A new path for professional gaming is emerging in Russia, where a sports category will become available for players taking part in World of Tanks tournaments. This development is being communicated by the Championship, a sports news outlet that tracks esports progress.
The Russia Federation of Computer Sports (Russia FCS) in collaboration with Lesta Games and the VK Play platform will organize tournaments in which participants can earn sports recognition. These events mark a deliberate move to align competitive gaming with traditional sports structures, offering athletes a formal pathway to athletic status within the esports ecosystem.
Dmitry Smith, President of the Russian FCS, explained that the joint effort among these three organizations aims to raise the profile of esports overall and to accelerate the growth of World of Tanks competitions in particular. He emphasized the importance of supporting domestic game developers who may gain prominence in Russia’s esports landscape, underscoring a strategy that blends competitive play with local industry development.
Details about the timing and the exact conditions for the first World of Tanks contests where a sports category can be earned will be announced in due course. The announcements are expected to outline eligibility criteria, ranking methods, and how performers can transition from players to recognized sports participants within the federation’s framework.
The World of Tanks event will be contested in the discipline described as “tactical three‑dimensional combat.” This category encompasses a range of titles beyond World of Tanks, including CS:GO, Valorant, Rainbow Six: Siege, Warface, Armored Warfare, Overwatch, War Thunder, and other similar projects. The shared emphasis across these games is on strategic teamwork, precise execution, and real-time decision making under pressure.
Earlier reports indicated that Russian universities are planning to establish training sites for e‑athletes, signaling a broader push to formalize esports education. These efforts would provide structured pathways for aspiring players to develop technical skills, understand competition ethics, and gain exposure to high-performance training environments. The combination of university programs and federation-backed tournaments could produce a steady pipeline of talent for national teams and domestic leagues.