BBC Newsbeat<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n Conventional wisdom tells us professional athletes perform best in front of a home crowd.<\/p>\n Great Britain’s Olympic team won a record medal haul at London 2012 and England’s Lionesses won the Euros at Wembley in 2022, 56 years after the men’s national football team won the World Cup at home.<\/p>\n Does that same home advantage apply in esports?<\/p>\n BBC Newsbeat asked four competitors at this weekend’s Rocket League Championship Series in Birmingham to find out.<\/p>\n Players compete in the popular online game by driving cars around an arena, trying to push an oversized ball into the opposing team’s goal.<\/p>\n The event brings 16 of the world’s top teams together to compete for a prize pot of more than \u00a3270,000 ($350,000).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n While millions watch esports online, most fans say there’s nothing like being in the arena with the roar of the crowd.<\/p>\n Finlay, 20, from Manchester, says it’s one reason UK events stand out in the international calendar.<\/p>\n “I think UK crowds are always the best,” he says, explaining that they’re more creative in their chanting, and make more noise than American spectators.<\/p>\n Finlay thinks that could be down to our affection for another sport.<\/p>\n “Football’s ingrained into UK culture,” he says. <\/p>\n And, similar to real-life sport, crowds aren’t afraid to play favourites.<\/p>\n “I think as an English player the crowd will always get behind their own,” he says.<\/p>\n On top of that, his parents will be coming along to watch too.<\/p>\n “It’s going to be a good weekend,” he says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Joe, from Workington, agrees that having the crowd behind you can help but doesn’t feel like it changes that much overall.<\/p>\n He agrees with Finley that UK crows are loud and lively, but says he usually blocks most of it out.<\/p>\n Esports players compete with over-ear headphones to make sure they get immersive surround sound from the game, and can hear their team-mates. <\/p>\n “I just try and lock in and zone out the crowd”, says Joe.<\/p>\n Joe, who tells Newsbeat he lives “in the middle of nowhere” in north-west England – says travelling to some of the major venues where events happen takes away some of the “home advantage” feeling. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n Jack, 21, from Derby, has only had to make a short journey for the weekend’s tournament.<\/p>\n But some of the biggest Rocket League contests are held in the US or South America – meaning a long-haul flight for visiting players.<\/p>\n “You’re going to be more energised straight away,” when you’re closer to home, says Jack.<\/p>\n “Maybe the other teams are dealing with a bit of jet lag,” he says.<\/p>\n Esports including Rocket League depend on lightning-fast reflexes and quick thinking, not something you want to do if you’re tired.<\/p>\n “If you’re sleeping badly it can really mess with you,” says Jack.<\/p>\n “You might not see the screen properly, your eyes might not be reacting properly. <\/p>\n “The smallest reaction time differences can make a big difference to winning or losing.”<\/p>\n Jack says long-distance travel and jet lag – where your body clock needs time to adjust to a new time zone – has caused problems when he’s tried to get rest for foreign competitions.<\/p>\n “It definitely feels different when you’re playing in the UK,” he says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n Another advantage to playing closer to home is support from friends and family.<\/p>\n It’s not always possible for competitors to travel further afield with their relatives.<\/p>\n Archie says he’s looking forward to having his brother and dad cheer him on too.<\/p>\n “Most of the time when I’m playing it’s just me. My family can’t travel because of work,” he says.<\/p>\n They might get more chances to watch Archie in person.<\/p>\n More global competitive gaming competitions are being held in the UK, with players from all around the world flying in to take part.<\/p>\n National and local governments are keen to attract big tournaments because of the influx of visitors and cash they bring to local areas.<\/p>\n But generally Archie says he doesn’t let the crowd change how he plays, and only notices the cheers when his side scores a goal.<\/p>\n “You’re just trying to win the game – I’m fully locked in,” he says.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n![\"RLCS](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/6a3e\/live\/c4b3ccd0-0aed-11f0-bf59-3b6bbdd820ea.jpg.webp\")
RLCS<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nFinlay ‘rise.’ Ferguson – Team Twisted Minds<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
![](\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/bbcx\/grey-placeholder.png\")
![\"RLCS](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/fcd3\/live\/02fd9620-0b2e-11f0-b1de-e342f84c59e9.jpg.webp\")
RLCS<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nJoe ‘Joyo’ Young – Team Geekay<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
![\"RLCS](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/a787\/live\/93fef980-0b2d-11f0-b1de-e342f84c59e9.jpg.webp\")
RLCS<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nJack ‘ApparentlyJack’ Benton – Team Dignitas<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
![\"RLCS](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/8f5f\/live\/171ee560-0b2d-11f0-b1de-e342f84c59e9.jpg.webp\")
RLCS<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\nArchie ‘Archie’ Pickthall – Team Geekay<\/h2>\n<\/p>\n
![\"RLCS](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/70fc\/live\/47da2d40-0b2d-11f0-b1de-e342f84c59e9.jpg.webp\")
RLCS<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/ichef.bbci.co.uk\/news\/480\/cpsprodpb\/c00a\/live\/a460e7d0-0bd1-11f0-ba12-8d27eb561761.jpg.webp\")
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n