Esports, characterised by competitive video gaming, has evolved into a global phenomenon, thanks in part to the active engagement of its vast fan community. Our study develops new knowledge of player, influencer, and fan engagement. We used X (formerly Twitter) to conduct a social network analysis of the League of Legends World Championship by retrieving 27,678 posts sent by 11,956 X users. Our findings indicate that influencers act as catalysts in driving fan engagement and often serve as brand ambassadors, amplifying esports marketing messages and influencing consumer behaviour. Furthermore, we highlight the pivotal role of gaming communities, emphasising how social interaction within these communities significantly enhances a player's dedication to a game title and fosters their evolution into passionate advocates for the game. The research contributes valuable insights for esports entities regarding player, influencer, and fan engagement dynamics, which can be used to optimise fan engagement strategies. We also show the importance of gaming communities, as social interaction during gaming is essential in becoming more devoted to a game title and an advocate of a game.