ESL

But the proposal that the founding clubs would have been guaranteed entry to the ESL without needing to qualify each year was a clear move in the direction of American pro sports, which operate in closed, franchise-based systems without promotion or relegation.

It started with ESL One in Birmingham and is building up to one of the biggest global esports events - the League of Legends World Series final at London's O2 in November.

Major esports events coming to the UK isn't a brand new thing - ESL held competitions in Birmingham in 2018 and 2019, and the country has a thriving grassroots scene with smaller contests held all the time.

Eduardo Sanchez Velasco, one of the main organisers of the weekend's ESL event, says there are several benefits to staging events in the UK.

Eduardo also points out that ESL partnered with Solihull Council - which oversees the area where tournament venue Resorts World Arena is based - to stage the event.