While the traditional US Open Tennis Championships wrapped up in New York City earlier this month, another exciting tennis tournament was unfolding in Las Vegas. This was no ordinary event, but the groundbreaking inaugural World Tennis Esports Championships (WTEC), orchestrated by the International Virtual Tennis Federation.
And the victor? None other than Chennai’s own Vimalraj Jayachandran!
Vimalraj, a professional tennis player with over 16 years of experience and a gold medalist at the Khelo India Games 2020, expressed immense joy over his latest triumph. He shared that the countless hours he dedicated to Tennis Esports over the past three years had truly paid off.
Esports tournaments, like the WTEC, are high-stakes, competitive video game events that captivate a vast audience, featuring both amateur and professional players. This particular championship saw 16 elite players from a global pool of over five lakh participants, representing nations such as Switzerland, France, and the USA, secure their coveted spots in the Las Vegas finals through a rigorous series of eight National Leagues and the Tennis Esports tour.
“Qualifying for the finals meant competing in numerous tournaments within the US time zone, all while playing from my home in Chennai, which definitely cost me a lot of sleep,” Vimalraj chuckled. He added, “These games demand intense concentration, and I’m grateful I had a comfortable setup at home to endure the challenge.” His journey was supported by the India-based Esports firm, NoScope Gaming.
During the thrilling live stream of the finals, Vimalraj was seen donning a VR headset and gripping a controller, his virtual tennis match unfolding on a large screen before him. Across from him, his opponent, similarly equipped with a VR headset, engaged in intense serves and rallies, their in-game avatars perfectly mirroring their every move.
But how exactly does one play virtual tennis? Vimalraj, an accomplished athlete and sports commentator, highlighted the striking parallels between traditional tennis and immersive Esports. “The physics are incredibly lifelike,” he explained. “While you might not be sprinting across a court, the upper body movements and crucial hip-drive shots are virtually identical.”
“To dive into this exciting world, all you need is a VR headset, such as a Meta Quest, and the Tennis Esports app. From there, you can enjoy single or multiplayer VR tennis games,” Vimalraj elaborated. “The true beauty of it is the accessibility – your location or physical fitness level doesn’t matter. Anyone can pick up a controller, start playing, and progressively improve their skills.”
Even with his extensive background in competitive tennis, Vimalraj admitted to feeling considerable pressure and apprehension leading into the finals. “It was an incredible experience to compete against some of the world’s top virtual tennis players,” he remarked. His impressive victory earned him a prize of $10,000.
In recent years, Vimalraj has transitioned from professional tennis to pickleball, where he has already secured multiple national and international tournament victories. He now plays and coaches students in Chennai, enthusiastically noting, “I was even drafted into the Major League Pickleball (MLP) Australia draft pool twice, and also drafted and auctioned in the National Pickleball League, though I ultimately chose not to compete.” He concluded, “Pickleball is experiencing a global surge in popularity, and it’s truly an exhilarating time to be involved in the sport.”