Here's how to be become a professional gamer (according to a pro)

It’s never been a better time to be a gamer. Gaming is an accepted hobby enjoyed by millions, and if you’ve ever dreamed of making a living by playing games, it’s easier than ever with eSport booming in popularity.

But becoming a professional is a challenge. You’ll need the best hardware to play on — like the ROG Strix GL702, selected as the official gaming laptop for The International 6 (TI6), which offers extreme performance thanks to its Core Intel i7 quad-core processor, 8GB DDR4 memory and the latest dedicated graphics enabling you to be as fast as any competition you face — but what else?

Republic of Gamers spoke to eSports pioneer Johnathan Wendel, better known by his gamertag Fatal1ty, about becoming a professional gamer. Wendel went pro in 1999 playing Quake, a first-person shooter, and won approximately $450,000 during his career.

Now, Wendel is the founder and CEO of gaming accessories company FATAL1TY and appeared as a gaming legend on Endemol Shine Beyond’s first season of the digital show Legends of Gaming.

Legends of Gaming Season 2 (Trailer) by Smasher Network

 

ROG: How did you become a pro gamer and what was the highlight of your career?

Jonathan Wendel: As one of the pioneers in eSports, I set out to be the best in the world in the first-person shooter genre. I traveled to every tournament I could find, no matter what state, country, or continent. It was all about winning, and that’s how I became a world champion gamer.

One of my highlights was being able to set a standard in eSports and showing good sportsmanship. I wanted to show eSports in the most positive light, so shaking hands before and after a match was something I always did. 

What skills do you need to become a pro?

Hand-eye coordination, knowledge of the game, experience, and playing with the right equipment so you can own the game. My advice is: practice, practice, practice.

How important is teamwork?

Since today all the games are based around teamwork, a team is the most vital thing to find! If you can’t find the best guys to play with, your chances of going all the way are drastically dampened.

The only way to overcome this is constantly be in the scene and do the best you can and prove yourself over time. Eventually, you’ll get your day on a roster of some pro team.

What hardware do you use, and how important is having high-performance equipment for pro gaming?

I have always been looking for innovation to help me play to my full potential during my professional career. I look for the best in technology, and companies making world class products for gamers. 

What are your favorite games to play and eSports to watch?

My favorite games to play are anything in the eSports realm. Overwatch, CS:GO, LOL, DOTA2 and even games like Clash Royale! If there is a competitive mode, I’m definitely interested in playing it. 

I have been watching some CS:GO, Overwatch, LOL when I tune in, but I have to say, I enjoy being the player way more.

 

By Luke Graham

Read other content about Fatal1ty:

A day in the life of a pro gamer - Fatal1ty

How eSports have changed: looking back with Fatal1ty