Los Angeles-based Team Liquid won the “World of Warcraft” world championship for the fourth consecutive time, defeating Germany’s Echo guild in a monthlong competition watched by more than 100,000 viewers.
The competition demanded 20 elite players and 60 support staff to work 14-16 hour days for weeks, with biometric data tracking and sleep schedules designed to maximize gaming performance.
Liquid celebrated prematurely when the final boss reached zero health, but it had a hidden second phase that nearly allowed Echo to win the title in a dramatic twist.