Sport: (noun) an activity involving physical exertion and skill in which an individual or team competes against another or others for entertainment.

For years athletic prowess has determined the quality of a sport, this definition excludes things like chess, poker, prose and poetry, and other intellectual activities from being called “sports.”  Though now, an online video game of all things, threatens to “break the Meta”.

League of Legends, an online game released in 2008, has attracted so wide a fan base that many have begun playing competitively, practicing and training with the dedication of a football or volleyball player.

“I like it because its balanced,” Says Cameron Lanch, “It’s not just about how long you’ve played or if you pick an over powered champion (character). It’s about strategy, teamwork, and reaction time.”

Though many scoffed at such activity, their efforts may not have been in vain.

Last October, a university in Chicago began a program that would award scholarships for simply being good at the game and playing on the schools team. The Robert Morris University has been the first to recognize the growing popularity of eSports, online competitive events that requires players to use a combination of skill, strategy, cooperation, and quick reaction times, just as they would in a traditional sport.

Currently, some students at the University are receiving up to 50% tuition and 50% room and board for being on the League of Legends team. Riot Games, the company who runs LOL, is also offering 100,000$ scholarships for winning competitions.

Professional gamers are not a new phenomenon, and League of Legends is one of the games that has developed into a televised sport with big money for the very best players.

Even though many people argue that a computer game cannot be a sport, the US government has actually declared League of Legends a legitimate sport, where the pro players are treated as athletes. This is important for the players because they can apply for work visas in the US and get the same rights as athletes.

The League of Legends North American Championship is one of the biggest gaming events every year, filling arenas with fans wanting to watch their favorite LoL athletes play live. Just like in soccer, players sign contracts with teams, and can win large cash prices.

This year the winner of the summer playoffs was Team Solo Mid, who beat Cloud 9 in the finals. Each team meets each other four times in the regular season and these matches are spread out over 11 weeks of playing. Six teams will then move on to the finals. The 1st price is $50,000, but that is nothing compared to what the teams make in sponsors, and commercials.

The NA LCS 2014 MVP was Team Solo Mid’s lead player Bjergsen, an 18 year old from Denmark who plays league of legends for a living.