How to start a career in esports: training, practice, and team

The term "esports" derives from the words "cybernetics" and "sport," combining elements of computer technology and competitive sports.

Esports is a rapidly developing field that includes tournaments, leagues, teams, and professional players.

Step 1. Choosing a game and genre

Study various esports games and genres to find one that interests you and suits your skills.

Esports games are diverse and are divided into several genres:

— Fighting games

— First-person shooters (FPS)

— Simulators

— Sports simulators

— Real-time strategy (RTS)

— MOBA

— Battle royale. 

Step 2. Learning and training

Dedicate time to studying the game, mastering basic techniques, and practicing to improve your skills. 

Educational institutions and courses:

Synergy University, “Game Industry and Esports”
The Faculty of Game Industry and Esports offers 11 educational programs. Tuition starts from 900,000 tenge, with prices varying depending on the duration of the course and the specialization.

Skillbox Courses “Esports: Courses and Professions” 
Skillbox courses are aimed at more advanced athletes who want to gain public exposure, start their own streams, and create content on their platforms. 

Tuition cost: 737,208 tenge.

Syracuse University 
The Esports Communications and Management program at Syracuse University includes training in business management, communications, and design within the esports industry.

Higher Institute of Law and Economics 
The Master esports program at ISDE Law Business School in Spain is designed for the professional training of specialists in the esports industry.

Useful YouTube channels:

HLTVorg 
The channel features interviews, analytical materials, and funny moments from esports matches.

JoshNissan
Guides from a former professional Counter-Strike player. 

An official YouTube channel offering match reviews, player interviews, and other content related to League of Legends.

NAVI CS2
An entertainment channel where fans can enjoy professional matches, exclusive content, and engaging interviews from the NAVI esports team.

ESL Counter-Strike
The official channel of tournament organizer ESL. It covers events happening on the international esports stage.

Step 3. Finding a position or role

Determine which position or role in the game you feel most confident and effective in.

Depending on the game, there may be different roles in esports, such as:

IGL, in-game leader
Responsible for strategy and decision-making during matches.

Sniper 
A player who must achieve maximum efficiency in the game and deal maximum damage to enemies.

Support 
Provides protection and support for the captain and sniper, often acting as an initiator and controlling map positioning.

Tank 
In some games with elements of defense and aggression, there may be a player specializing in high endurance and drawing the opponent's attention.

Jungler  
A player who spends most of the game in the jungle, killing monsters and assisting their team on various lanes.

Mid-laner 
In games with a central lane, this player takes on the role of managing the central part of the map.

Off-laner 
Plays on the lane on the map, usually located between the teams' bases. Plays a role in controlling the lane and defending the base.

Step 4. Finding a team or partners

Join a team or find partners for joint training and participation in competitions.

Useful links for those who want to find a team and stay updated on the latest news from the world of esports: 

Qazaq CyberSport Federation 
A republican public association whose main goals are the development and popularization of esports in the Republic of Kazakhstan and promoting Kazakh esports to the global community.

QHUB 
A group on “VKontakte” dedicated to covering news, matches, tournaments, interesting facts in esports, and much more. 

Pinger Pro 
A tournament platform that hosts world-class matches. A service connecting esports athletes and gaming enthusiasts. 

“Esports Association of Uzbekistan”
A public organization responsible for the development of the esports industry in the Republic of Uzbekistan.

Cybersport 
One of the largest Russian-language media portals about esports. The platform covers events from the world of popular esports disciplines such as Dota 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Hearthstone, Valorant, Overwatch, League of Legends, and others.

Gamesport 
An international analytics company providing users with extended esports analytics and predictions for key matches in esports disciplines.

iplayesports 
A media portal publishing news, entertainment videos, and upcoming tournaments from the world of esports.