I need some “Serious Business” anime that are centered around a game or activity that people take WAY too seriously..

Stuff like Ping Pong the Animation, Scorching Ping Pong Girls, Yu-Gi-Oh, Keijo, Initial D, etc.

Anime about normal sports are fine, as long as they’re dripping with “Serious Business”. Shows that involve these things are ideal:

- Characters treating a game like it’s life-or-death (especially if it isn’t life-or-death)
- Animation and music that are overly dramatic during competition
- Multiple schools or factions who take pride in their abilities and have bitter rivalries
- Rivals from other schools or factions who are infamous for INSANE or unique abilities (Especially if they are portrayed as cruel or sadistic in the way they play the game/sport.)

http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/SeriousBusiness