You know what they say: work with what you love, and you’ll never have to work a day in your life. Becoming a professional gamer is the dream for many people, young and old alike. However, not everything is fun and games in the daily lives of the best esports players of the moment.
They practice full-time to keep their weapons sharp and invest in top-notch equipment for smooth gaming. Reaching the professional level requires no less effort. Do you still want to become a hero in the virtual world? Press play and continue.
An Arena of Millions
Esports competitions have gained a lot of attention in the past few years. Their popularity can be measured by the approximate audience such events have attracted. In 2019, these events were watched by 397.8 million people; in 2020, 435.9 million. Last year was the best year, with 474 million viewers worldwide.
Prize figures are no less impressive. Last year’s edition of The International had a prize pool of USD 40.02 million. Unsurprisingly, esports competitions are gaining more media coverage and more space in sportsbooks. It all goes to show that gaming can be a legitimate profession and a quite profitable one.
What does it take to become a professional, though?
From Zero to Hero
Maybe, you’re already an avid player and even a talented one. However, it’ll take much more than playing in your free time to compete with the best. Games like Deep Rock Galactic take hundreds of hours to be mastered.
So, before hitting the arena, there’s a lot of homework to do. Check our five-step guide below to have a better idea of the entire process.
Pick a Game
If you want to join professional competitions one day, pick a game you really like. If you like first-person shooter (FPS) games, titles like CS: GO and Call of Duty are among the most famous. As for MOBA (Multiplayer Online Battle Arena), games like League of Legends and Dota 2 are very popular.
Work Hard
Then, practice as if there’s no tomorrow. Top gamers have 12 to 14 hours of training per day. Focusing intensely on a single game will make you a pro in it much faster. That’s why it’s so important to pick a game that you’ll play a lot.
Get the Right Tools
If you want to become a pro, your average off-the-shelf computer probably won’t cut it. You don’t want your computer to freeze or lag in the game’s most crucial moments. Above all, you’ll need to invest in an optimised computer specifically for this task.
Get Social
Once your gear and fingers are ready, it’s time to blend in with your local gaming community. Take part in events, even if just as an observer. Small gaming events are perfect for those aspirants that are still taking their first steps.
Find Your Crew
Now that you’ve done considerable networking and had a chance or two to prove your value, it’s time to join a team. Not many competitions accept independent players, and joining a team is the best way to access more exciting events.
Saving…
There are no shortcuts to the top. Even if you don’t go as extreme as practicing 14 hours per day, you’ll still need to do the work to stand a chance. The competition can be brutal in this niche, with events that look more and more like regular sports leagues in terms of stats, prizes, media coverage, and box office.
