THE PROBLEM WITH ESPORTS - Why I have never wanted to be a pro player from the beginning But instead of convincing my friends to quit TFT, I’m trying to help them monetize their skills Sorry for the clickbait title but this subject interests me 😅 Its no doubt investing in education is much safer than pursuing a short-lived pro gaming career. But let me tell you a success case that changed my view on this YBY1 only finished grade 9, yet TFT completely changed his life through tournament winnings. Reading may not be how he learns best, but his understanding of the game is exceptional I think TFT simply matches his particular cognitive profile. It rewards his Visual-spatial intelligence in a way that conventional academic study never did (Logical intelligence). His ability to read the meta, pivot quickly and commit to the right line is clearly on another level. But what has kept him at the top is how seriously he approaches competition. I notice in NA/EU its normal to make meme after you lose a tournament, YBY1 dont enjoy this, even just a show match tournament (I joked about his loss and he's mad at me :<) He learned the skills he did not naturally possess as well. From a boring streamer to a hilarious dude. Ironically, all of these qualities became part of what allowed him to build a career YBY1’s academic history does not reflect a lack of intelligence. Traditional education simply was not the environment in which his strongest abilities were most visible ----------------- But his story also exposes the trap behind the term “professional player” Most aspiring pros will be eliminated quickly. When someone wins a tournament and everyone knows their name, what should they do next, how to convert temporary recognition into income? For most players, streaming feels like the only realistic option. But competing and entertaining are completely different skills. Not everyone is naturally social, charismatic or comfortable talking to a camera ESPECIALLY GAMERS, LMAO The ecosystem is improving, but it still rewards tournament results more effectively than it builds sustainable careers around the players who produce those results. Alternatively: coaching, paid memberships, content, communities and digital products... A great player suddenly has to become a full-time creator just to survive. That takes time away from practice, damages competitive performance. It becomes a vicious cycle. ----------------- I’m not in this community because I’m addicted to gaming. (If we meet in real life, dont ask about TFT :/) TFT keeps me interested because it is a suitable game for maths and business. I learn some models and have some ideas for helping my dude build a stable income. I have tested an MVP in the VN community for a year, its bootstrapped and financially healthy. Now we are building the serious version. Im lucky to have genius devs and extra thanks to Fable, Sol and Grok xD In the end I dont disagree with Bebe: esport sucks, better choose a better career. But for players who have already demonstrated exceptional talent, discipline and morality, I want to offer them something better than: “Become a streamer or pray that your next tournament goes well” Maybe the right person to help me solve that answer is reading this. Worst case I get a business lesson :p