What to know before becoming an esports player

One of the biggest roles in esports is being a player, but the road of progression is different for every person.

In this guide, we look at some of the most important things to consider when looking to become a professional esports player, and how you can maximise your potential.

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Keep an open mind:

Going onto a team, you may have a strong idea on what you play best, and try to stick to this. However, confining yourself to one character or strategy can prevent you from developing as a player.

Be open to trying heroes and plans that you may not have considered before – and then this will widen your abilities going forward. Doing this, you can adapt with your team to whatever is needed for a certain match, and you’re not confining yourself to playing one thing for the rest of your career.

Professional League of Legends player Martin ‘Rekkles’ Larsson said: “I would say that playing one champion or a few sets of champions is the way to go, which kind of goes against being open minded. But even when you’re playing a certain champion you can’t tell yourself you’re doing the best you can possibly do, you need to always look outside of the box and try to find new ways of playing the game.

“I think that’s how you grow the fastest, even though you might only be playing a few champions,” he added.

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Patience is key:

Climbing the competitive ladder can be a really long journey, so ensuring that you maintain positive whilst going through it all can make a world of difference.

Things might not go exactly as you plan when you are first starting out as a player, but this should not stop you from continuing to grow.

Take as much time as you need to get into the swing of things, and progress your career in the right direction.

Taking time and having a good amount of patience will make your journey smoother – and you’ll be on your way up the industry in no time.

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Respect those around you:

Whilst you may see a lot of rivalries between esports players and teams, there is always an underlying element of respect between them.

In order to stay positive, you need to help create a good working environment for yourself and your team – as this will allow you all to get on and perform better in the long run.

William ‘SparkR’ Andersson, DPS for London Spitfire in the Overwatch League, told us: “Treating people with respect and kindness will bring you far. If you make people in the gaming scene dislike you, then there is always a chance in the future they are on your team.

“Then when asked what they think about you (for potentially getting picked up), they might say you’re a bad person or player,” he added.

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Prepare for long hours:

Something that is generally a shock for new players is the working hours you have to put in to stay on top form.

Professional players can practise anywhere from 6-10+ hours a day as a team – so getting yourself ready for long sessions will make them easier to take part in.

However, make sure you are also taking care of yourself in between practice and matches, as this can really impact on your performance. Here’s a short guide on how you can maximise your potential by staying on top form. 

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These are just some of the things to consider when looking to become an esports player, but everything comes down to experience in the scene.

Is there anything you would like us to cover in relation to esports careers? Let us know on the British Esports Twitter and we may feature your idea in the future.

By Bryony-Hope Green