27 million watched this video game tournament — matching NCAA final audience

Marketwatch reports:

If you think videogames are a nerdy pastime for out-of-shape boys gathered around laptops in their parents’ basements sipping on cola, you are sorely mistaken. Competitive gaming, known as electronic sports, or eSports, is a global phenomenon valued in the billions of dollars.

The industry is anchored by what is referred to as multiplayer online battle arena games, like “League of Legends,” where one or several players face off in a digital arena. Watching people play professionally has been popular in Asia for years, but it’s now also gaining steam in the U.S.

In fact, those powering the industry say it’s well on its way to becoming the next major professional sport alongside the likes of football and baseball. The biggest tournaments are already filling entire arenas, including New York City’s Madison Square Garden.

“The big events are already bigger than the biggest events in sports,” said Kevin Lin, chief operating officer of Twitch, the world’s largest videogame streaming platform.

The sedentary lifestyle update.