10 Steps to Becoming a Professional Gamer

Want to hone your gaming skills and make them a career? Broadcast On: Welcome to the world of Esports, where button-mashing and strategy and fast-twitch nerve endings can kill you — er, bring you fame and fortune and presumably a lot of Red Bull or whatever energy drink is trending right now. If you really want to make it as a professional gamer in future Esports tournaments then here’s what you can do to go from noob to legend.

Step 1: Find Your Game

First thing’s first: Pick your battleground. Be it TV shows, breaking news, or the state of the world, one of the best distractions is a (ideally) violent video game — be it the chaos of Call of Duty, the metagame of League of Legends, or the build-or-be-blown-up madness of Fortnite — but you’ll need to choose a game you can stay glued to and play for hours without crying (much).

Using a pro tip: Choose popular game titles that appear at major Esports tournaments. Their pro leagues have a booming news scene in the ESports space, so you won’t be slumming it in your mom’s basement forever.

Step 2: Git Gud (Practice Like Crazy)

Sorry to burst your bubble, but those viral TikTok gaming clips don’t come out of nowhere. Daily practice makes a beast out of competitive gaming. Practice your shot, develop your strategies in both attack and defense, and learn every dirty trick in the book.

And yes, this could mean losing… a lot. Look, even legendary players like Faker got rekt before conquering the Esports world championship.

Step 3: Gear Up Like a Pro

Your skills are important but so is the right setup; what separates victory from screaming “lag!” Get one hell of a PC, a responsive mouse, a comfy chair, and a keyboard that doesn’t sound like a typewriter from 1982.

Also, be sure to tune into the Esports tournament streams to see what the pros are rockin. I mean, if they’re using RGB everything, you gotta, too, right?

Step 4: Join the Squad

For as long as it is en masse: No one wins a global Esports tournament on their lonesome (unless it’s a solo game). The first step is to find an online space to make connections and find teammates who are passionate about helping each other, what gamers would refer to as your ride-or-die squad.

Keep an eye on Esports teams’ tournament calendars for amateur leagues, and don’t hesitate to slide into Discord servers with your “looking for team” pitch.

Step 5: Dive Into Tournaments

Start small. Compete at local Esports live events or online qualifiers to have a taste of the competitive scene. These tips can be a gateway to Esports tournaments worldwide, as winning (or placing) in them will gain you access.

Oh, and stay vigilant with the Esports event calendar — nothing worse than missing your shot because you were binge-watching The Office.

Step 6: Get Noticed

Winning is good, but making the right connections is better. Make a name for yourself in Esports competition by streaming your games, interacting with your fans, and (perhaps) uploading that one time you made a mind-bending 360 no-scope.

And remember, in the world of streaming, it’s all about personality. Viewers are gonna watch you for your injection of skills and your injection of personality — or your tendency to rage quit (I mean, it did work for some streamers).

Step 7: Get Well (No, Really)

Gaming marathons are fun until you notice your back is starting to look like a shrimp. Stretch, walk around, perhaps even go to the gym. (Yeah, you heard me.) Fitness Keeps you Focused and In, for Esports championship matches Plus, it will make you look good when you hold that Esports prize pool check.

Step 8: Aim for the Stars (and Sponsors)

Once you start making your way through Esports qualifiers, sponsors may begin to take notice. Through these partnerships, you can be provided with better gear, travel to attend Esports live events, or even receive a paycheck.

Just don’t be that gamer who gets sponsored and no longer practices. We’re calling you out by the way (and you know who you are), look at the past and only the past, fellow who peaked in 2022.

Step 9: Keep Improving

The gaming world moves faster than a lobby full of quitters. This is to learn and adapt to new metas, following Esports event coverage, and watching Esports tournament highlights. If you’re not gaining something, you’re losing out.”

Step 10: Celebrate Your Wins

Congratulations, you reached the crown of the Esports stage and successfully dominated the Esports event scorecards while potentially securing a few coveted Esports event tickets for your devotees along the way. Remember to take time to enjoy your success. Then get back to grinding, because in gaming, you’re as good as your last match.

Final Boss: Wrapping It Up

It takes a passion for playing, a lot of practice and pizza fuel to become a professional gamer. Track all Esports tournament schedules, participate in upcoming Esports tournaments, and climb up the Esports championship leaderboard!

And if all else fails, hey, there’s streaming. Just try not to rage without a smile on your face. Good luck, future legend!