How to live kibersportsmeny: Interview with Vyacheslav Egorov Archie, player Gambit Gaming

- Vyacheslav, tell us how you became a competitive players?

- After graduation, I voluntarily went to the army. Accordingly, I had a whole year to decide for myself what I want to do, what to do next in life. It was time to weigh everything and think. In the end, I decided to break into e-sports. I realized that this is a very risky decision, especially in my situation at that time. The probability that it will not work, was very high. But still I had enough time to motivate yourself to achieve desired. I outlined the objectives and the terms and came back and started training.

At first it was very hard, because I lagged far behind the rest of the gaming community. About six months I spent only to have to catch up with the strong players, and in the next six months to start trying to get into the team, send applications and so on.

- Why did you stop on the profession gamer? Watched eSports before and wanted to be like these guys?

- Not. Before the army I was very far from eSports, that is, playing computer games, but did not think that the way to make money, that it can be practiced professionally. Actually, there were many of the traditional sports in my life. My first adult level hockey, doing it for 11 years, I have MMR in slalom, but with all that I loved to play in the complex.

In computer games, there is a competitive spirit, and I always liked to compete.

- Why is League of Legends, not Dota 2 or some other eSports game?

- Then a moment that Dota on the market for 10 years. Counter-Strike - even longer. Break in these disciplines is three times more difficult, and the outlook for them at that time special was not. League of Legends, on the contrary, was a relatively new game and there was only 2.5 years. Established groups it was quite small, and ru-segment there were none at all. Even now, the Russian-speaking community League of Legends, compared to European and American, completely undeveloped, which gives a great chance for beginners.

I had the experience of playing in Dota and Dota 2, but to succeed in the new game easier and faster, and interest in it is more than the already known. Another point is the game creator actions for its promotion.

I saw how much money and effort invested in the development of Riot Games League of Legends as an eSport discipline and create an ecosystem for the players. That there is the fact that Riot Games itself pays the salaries to the players.

Creators of the game organized though seasonal, but full-fledged league. At that time it was the only developer who has since invested in the development of his game. All this attracted me, I soberly assess their strength, trends in the development of discipline and Riot Games as a whole. I saw a future and, accordingly, there and gone.

- Why do you play for Gambit Gaming? What explains the choice of this team?

- After the collapse of the previous command, in which I played, I had a break. It was off season, I kept training. Some time later received an offer to join Gambit Gaming, because I refused another attractive offer. This is a very powerful and popular organization with good prospects and I decided to play here.

- It turns out that in the professional e-sports is not a player is looking for a team, and the team - players?

- Everything is relative. This concept works in all developed regions, but ru-segment yet to such nedotyagivaet. In general, in order to pay attention and know at all at you that you are, you must be active.

- Stream to Twitch?

- Not only. Lead group on the social networks. Making analytics matches to express their views on various gaming issues and events. Of course, your opinion may cause a barrage of criticism from dissidents players and the community as a whole, but this should be ready.

To kibersportsmena noticed it is always necessary to be in sight. It is possible to arrange the broadcast, if you know how to stream well and play well. We need to communicate with the players, to participate in conferences with professionals.

- Many people are not familiar with e-sports, believe that the players and especially the professional gamers - stunted zadroty. It seems like they have a very bad physical preparation, endurance and so on.

- In fact, I have long been faced with the opinion that kibersportsmeny - is stunted zadroty.

If you look at the scene CS: GO, there generally solid bodybuilders.

When you see that these people play computer games, you think: "What kind of garbage? They can not be so! "Reviews bad physical preparation competitive players might be true 10 years ago, but now everything has changed greatly.

- In championships at stake huge amounts of money, for competitive players closely and not always benevolently watched hundreds of thousands of spectators... Perhaps, it is difficult to play in such an atmosphere of 5:00 almost without interruption?

- More. In general, the tournament day lasts 10 hours or more. Of course, you do not play all the time, but I have to always be there. A workout routine takes 10 to 14 hours a day. So, by the way. Play for only 5 hours per day - this is far from the truth.

- Wow! That is, it can really be necessary to give up the game 14 hours a day?

- What does "need"? No, it's not working. Look. Do you have time. How long is the time in normal people? 8 ocloc'k?

- Yes, usually 8 hours.

- We are all different. We wake up. Then comes breakfast. Then training. Dinner. Training. Dinner. Training. And another night training.

The average training takes 10 to 14 hours a day.

In between training has a relatively free time, in which you can work out more or to do physical exercise, as I do. This does not happen, you're sitting at the game for a long time without a break, because it is unproductive. Everything is the same as in any other sport. Neither coach is not to drive his team on the field 10:00 end. I have a lot of exercise, but it should be done qualitatively.

- In your recent photographs show that you're doing, and power sports. Say, and the combination of traditional and e-sports among professional players - this is a trend or event your unit?

Not everyone wants to look pumped up. You can just run around and do fitness. The main thing - to train your cardiovascular system, from this head works better.

I recently took up bodybuilding and did so in part because it has a link to e-sports.

You train perseverance, concentration, self-control, that is doing quite boring, routine work. To get some exercise after all boring, but you need all the time to maintain the concentration.

Regarding the fact, whether an isolated case, my... No, we have other guys who love to go to the gym. Someone generally prefers tennis. Selection of a particular sport depends on what you like and how you want to look.

- You say that exercise helps you think better. And then there are some pros?

- Yes. Engaging in physical activities, much less sick. This is especially true when you arrive on the championship to another country with a different climate. Regular exercise support the immune system in good shape, and that is the power sport here also helps, because it requires constant work without interruption. If you do, such as running, then you can do it regularly, but work with iron - the sort of thing that needs to be engaged or permanently, or not do at all.

- It is true that in some commands require players to engage in physical activities?

- Do not insist, because I did not check this information, but in an interview with professional team from Korea, I heard that they have in the contract there is a clause on compulsory classes physical exercise. It does not matter what it is, but you have to be physically active a certain number of hours per week.

Team leaders understand that physical sport helps produce endorphins, that is, makes a happy player, develops perseverance and endurance. A person can exercise more in the game, less tired, always in a good mood, less prone to depression, easier to tolerate defeat.

I can not explain in detail how it works in terms of science, but, based on my feelings and the read literature, I can conclude that physical sport has a positive effect on the lives of kibersportsmena.

- Rumor has it that in eSports, too, have a doping ...

- There is.

- The professional teams do have staff psychologists?

- There are people who easily communicate with other team members. There are those who are clamped and locked from everyone, even from his teammates, anyone to not let myself. Without any professional assistance to overcome such difficult psychological problems, but for the efficient operation of the team is necessary because there is a contract. We need to play well and to actively cooperate. There are internal conflicts on emotions when one player said to the other something without thinking. In such situations, psychologists are very helpful.

- Let's talk about food. As you approach your diet? Try to eat a healthy diet?

- If possible, yes. If you take the last bootcamp (base where players train before the championship - approx. Ed.), Then feed it well not really happened, but at home I watch their diet.

I think the right food the most important aspect affecting health.

Want to be healthy - eat right. The most important meal - it's breakfast, no matter what anyone said. If you do not eat breakfast a normal meal, you will not get energy. Without energy to stay all day in the drive is not possible. Constant communication with team members takes a lot of energy.

In the offseason, when more free time, I eat 4-5 times a day. This is because I want to gain muscle mass. Usual breakfast - a porridge with eggs. After 2 hours - curd. For dinner - something nutritious like rice or pasta with meat or fish. Required inclusion in the diet of fiber, ie, vegetable salads. Then again undershot. This can be cottage cheese, if you do not know what to eat. At dinner, too grits with something a protein, only in smaller quantities.

If zamorochitsya much, you can start counting calories. Then you will have a beautiful body to look good in front of the camera and the audience.

- How do you solve the problem with proper nutrition during the World Cup?

- The last time I was not able to resolve this issue because cooking takes a lot of time, which is not at all. As a result, last month had to eat different kebabs.

If we are talking about the right bootcamp made of European, American and Korean standards, there athletes in general about anything not care and think only about the game.

- It turns out if bootcamp good about food in general do not think it is necessary?

- Yes, if funds are available all the issues with the food takes over the organization.

Professional teams hired a personal nutritionist who is a separate menu for each athlete and for each to buy special products.

Of course, the player has the right to opt out and eat what he likes.

- Can you name the pros and cons of life gamer, when compared with the more traditional occupations?

- In normal operation, the person is usually normalized day, that is, he goes to work, comes home and he knows that his evening completely free and you can do what you want. Life gamer is more like the life of a professional athlete. Every day is completely painted. Free minimum of time. Of course, it is possible to find, but if you want to be the best, then it simply will not.

- And so all year round?

- No, in the off-season is quite soft schedule. There is time to relax mentally and physically. The off-season - this recovery, but can not get out of shape, to keep up and maintain the level of play.

- What else, apart from the time?

- Kibersportsmeny less protected. We are talking about social protection. We do not have a pension. Not yet. ESports recognized official sport and perhaps introduce a pension in the future, but for now it is not. Century kibersportsmena limited, and in old age, when the career is over, you can be absolutely no funds, as opposed to a person with normal work and labor card, which will receive a pension.

- Since we were talking about money... It is said that eSports - this is a very unstable earnings. Winner to break the bank, and the losers left with nothing. Is it so?

- It works only in Dota and CS. The winners of the prizes are paid, others do not get. In LoL you have a salary that you pay your organization, and the salary that you pay Riot Games.

- It turns out, the players League of Legends two salaries?

- Not certainly in that way. It all depends on the contract that each player their own. Someone get the money in the offseason, someone - no, but the income is acceptable as a whole. In order to live comfortably, the money is enough.

- In all championships brands advertising. Sponsors also paying players?

- Here, too, it all depends on the contract. If the conditions allow you to enter into sponsorship agreements, please. Additional income can be obtained from streams, but - again - only if you are allowed. You always have to ask permission to the organization to advertise something. Often sponsors to work with the team, rather than individual players. If the organization does not have good sponsors, then you pay a lot will not, and if so, what would be an appropriate salary.

Sponsorship agreements include certain obligations. For example, if a manufacturer of accessories, the players may be required to act with these accessories, or at least move them.

- We are talking about cases where the team each player is sitting in his headphones, and on the neck - even some headphones from a sponsor?

- Yes, and here again, everything returns to the contract.

The contract defines everything. As it is written, so be it.

- By the way, since I addressed the issue of gaming accessories. All of them tend to be several times more expensive than ordinary. Is it really such equipment helps to play better?

- In the runoff devaysakh play unreal. The main reason - the response. But also super-expensive not worth buying. All that is needed - is a mechanical keyboard for 1-4 thousand rubles and mouse for 1-2 thousand. They definitely help. With regards to the expensive devices, I doroguschy keyboard, but it differs from the others only in that is made of metal and will not break even if fall from three meters.

- a difficult question: what would happen in a person's life and what you should do to make the game turned into a job? Is it enough for this practice and perseverance, or need something else?

- It should be a great desire, because they will have to play a lot and it is very difficult. Play in principle difficult, it is strongly hits the morality. Take for example, this season Continental League. We predicted the top 1 or top 2, but the team finished in sixth place.

To get into eSports, need tremendous strength of will and character. Will have to overcome things that you throw life. When you claim in the first place, and finished sixth, so you just need to be able to pass.

For me, this is not the first defeat, and so I will not be crushed. But last season, when I was with the team Moscow Five was in the same situation, emotionally it was much harder.

- And what about those who are still not call up the competitive level, but wants to become competitive players. What do you advise fans wishing to break into the professional eSports?

- Need a very strong motivation and a lot of training. If there is no passive income, then you will sit without money, and it's very hard. At least, I was. If there are parents who are willing to help, that's great. If not - cool as you can and do not give up. It's hard. At first, nothing will turn out, but you can not give up.

If you do not surrender to the moment when you reach the top ranking, to make contact with professionals and get the first invitation to the organization, then that's where everything begins and.

If you are not stupid, and play at a high rating, you will be noticed. Professionals immediately notice the initiative promising players.

- What you need to be prepared if you decide to become competitive players?

We must be prepared to sacrifice a lot, including a normal life.

Will have to face the fact that your decision will not be made public. It will not be accepted by parents. Friends will not be accepted.

You have to be prepared for the fact that everything will turn against you. You need all your perseverance. You should know exactly what you want.

- But there are no guarantees ...

there are no guarantees, you just need to go. If you believe, you will achieve. If you do not believe me, then go away in six months, unable to cope and a half that will fall on you.

- What do the parents whose children have decided to associate life with eSports?

Give your children an opportunity to decide what they want. You can warn, you can talk, you can try to influence their lives, but it is better to give them to open up.

All are worried about their children, but do not need a lifetime taking them by the handle.

No need to over-react impulsively and immediately take a hostile reception solutions for children. Get rid of the biased attitude to games and computer sports. Monitors are now very different, and the vision to plant them is extremely difficult. Gamers - is no longer the people who sit at home and do not see sunlight.

Older people should change attitude to the hobbies of children and do not call nonsense things that they just do not understand. Better to go to study and work? Very "cheerful" life. Let us do all the work for the "normal" work and wait for retirement.

Everyone has their own views on life. Someone thinks that it is better to go for the proven ways to go at an acceptable income and live. I like to take risks. I understand what it may turn out, but I go because I believe. If your child also believe, help him. Support is very important.

Vyacheslav Egorov Archie in the social network "VKontakte» →

Fan group Vyacheslav in the social network "VKontakte» →

Official site of the Continental League →