How To Become A Professional Esports Player
The Road to Pro Gaming: A Guide for Aspiring Kiwi Esports Athletes
Taking the leap from casual gaming to professional esports is an exciting journey that combines passion with dedication. For young Kiwis with dreams of going pro, understanding what this path involves is essential. This guide will walk you through practical steps to help navigate the sometimes complex world of professional gaming.
Mastering Your Game
The foundation of any esports career starts with truly understanding your chosen game. This means more than just playing regularly, it requires studying the game at a deeper level.
Sean “Gratisfaction” Kaiwai, one of New Zealand’s top Counter-Strike players, didn’t rise to international success by chance. He dedicated countless hours to learning game mechanics, map strategies, and staying updated with the evolving meta. This comprehensive understanding became his competitive advantage.
Start with the basics:
- Learn all core game mechanics thoroughly
- Understand character abilities and limitations
- Study map layouts and strategic positions
- Keep up with game updates and changes
Research shows that deliberate practice, focused, goal-oriented training, is far more effective than casual play for developing high-level skills. This type of practice involves concentration and specific improvement goals rather than just playing for enjoyment.
Smart Practice: Quality Over Quantity
Playing endlessly doesn’t guarantee improvement. The most successful esports professionals practice with clear purpose and structure.
Abdullah “Parpy” Khudeish, a leading NZ Fortnite player, credits his structured practice approach for his competitive success. Rather than just playing match after match, he focuses each session on specific skills.
For your own practice:
- Set clear goals for each gaming session (“Today I’ll improve my reaction time in these situations”)
- Use training tools specific to your game (aim trainers, practice maps, etc.)
- Keep a simple journal noting what worked well and areas to improve
- Review your own gameplay recordings to spot mistakes
Balancing Technical Skills with Strategy
Success in esports requires two equally important elements: mechanical skills (your physical execution and reflexes) and strategic thinking (your decision-making and game sense).
Cameron “Kamii” Ingram, a top Rocket League player from New Zealand, combines lightning-quick reactions with intelligent gameplay decisions. Work on developing both aspects:
For mechanical skills:
- Practice specific movements until they become muscle memory
- Focus on precision and timing in controlled environments
- Gradually increase speed while maintaining accuracy
For strategic thinking:
- Watch professional matches with a critical eye
- Understand why top players make certain decisions
- Learn to predict opponent movements and strategies
- Develop adaptability when your initial plans don’t work
Building Your Gaming Identity
Establishing yourself in the gaming community opens doors to teams and opportunities.
- Creating your own team: As the saying goes, “If you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room.” Surrounding yourself with other talented, motivated players pushes everyone to improve. Kainen “Swiftaz0r” Kini, a former Call of Duty professional from NZ, developed significantly through team dynamics at Tainted Minds.
When forming a team:- Connect with players who share your dedication and goals
- Establish regular practice schedules
- Learn to communicate effectively during high-pressure situations
- Create strategies that play to each member’s strengths
- Joining an established team: Alternatively, joining an existing organisation provides structure, mentorship, and valuable connections. Mackenzie “Petraeus” Smith, a StarCraft II player from New Zealand, gained international recognition after joining ROOT Gaming.
To approach teams:- Create a simple gaming CV highlighting your achievements
- Include tournament results, roles you excel in, and notable statistics
- Add references from coaches or teammates if possible
- Be professional in all communications
Developing a Champion’s Mindset
Mental strength separates good players from great ones. Professional esports demands emotional resilience and a growth-oriented attitude.
Taking responsibility: Instead of blaming teammates, equipment, or luck when things go wrong, ask yourself: “What could I have done better?” This reflective approach accelerates improvement and builds resilience.
Managing pressure: Tournaments and high-stakes matches test your mental fortitude. Simple techniques help maintain focus:
- Deep breathing exercises between matches
- Taking short breaks using the 20:20:20 rule (every 20 minutes, look at something 20 feet away for 20 seconds)
- Developing pre-game routines that centre your mind
- Visualising successful performances before important matches
Taking Care of Your Gaming Engine: Your Body
Despite being a digital sport, physical wellbeing directly impacts gaming performance.
- Exercise regularly: Even simple home workouts improve focus and reduce strain injuries:
- Short walks between gaming sessions refresh your mind
- Basic exercises like push-ups, squats, and stretches require no equipment
- Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate activity daily
- Sleep well: Quality sleep is non-negotiable for peak performance:
- Establish a consistent sleep schedule (7-9 hours nightly)
- Reduce screen time before bed to improve sleep quality
- Create a comfortable sleep environment
- Eat smart: Your brain needs proper fuel:
- Stay hydrated, keep water at your gaming station
- Choose balanced meals with fruits, vegetables, and proteins
- Prepare simple, nutritious snacks like mixed nuts and fruit for gaming sessions
- Limit energy drinks and excessive caffeine
Sending Your CV
If you try to contact important organisations, treat this as a job application. Ask yourself: what would convince people that I have the right skills? Send them a portfolio with some of your games, snapshots of your profile statistics, and a list of accomplishments in small tournaments, if you have any. And simply ask for a trial.
The Best New Zealand Esports Players
If you want to learn more about how to become a professional esports player, try contacting one or more of these top New Zealand players who have already succeeded in this endeavour.
- Sean “Gratisfaction” Kaiwai (CS:GO)
- Abdullah “Parpy” Khudeish (Fortnite)
- Cameron “Kamii” Ingram (Rocket League)
- Kainen “Swiftazor” Kini (Call of Duty)
- Mackenzie “Petraeus” Smith (StarCraft 2)
You can find a list of the top 100 New Zealand esports players here.
One of New Zealand’s Top Players Shares His Experience
To get a better understanding of how young people become professional esports players, we talked to one of the best League of Legends players in New Zealand. His name is Ari Greene-Young, better known as “Shok”. If you follow LCO (League of Legends Circuit Oceania) and have watched Dire Wolves in action, you probably know him a little bit. Here’s what he had to say regarding his own career and the process of becoming a professional esports player.
- When did you start playing League of Legends?
I started playing League of Legends at the end of 2014.
- How long did it take you to reach the top rank as an amateur?
I reached Master tier at the end of 2015, and I was top 10 challenger at the end of 2016.
- How long did it take you to start playing professionally? I assume it took a while to get noticed after you’ve become a pub star on your chosen server.
I started playing professionally in mid 2017, 2 months after I turned 17 and I was eligible to play. Honestly it doesn’t take that long to get noticed if you impress people on the ladder or consistently hold a high rank throughout the year.
- Is there a big difference between training on your own, as an aspiring pro player, and training with a professional team?
Yes, solo queue is very different from scrims. Also in scrims the improvement will be focused mainly on working as a team rather than individual skill which you can train more easily from solo queue. That being said the skill level is generally higher in professional teams so you may learn more from playing against those players anyway.
- Do you have any advice for aspiring pro players in New Zealand and Australia? Assuming I’m doing great as an amateur, should I start my own team or try to contact one of the existing ones?
The most important thing is being highly ranked in solo queue. If you are consistently 1000 LP or above it won’t be long until you get contacted by an LCO team. Advice I would also give is that if you do want to be a pro player it’s because you love it, there are far easier and more lucrative ways to find success even within esports. The path to pro can be very challenging and even as a pro player the experience is very hard mentally a lot of the time, and if you don’t have that love for the game it’s unlikely you will be able to stick with it.
Conclusion
Becoming a professional esports player is a challenging journey that rewards dedication and a balanced approach. For young Kiwi gamers with professional aspirations, success requires more than just gaming talent, it demands purposeful practice, strategic thinking, teamwork, mental resilience, and physical wellbeing.
For parents and teachers supporting these aspirants, understanding that esports is more than “just gaming” helps provide meaningful guidance. With the right approach, gaming passion can transform into a legitimate and rewarding professional path.
Remember that like any worthwhile goal, the journey to professional esports takes time. Be patient with yourself, celebrate small improvements, and keep your focus on consistent growth rather than overnight success. With dedication and the right approach, you might just become New Zealand’s next esports star.