Quick tips for becoming a pro gamer?

Source: Wikipedia Commons: ESL Extreme Masters Pro Gaming
Source: Wikipedia Commons: ESL Extreme Masters Pro Gaming

Getting paid big money to play video games is a dream for many aspiring gamers. And the recent events from the H1Z1: Fight for the Crown tournament show that prize pools of $300,000 are becoming available for lesser-known games, and so there’s hope for even the most niche of gaming tastes.

But whilst we can read about how the likes of Saahil “UNIVeRsE” Arora made nearly $2 million from 39 Dota 2 tournaments, it’s obvious that there will be many gamers who failed to make such impressive money. So what are the secrets behind success in eSports?

Daily practice

Most professional gamers think nothing of putting in daily practice sessions of between six and eight hours. This is because playing games is like another other sport and it’s only through knowing your game inside-out and sharpening up your reflexes that you’ll be able to make it to the top.

Regular breaks

However, as ESPN’s report on eSports shows, it’s important to not be another gaming burnout who has to retire early due to nasty ailments like deep vein thrombosis and carpal tunnel syndrome. And with Lucky Nugget Casino’s blog showing how a clear mind can even affect the success of a blackjack game, it reaffirms just how important it is to take breaks to make sure that your mind and body are operating at peak performance.

Get competitive

Whilst playing against computers is good practice, there’s nothing like playing against real human opponents to give you that winning edge. By going to websites like UMG Gaming and taking part in the daily tournaments hosted there, you’ll not only get plenty of practice but will also get your name noticed and improve your profile in the competitive eSports scene.

Don’t expect too much too soon

It’s also important to realise how luck plays a massive part in the success of any eSports player, and so don’t expect to automatically become an overnight gaming phenomenon. Many successful pro gamers put in years of hard graft before being recognised by one of the big tournament organisers.

Getting good kit

And finally, it’s also a good idea to invest in getting computer equipment that lets you play to the peak of your powers. Everything from a good gaming keyboard from Razer to even a screen that offers ultra-low latency will all help you gain an extra level of competitiveness. And whilst some of the more relaxed games like blackjack might not require such impressive tech, it shows that there’s many things to consider when it comes to becoming a pro gamer.

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Picture of John Breeden II
John Breeden II
As a journalist John has covered everything from rural town meetings to the U.S. Congress and even done time as a crime reporter and photographer.|His first venture into writing about the game industry came in the form of a computer column called "On the Chip Side," which grew to have over 1 million circulation and was published in newspapers in several states. From there he did several "ask the computer guy" columns in magazines such as Up Front! in New Mexico and Who Cares? in Washington D.C. When the Internet started to become popular, he began writing guided Web tours for the newly launched Washington Post online section as well as reviews for the weekend section of the paper, something he still does from time to time. His experience in trade publications came as a writer and reviewer for Government Computer News. As the editor of GiN, he demands strict editorial standards from all the writers and reviewers. Breeden feels the industry needs a weekly, reliable trade publication covering the games industry and works tirelessly to accomplish that goal.