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Tetris may not sound like it belongs on the same esports field as the likes of CSGO and Fortnite, but it is a fiercely competitive title with multiple championships around the world every year.

This deceptively simple game first came out in 1984 and has remained one of the few mainstays in the gaming sphere throughout the decades. With over 200 million copies sold over various platforms over the years, Tetris has cemented its place as one of the most popular games of all time. 

Even in a small country like Maldives, Tetris has been a popular game for decades - with many people’s first video game experience being the popular Gameboy version of Tetris.

The game itself has evolved a lot over the years. While the core tile-based gameplay remains the same as it was when it first made its debut, this classic game has seen some changes in its various iterations. Some releases have both co-op and versus multiplayer integrated in inventive ways, while other recent releases give you the chance to experience a gorgeous audiovisual Tetris journey in virtual reality.

It wouldn’t be entirely false to say that the enduring popularity of Tetris may be exactly because various game developers have continued to experiment with the proven formula.

While the average person may play the occasional game of Tetris on their phone to pass time, there exists a core fanbase who play the game as competitively as a Grandmaster playing chess. The high level plays seen during championships is something to behold. And many do enjoy watching these competitions – with millions of spectators around the world tuning in to watch Tetris competitions online.

15 million people tuned in to watch the CTWC 2018 finals to see 16 year old Joseph Saelee steal the title from seven-time champion Jonas Neubauer. Gaming is a fun hobby for many people, and watching these esports players play competitively is just as fun for many others.

Competitive gaming has been around for a long time and continues to strengthen its presence in mainstream entertainment. We’re seeing a rise in local gaming competitions and players who participate in these in our own country. Some of our homegrown esports athletes have already proven themselves on the international stage, and we hope to see many more in the near future.

About the author: Maldivian Gaming League is a team of e-sports organizers and competition promoters based in the Maldives. For more information, check them out on Facebook or Instagram.