Ever wondered how it all started ?

WCG, an abbreviation for World Cyber Games is an international e-sports event operated by World Cyber Games Inc, a Korean company and supported by Samsung and as of 2006, Microsoft. The World Cyber games is becoming the largest sports market in the world, inaugurated in 2000, the WCG attracts 9.5 million viewers from around the world and has attracted participation from over 80 countries worldwide.

Beyond The Game

Ideology

"To lead the development of the digital entertainment culture by promoting harmony of humankind through e-sports and it's embodiment in the Cyber Culture Festival"

Slogan

"WCG is a comprehensive Digital Culture Festival, where language and cultural festival barriers are stripped away, and international exchange and harmony are promoted through extensive events including tournaments, conferences, exhibitions."

A Brief History

October 7-15, 2000 - The WCG Challenge was introduced with a top prize of $200,000, hosted in Everland, Yongin, South Korea with 174 participants from 17 countries.

December 5-9, 2001 - WCG 2001 was hosted at the COEX Convention & Exhibition Centre, Seoul, South Korea with 430 participants from 37 countries.

October 28 - Nov 3, 2002 - With a top prize of $300,000, WCG 2002 was hosted at the Expo Park in Daejeon in South Korea with 462 participants from 45 countries.

October 12-18, 2003 - Hosted at the Olympic Park in Seoul, South Korea, WCG 2003 received participation from 55 countries and had a top prize of $350,000. This was also the first year Warcraft 3 was introduced as an official game alongside FIFA 2003, Age of Mythology, Starcraft: Brood War, Unreal Tournament 2003, Counter-Strike and Halo.

October 6-10 2004 - With a $50,000 increase in top prize, WCG 2004 was for the first time hosted outside of South Korea in San Francisco, California, United States. WIth a staggering 642 participants from 63 countries around the world and 8 official games.

November 16-20, 2005 - Hosted in Lion City, Singapore. WCG 2005 received participation from 67 countries from around the world.

October 18-22, 2006 - WCG 2005. Monza,Italy played hosts to 700 participants from 70 countries with a top prize of $426,000 and 9 official games.

October 3-7, 2007 - WCG 2007 went back to the United States. This time to Seattle, Washington. WCG also increased their official games by three counts. SpikeTV became the official media partner for WCG.

November 5-9, 2008 - Germany played hosts to 800 e-athletes from 78 countries all vying to be the next WCG champion.

November 11-15, 2009 - With a staggering $500,000 top prize, China played hosts to WCG 2009.

South Korea's president (1998~2003), Kim Dae-jung had this to say:

"Cyber games are a business with high added value, based on knowledge and cultural creativity. It also serves as a link that interconnects young people of the world..."

With e-sports growing so rapidly around the world and WCG becoming more ubiquitous, one has to wonder, is e-sports the future of sports ?