How to become an esports player?

Esports is a viable career path for young people today, and although it may seem a whole lot like a gamble on one’s future, taking a chance on competitive video gaming is not so strange these days.

So, how to become an esports player in 2026? There is no easy answer, but the path to esports stardom has been well-trodden by pioneers and present-day gaming prodigies, enough for you to take a page out of their book and give it an honest shot.

Choose your game first

Before you can think of a career in esports, you will need to find a game that you like and that you show some natural aptitude towards.

There are many games to choose from these days, including Dota 2,League of Legends, StarCraft II, Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, Call of Duty, Fortnite, Apex Legends, Rocket League, FIFA, and many others.

These games are "disciplines," and they are viable paths to building a career. Some players may opt for even niche esports, such as Warcraft III, GeoGuessr, or even Farming Simulator. Other games still include Call of Duty and Overwatch.

Practical considerations in picking an esports game

While picking a game you enjoy, you also need to consider the practicality of the matter. The biggest esports games, money-wise, are Dota 2, League of Legends, and Counter-Strike 2.

They have naturally attracted the most talented and cut-throat players, meaning that you will have a much bigger field to overcome. The players in that particular field can also be very skilled, leaving little room for newcomers to close the gap.

In light of this, it may be more sensible to choose games that offer decent prize pools but perhaps have a bit less competition. There are many players who migrate between games for this exact reason.

Understand the basics

Your first job, as with any game, would be to understand the basics. If you are looking at an FPS game, such as Counter-Strike 2 or Valorant, it may be helpful to figure out the in-game physics and how you should aim or hold your weapons in order to improve your aim.

These are purely mechanical concepts, but if you spend just a bit on theory, you may gain outsized returns. In games such as Dota 2 and League of Legends, you would like to keep an eye on the constantly-shifting meta, develop map awareness, and improve basic concepts such as scouting, accumulating in-game resources, and buying the right items.

If you are one of the few people around to try their luck at real-time strategies such as StarCraft II, then you will need to practice builds and multitasking, leaning heavily into challenging micro and macro mechanics.

Set a practising schedule

Once you are in the clear, you have put in some hours understanding the ropes of the game, it’s time for you to really ask yourself: Am I really looking to become an esports player? If the answer is still a "yes," then you will need ot treat your gaming sessions with consistency and determination.

Create a training schedule. Ideally, you want to cram sessions in and make sure that you have time to both play and analyze. Setting a well-structured training plan and fixed hours will consistently lead to an improvement in skill.

If you are playing StarCraft II, for example, you will benefit from both playing and rewatching games and seeing your mistakes. You need to ask yourself reflective questions - was I going through the motions here, was I aware of the situation there?

Practising responsibly and with a clear goal in mind helps. Whether you are trying to get some specific aspect of the gameplay correctly or learning about another core mechanic, you need to have a specific goal for every session and, crucially, spend time analyzing your performance.

Climb the ranks to get spotted

To have a good shot at a career in esports, you would first need to pass a metaphorical "trial by fire," that is to say, demonstrate your aptitude at any given game. This may be StarCraft II, Overwatch 2, or League of Legends, but ultimately, you would need to climb up the ELO and stand out in normal and ranked matchmaking.

A standout performance in the melting pot of gaming will clearly establish your credentials as an advanced player and make it far more likely for a team to spot you. Once you feel comfortable and confident in your skill level and know you are playing well, you can start looking for additional opportunities.

Participate in events with grassroots teams and apply for bigger ones. At this stage, you do not need to start your own team - not at all. You are looking to stand out, maybe even get to stand in for professional teams as a "sub." Developing a good network of contacts and even getting to play against some professional players is how you progress in your career.

Have a plan B

Becoming an esports player can feel like an all-consuming task, not unlike professional athletes who spend long stretches of time practising. However, much like with aspiring physical athletes, esports players ought to remember that they should have another pursuit in life, whether it’s academic or career-wise, a sort of anchor if their esports dream falls short.

Create your own brand

While you may fall short of becoming an MVP in a game you like, this is not to say that you cannot have a significant impact on the community and branding.

As long as you have a bit of charisma, teach yourself to talk to a camera while playing, and attain a degree of skill, you can leverage your skills to stream your games and build an online community.

This is a poor substitute for competing at the IEM Dallas or winningThe Invitational, but it still gets you closer to your ultimate dream of being an esports professional.

Does age matter in esports?

Yes, age does matter in esports. Most esports players burn bright and burn out fast, with the average career of a player lasting just a few years. Players get started early and reach peak form fast, before gradually retiring in their early 20s from competitive video gaming. Now, some community members do argue that age is irrelevant, but the fact remains that most talented esports players are usually younger.

Whether their ability to play declines is questionable, but they do feel that they have had too much rigorous video gaming. Some move on to education, others pick another career, and third still remain in the esports ecosystem, either as couches, streamers, analysts, or a combination thereof.

Physical and mental health matter a lot

Video gamers benefit from good mental and physical health. With the rise of the salaried esports player, organizations began investing more heavily in proper nutrition, sleep schedule, physical exercise, and rest.

While the very best teams would still go through extensive practice sessions, the best esports teams will go to great lengths to ensure that their players are safe.

Becoming an esports player: a pipe dream or a real possibility?

Becoming an esports player is a real possibility for aspiring video gamers, but it comes with some important caveats. It is not an ultimate career goal, and it depends on many different factors - skill and talent, yes, but also luck.

Much like in sports like soccer, luck plays a huge role in whether you succeed. In a field replete with talented players, you would need to have a bit of good luck to get spotted and given a proper chance - and then deliver on your moment under the spotlight.

There are a lot of variables and moving parts, and success is not guaranteed, but it is still a possibility.

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