The harsh truth of an e-sports ‘dream job’: amid the fun and games, it’s a rough road to the top
- ‘If you are not at the top of the pyramid, you cannot earn much,’ a 22-year-old professional video gamer says
- A cautionary tale for those who imagine a life of fun and games in a sport with 350 million Chinese fans
When he set out to become a professional video game player, Chen Zebin got a shock.
Like many, he had been lured by the dream of making big money and finding fame in an exploding market. But after moving to Shanghai from Shenzhen and joining the King e-sports team, his ambition hit a wall: he didn’t get into a tournament for almost 10 months.
“My performance was no worse than the other players,” the 22-year-old said. “But I wasn’t allowed to play in the competition simply due to my lack of experience.”
Tormented by the harsh reality of his situation, Chen, who had been a star gamer back home, found it hard to fall asleep at night, and was later diagnosed with depression.
“I was so upset,” he said. “Sometimes I would cry and couldn’t stop.”
Chen finally got what he wanted: a chance to play in a tournament. The breakthrough marked the beginning of a turnaround in his fortunes.
