If ever there was any evidence required to point to the increasing popularity of both gaming and of e-sports, then look no further at the scenes from Germany's popular gaming expo, Gamescom.

It has been confirmed from several sources that The Exhibition Centre at Cologne has had to close its doors as it is full to capacity, which means that those who had hoped to come along for the day and spectate are going to be duly disappointed.

The Intel Extreme Masters Facebook page confirmed the news by posting:

It's official. There are so many people in here they closed the gates and they do not let people in!

The whole gamescom is closed, all the 'day tickets' have been sold out and most of the cash desk have been closed. It's legendary!

The expo is expected to announced record attendance, which is no mean feat given that the 2009 debut saw 245,000 visitors in total over the course of the long weekend.