Why so many esports have decided to hone in on our hellish little island at the same time is anyone’s guess, but there’s a very clear appeal. Chrystina Martel, Executive Producer for BLAST Rainbow Six<\/strong>, said of the recent R6 Manchester Major<\/a>, “The UK has always been a favourite because we know the crowd shows up… So that was a big factor for Ubisoft. But also we knew the crowd would be amazing, and they deserved a major and it was time.”<\/p>\n UK crowds are something to be experienced. There’s an unrivalled amount of enthusiasm, not just for the favoured team but for anyone caught in the fire of a crowd chant. It stems from our football culture, and translates almost seamlessly over to esports tournaments. Now, they’re not for the faint hearted, and some chants could absolutely be left out of the arena. But, for the most part, they add a level of vibrancy to live matches that you just won’t get anywhere else. <\/p>\n Speaking on the UK crowd, British CS host James Banks<\/strong> said, “I think the crowd works so well because there isn’t a national bias. Now, maybe they’ll pull a bit more for Vitality, like they did for smooya when he was in BIG. But in general, they’re just fans of different teams. They’re fans of the game.”<\/p>\n Perhaps that’s borne out of having so few UK teams to rally behind, that we’re jumping at the chance to support a UK player wherever they might be. But it also means that each organisation has a fan base here, no matter their nationality, because we just love seeing pros make those high-skill plays. So if more tournament organisers are setting their sights on the UK, recognizing the significance of our crowd, does this mean the country is gearing up for an esports boom? The talent certainly hopes so.<\/p>\n On the BLAST Premier Spring Final, Banks said, “This is a massive boost for the scene. Hopefully, it’s the start of doing more events in the UK. I’d definitely love it.” <\/p>\n \n\n