Ana Douglas / Business Insider
With the rise of organizations like
Major League Gaming and
World Cyber Games, and sites like
Twitch (where gamers can watch each other play live), the idea of making money by becoming a professional gamer is becoming increasingly feasible.
In fact, a number of gamers are already making six-figure incomes from their winnings alone - not counting lucrative salaries from joining teams, winning contests and gaining sponsorships.
Where does a gamer who's intrigued by the idea of playing for real money start?
We've gone through the event lists of some of the largest gaming competitions in the world to find out. No matter what kind of game you're into, there's probably something you'll find that's to your liking. What's more, many of the games are free-to-play.