Illini Esports, the student organization, began in September 2015 as a culmination of student clubs at the University of Illinois. Registered Student Organization (RSO) members from Heroes of the Storm, the League of Legends club, and the Hearthstone club joined together to form Illini Esports and make a centralized and recognized student esports hub at Illinois.
Since then, the program has grown to include over ten active competitive teams, social gaming, and community events. Students, alumni, faculty, and university staff work hard to bring events such as LANs, tournaments, and viewing parties on a semesterly basis. In Fall 2017, the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL) started working with Illini Esports to increase exposure to esports and academic tie-ins across the university and support social gaming events. In Spring 2020, financial support from the Office of the CIO equipped the CITL Innovation Studio with gaming/VR computers. Here, Illini Esports’ competitive teams and open gaming hours would have their first official home on campus. In Fall 2020, the University of Illinois will be launching its first esports curriculum. Illinois has always been home to innovation and will continue to grow Illinois Esports academics and support the Illini Esports.