Imagine that you’re a professional gamer. Shoes planted into the base of your chair, hands clenching the mouse and keyboard, adrenaline spiking as the countdown clock ticks away. This is it, the final push toward being a champion.
In a technicolor frenzy of sight and sound, the match’s end draws near and the hairs on the back of your neck stand up — yet you remain still, fully locked in. Amid the muted chatter of your teammates on mics, the moment arrives. The clock strikes zero; you’ve done it.
Finally time to breathe. But suddenly the ground below begins to shake. Peering above the horizon’s edge of the screen, there’s an even bigger cacophony as lasers and confetti rain down on the thousands of people roaring on their feet.
This isn’t your bedroom or even the weekly LAN meetup, it’s the big leagues. You’re a rock star, center stage. This is the feeling of being an esports champion.
Over the last few years, it’s become an increasingly attainable dream. Through organizations like ESL FACEIT Group , who have hosted global tournaments like Intel Extreme Masters , ESL One, and more for nearly 25 years, players from all walks of life have had the opportunity to turn their passion for gaming into a real career, leading to dreamlike moments like this. But the road to esports stardom isn’t easy.
As with traditional sports, it takes a level of dedication that most people will never have, accompanied by many sacrifices. But if you ask anyone who’s raised a tro.