Smite Launch Tournament Sees TSM Crowned as Champions
Over $200,000 in prizes were awarded in Atlanta this weekend during the inaugural Smite tournament. Smite is the newest contender to the esports throne, currently dominated by games like League of Legends and Dota 2.
In Smite, players take on the role of gods from various mythologies and religions, such as Isis, Thor, and Kali, and battle against each other in teams of five. It combines elements of first person shooters with traditional multiplayer online battle arenas.
The game appeals to fans of the MOBA format popularized by League of Legends and Dota, who may not like the point-and-click movement and camera jostling of most games in the genre.
Team SoloMid Takes the Title
Team SoloMid (TSM) emerged as the champions of the tournament, winning every game they played and taking home a $104,596.80 payout. They faced tough competition, defeating America’s top two teams, COGnitive Gaming and Dignitas, to claim the championship.
TSM dominated the European portion of the qualification process, winning seven of ten weekly qualifying tournaments. However, their rival COGnitive Gaming had an even better record, winning 90 percent of their matches. Dignitas, the No. 2 ranked American squad, had never lost in a live tournament before this.
In the European leg of the tournament, TSM focused on late-game lineups and showcased amazing gameplay from tournament MVP Mark “Gamehunter” Horsten. His use of the god Vamana, known as “the baby,” was impressive, and his pentakill against Dignitas was the highlight of the tournament.
Future Prospects for Smite
Smite has three million registered users, a far cry from League of Legends’ 70 million in 2013, but the game has a thriving esports scene. Hi-Rez Studios, the game’s developer, coughed up $100,000 for the tournament’s prize pool, and the community added another $100,000 through purchases of in-game items.
In terms of production values, the tournament fell short of bigger events like Dreamhack or the International, but it still put on an admirable show. The announcers were knowledgeable and professional, and the analyst desk, though small, did their job well.
Hi-Rez Studios has received criticism in the past for abandoning their first two titles, Global Agenda and Tribes: Ascend. However, the company seems committed to Smite and is grateful for its success.
The future of Smite looks promising, as Hi-Rez partnered with Chinese gaming company Tencent in 2013 to bring the game to China. Another big tournament, featuring Chinese teams, is scheduled to close out 2014.
While it may not challenge League of Legends or Dota 2, Smite has engaged gameplay that appeals to a growing group of players, and it has enough support to sustain a community and an esports scene.
Source: [Original Article](link to original article)
Smite, esports, tournament, Team SoloMid, Hi-Rez Studios, League of Legends, Dota 2