The DNA of a Pro-Gamer

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The DNA of a Pro-Gamer:
An Exploration of Esports and Beyond

With the esports industry moving at the speed of the latest Intel gaming laptop over the past decade, it's no surprise that there are growing calls for gaming to be included in the Olympics. Pro-gamers dedicate dozens of hours a week to their training routines and even adopt strict diets to remain on top of their game. In return, prize pots at the largest esports tournaments reach millions.

So, what does it take to become a professional gaming superstar? And how do esports compare with traditional sports?

Enter the world of esports

Methodology

The gamers

Data on the top gamers, including their age, nationality, winnings, and team, as well as data on top teams and countries was sourced from esports Learnings. Age and earnings data on the top 100 athletes was sourced from Forbes.

How to go pro

Data on the players' top games was sourced from esports Learnings.

The esports industry

Data on the top games, and yearly player and tournament numbers was sourced from esports Learnings. Revenue and audience data was sourced from Newzoo. Tournament data was sourced from The Loadout. Data about esports in 2020 is from We Forum, Sports Pro Media and Statista. UK stats are from YouGov.

Prizes & sponsorship

Prize pool and earnings data was sourced from esports Learnings. Data on the top winners ever is from Lineups. Information on sponsorships was sourced from opendorse.