Esports Pro in 2000: Korea builds the first esports industry

How do you become a professional esports player? The route is nearly identical in every title: climb the public ranked ladder into the top fraction of a percent — Challenger in League of Legends means roughly the top few hundred accounts on a server — get scouted into an academy or trainee roster, usually between fifteen and seventeen, then convert that into a tier-one contract. There is no application form; the ladder is the audition, and it runs around the clock.

How much do esports pros actually earn? The spread is enormous. Top-league minimums run from about ₩60 million in Korea's LCK to $75,000 in the North American LCS (2023); established starters earn low-to-mid six figures, and superstars earn millions — reported peaks passed $5 million a year during China's 2021 salary bubble. Below tier one most players earn very little, while Dota 2's prize skew let one captain, N0tail, retire with about $7.2 million in winnings.

Why do esports players retire in their twenties? Declining reflexes are the popular explanation and the weakest one. The real drivers are burnout from ten-to-fourteen-hour practice days, overuse injuries — China's biggest star, Jian "Uzi" Zihao, retired at 23 in 2020 citing chronic hand damage — annual roster churn, and the fact that streaming often pays a famous ex-pro better than playing did. Faker winning world titles at 27 and 28 shows the ceiling is moving.