Hot shot! Boy of 13 hired as computer gun game player

IT’S a dream job for any teenager – and Kyle Jackson has got it. The 13-year-old has become the youngest professional player of a controversial computer game after being signed up by a top ‘e-sports’ company.

Kyle Jackson was spotted after topping the scoreboards of hit video game Fortnite and could now earn hundreds of thousands of pounds in prize money.

The teenager said he honed his skills playing the game at his home in Sidcup, Kent, during his school holidays.

Concerns have been raised over how addictive the game is and the potential dangers of children playing the game online with strangers. Fortnite – which sees players pitted against each other in a violent gun battle – has been downloaded for free more than 40 million times since its launch last July. Kyle, right, is thought to be the youngest ‘e-sports’ player ever after being signed by Team Secret, with three other teammates aged 17, 20, and 21.

Though he does not earn money from his contract, he will get a share of prize money from any contests. If successful, it could prove a very lucrative career – with the winning team at the 2016 League of Legends world championship sharing winnings of £725,000.

Kyle, who began playing computer games at eight, said his parents were very supportive. Asked if friends were envious, he said: ‘I guess they are kind of, playing games and travelling all over the world is kind of a dream for all kids.’