ABSTRACT
In this chapter, the psychological demands of esports participation will be discussed. Given the exponential rise in global audiences and the growing number of elite ‘cognitive athletes’ involved in this competitive online gaming field in recent years (Toth et al., 2020), it is appropriate to include this topic in this second edition of Sport Cyberpsychology. The mental skills and strategies reportedly used by esports players to perform well in their online gaming events will be discussed. Research examining the impact of esports participation on the psychological states of the players (e.g., on their reported thoughts, emotions and behaviours) will also be presented. Some related considerations for these esports athletes regarding their rest and recovery from their gaming activities, their injury management and their mental health issues in relation to their gaming activities will also be offered, as will the role some sport organisations and fans play in this digital gaming space.
