Professional Gamers: Gaming the way to world championships

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Competitive video gaming, or e-sports, has become much more than just a hobby in recent years. There are professional competitions for it, and even college majors geared toward e-sports. One young Chinese gamer with dreams of winning a world championship is working hard to bring this dream to life. Xu Xinchen has the story.

Not too long ago, this would just seem to be a group of youngsters playing video games. But this is e-sports, and the goal, now more than ever, is to win.

ZHANG XINGRAN JDG.ZOOM "My target is winning the world championship."

Meet 22-year-old Zhang Xingran, better known by his gamer ID, JDG Zoom. Zhang and his team, JD gaming made it to the final round of this year's Spring Season of LPL, the pro circuit for the massively popular game League of Legends in China. Zhang thinks he's getting closer to realizing his dream.

ZHANG XINGRAN JDG.ZOOM "We played IG in the final round of LPL's spring season. IG is a world championship team. I think winning our own world title is within reach."

E-sports is expected to grow into a 1-hundred billion yuan market in China this year. That's almost 15 billion US dollars. Investment is flowing into the sector. But this doesn't mean these young people are making money simply by playing. Being pro gamers, they face the same challenges all professional athletes do.

ZHANG XINGRAN JDG.ZOOM "You not only need talent but also have to go through a lot of training. You have to deal with injuries like traditional athletes. Pro gamers might sustain injuries to their backs, necks or wrists when holding the mice too long."

And even the role of video game has changed for him.

ZHANG XINGRAN JDG.ZOOM "Recreational gamers play games to pass time. But when I have spare time, I can hardly think of passing it with video games."

The fast expanding market is giving this new generation of Chinese youths more career options.

An E-sports gamer position is included on the list of 13 new professions released by the Chinese government in April. However, Zhang doesn't think it's a quick ticket to wealth and fame.

ZHANG XINGRAN JDG.ZOOM "I don't think this job is right for every gamer. You need to know your skill level and exert a lot of effort. Otherwise, you are just wasting your youth if you keep trying to go pro, and probably should focus on school instead."

Zhang says he is doing what he enjoys. As e-sports becomes more mainstream, it's giving more and more Chinese youths like Zhang a chance to chase their dreams in what they enjoy. Xu Xinchen, CGTN.