Gaming addict says there’s big money to be won
FOR most, slogging away in front of a computer screen for hours on end is a way to earn a salary – but for hardcore gaming enthusiasts it could also mean winning big cash prizes doing what they love.
eSports or “competitive gaming” is a new form of competition taking the world by storm and raking in millions for those invested in the online world, says the Port Elizabeth-based founder of gaming club Sector 17, Charles Greeff, 36. eSports mostly take the form of organised, multiplayer video game competitions, particularly between professional players.
First getting involved in the gaming world in 2011, Greeff started the eSports brand, Sector 17, because of the competitive nature of the sport.
Sector 17 was mainly based in Port Elizabeth but as the sport grew “we have evolved and expanded our brand to other cities”.
Currently touring Thailand “for gaming related business”, Greeff said he enjoyed “the thrills and the adrenaline pumping, as it all comes down to that last play of the game”.
Adding to the excitement of the eSports arena, Greeff said although financial reward was important, it was only available to a “selective few professional teams in South Africa”.
“As you start off your profession as an eSports gamer or competitive gamer you need to join a clan or start your own clan, from there you need to sign up your clan for tournaments,” he said. From there gamers are entered into a ladder stage, where their clan has to reach division 2.1 and then premium level.
After reaching this level, the team will be invited to the master leagues and will only then qualify for serious financial rewards, Greeff said.
“Last year, Telkom DGl paid out over R1-million in cash prizes to gamers in the master league.
“There are other tournaments in South Africa where you can win up to R20 000 for your team but there aren’t enough of these tournaments around,” Greeff lamented.
East London-based eSports enthusiast Sheraaz Nunnian, who has been involved in the gaming world for the past 12 years, said games such as free-to-play, multi-player online battle arena video game Dota 2 currently has the highest paid players prize pools, which can reach $20million (R260-million).
“Other games also have competitions and prizes to a lesser value. — TMG