In every profession, not just in Esports or League of Legends, recruitment requires some “unwritten” rules regarding sensitive information about both the business and the candidates. Specifically, one of the issues that cannot be overlooked is the salaries and benefits of players. Although many see the job as simply “eating, sleeping, and playing games,” players have to sacrifice a lot to achieve success. Therefore, although it has never been publicly disclosed, according to many rumors, Esports players or LoL players in particular earn a very enviable income that correlates with their fame and talent.
Furthermore, for League of Legends, the transfer market does not always have talented names, and fierce competition for quality personnel, along with both objective and subjective reasons, forces teams to be reluctant to reveal player salaries. However, recently, Team Flash has become the rare exception not only in Esports or League of Legends but also in the entire labor market: openly disclosing the salaries of all player levels within the team.
Accordingly, the salaries of TF are divided into four levels, with the lowest being Tier C at 8 million VND/month and the highest being Tier S at 50 million VND/month. Additionally, joining TF can also provide many other benefits beyond professional training, such as accommodation, participation in professional tournaments, a structured training environment, and assistance in building personal image and brand.
However, TF’s actions have stirred discussions within the League of Legends community. This team is perhaps the first in the history of Vietnamese League of Legends and Esports in the S-shaped land to publicly disclose player salaries. Even in international regions, this factor is rarely mentioned publicly. For instance, during SofM’s time in the LPL, all information regarding his income came solely from rumors. Similarly, details about Levi and Kiaya’s salaries have always remained a mystery.
Additionally, it can be observed that the salary for Tier S is very high. In some other professions, only leaders or higher management positions can earn 50 million/month. For certain fields like IT or graphic design, this salary only appears if one juggles multiple projects simultaneously or reaches a Senior skill level. Meanwhile, the salary for Tier C players (the lowest) is already equivalent to many ordinary office staff positions.
Besides, many people also find it quite puzzling that even though players’ incomes are not too low, there are still negative activities. The most recent case is the largest match-fixing scandal in League of Legends history, which led to 25 individuals being banned from competition for 8 months to permanently. Notably, among these are many potential names or young players.
The income of players is not too low. However, once they have “dipped their hands in the dirt,” it may truly be hard to stop. Meanwhile, by disclosing this information, TF likely wants anyone considering becoming a professional player to have a more comprehensive view before embarking on the challenging path of Esports.