For League of Legends, the number of players worldwide is indeed immense, and the game is considered the “national MOBA game”. It’s entirely normal for tournaments to attract millions of viewers. Among them, many individuals become professional players each year. Of course, not everyone achieves success, but it can be said that becoming a professional player in League of Legends specifically and Esports in general has become a dream for many young people today. Especially as sports authorities have made Esports an official competitive discipline at several prestigious global sporting events, with last year’s ASIAD being a prime example.
One of the typical reasons why becoming an Esports player is a desirable career is the income. Many professional players earn a very high income, not only from tournaments but also from advertising contracts. For example, Faker is the face of many prestigious brands like BMW, Samsung, and gaming product lines… or TheShy, Uzi also have very good incomes. In their twenties, a player can earn tens of millions (in RMB) each year – those are very tempting figures.
However, according to former World Champion of Warcraft 3 and now the manager of Team WE (League of Legends) – Li Xiaofeng, becoming an Esports player is not easy at all and the odds of becoming a professional player are 1 in a million. He provides an example: “In 2019, an Esports organization held a talent scout for young players on a scale of 100,000 people. But only 10 were selected to continue, and ultimately only 1 person participated in professional matches.”
According to LPL media, the odds of 1 in a million are even lower (about 7 times) compared to the acceptance rate at the two best universities in China, Tsinghua and Peking University. The acceptance rate for these two universities, according to 2020 statistics, is 0.073%.
Of course, the criteria for becoming a professional Esports player are quite different from those for admission to universities. But one reality is that the ratio of regular Esports players becoming professional players is extremely low. Furthermore, even with a strong Esports foundation, China will still prioritize academic achievements and degrees, leading individuals to pursue other careers.
Not to mention, becoming a player is one thing. To achieve a high income, that player must have accomplishments. Names like Uzi, Xiaohu, or foreign players like TheShy, Rookie… have already achieved numerous accomplishments in the professional League of Legends scene. And they have had to trade their health (both physical and mental) for it. Meanwhile, those who are less renowned will face more challenges. For instance, Mlxg, once a teammate of Uzi and a former “LPL God Jungler”, has had a very difficult life after retiring.
Additionally, not long ago, a female coach from China’s Esports scene passed away due to cancer. This has raised awareness about the extremely unhealthy habits of many players, such as staying up late, over-exertion, and irregular eating… And these are the sacrifices needed to attain the dream income.
Becoming an Esports player in general, and specifically in LPL, has never been easy. It requires not only passion but also a sense of responsibility and innate talent. Players like Faker are rare. But there will likely still be young individuals passionate about a career as a professional Esports player, ready to embark on this challenging path despite knowing the difficulties ahead.