streaming websites such as Twitch number in the millions during major tournaments and eSports revenue is expected to reach the billions in the next few years.

Former professional athletes Rick Fox and Shaquille O'Neal have even noted the potential of professional gaming, with Rick Fox going so far as to purchase his own eSports organization with teams in multiple games. Legalities aside, booming gambling markets have become significant in the world of eSports as well.

With several teams (and individual players) across a variety of games, professional gaming is fun and accessible not just for fans, but for potential competitors as well. Anyone with an internet connection and the respective game and console has access to the world of eSports. Despite some frequent hiccups concerning gender and access to professional gaming, eSports hosts a world of diversity unseen in other professional competitive sports. For casual players like myself and serious gamers alike, the rise of eSports has brought about a new, unique form of competitive sports, and I personally can't wait to see how it continues to grow.