Connected

A whole new ballgame

With interest in esports growing worldwide, Emmet Ryan examines Ireland’s position on the digital field of play

At a professional level, esports is only a few years old, so Ireland’s relative lack of pro esports teams and athletes isn’t a major obstacle. Picture: Getty/iStockphoto

Peter Stringer’s clever break past the openside in Cardiff. Ronan O’Gara’s drop goal against Northampton after “about 145 phases”, as Michael Corcoran put it. Jean Wallace singing Stand Up and Fight from Carmen Jones before kick off in Thomond. This is what you imagine when you think of Munster rugby.

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What you probably don’t imagine is a couple of young people controlling simulated ...