It appears as though the United States government has decided that one group of professional video game players are indeed pro athletes, and will be able to receive working visas into the country. It was announced that League of Legends players fit the same description as Lebron James and Peyton Manning, and will be able to travel and stay in the United States as they pursue their dreams of glory in the pro eSports circuit.
In an interview with Gamespot, Riot Games' eSports manager Nick Allen discusses the possibility this brings to League of Legends players, who have been awarded $8 million in prize money in this third season of tournament play alone:
"The United States government recognizes League of Legends pro players as professional athletes and award[s] visas to essentially work in the United States under that title...This is groundbreaking for eSports. We can start looking at international players when they come over. It's a much easier process because they're actually recognized by the government. This was a lengthy process. We had a lot of people fighting for this. It wasn't something that happened overnight."
It will be interesting how this news affects the landscape of eSports in the United States, and if players of other games get the game recognition and are able to travel here to make a living participating in tournaments. With the rise of eSports and the increasing amount of tournaments and money players can will, surely this will start a flux of international players coming to play eSport stables in America.
The current season of professional League of Legends play will conclude with the World Championship taking place in Los Angeles starting September 16. The tournament will conclude in the Staples Center on October 4, with the champion being able to hoist the Summoner's Cup high, along with a cool $1 million in cash as a reward.
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