The esports sector is becoming increasingly lucrative. In 2022, the international esports sector was valued at an estimated $1.4 billion, with revenue increases of around $500 million expected by the end of 2025. There are also more esports teams and pro-level tournaments than ever before, with the most successful players having amassed career earnings of more than $7 million.

Thinking about a career in esports? Sadly, being a great gamer isn’t enough to propel you to the top of the professional leagues. Before you stand a shot at tournament glory and life-changing prize pools, you’ll first need to find an esports team to join.

Professional Esports Player Checklist

Ready to start playing professionally? By now, you should have developed a mastery of your chosen game, be it League of Legends or Call of Duty. However, being a top-performing player isn’t enough. You’ll also need a full inventory of gaming tech and equipment at your disposal.

For training, you’ll need a complete gaming setup installed. If you’re a PC gamer, you’ll need a powerful gaming PC and an OLED monitor. Mechanical keyboards, gaming mice, and premium headsets are also a must. For console gamers, there’s less hardware to consider. However, you’ll need to ensure your chosen console is regularly updated, while a gaming headset and 4K television won’t go amiss.

You’ll also need to think about gaming on the go. If you’re lucky enough to get picked by a team, you’ll need to have sufficient tech to keep training on the move. This means investing in a portable console or gaming laptop, not to mention secondary devices like smartphones and tablets. You’ll also need a surplus of joysticks, spare controllers, charging cables, and more to keep powered up and playing on the go.

Finding a Team to Join

If you have some innate talent, becoming a first-rate gamer is the easy part. Actually becoming part of an esports team roster is more difficult. Thankfully, the internet has made it fairly straightforward to connect with potential teammates. Online platforms like Seek Team allow aspiring professionals to connect with teams, and vice versa.

Platforms like Seek Team are used by thousands of esports rosters. However, it’s worth remembering that only a fraction of these teams are playing at a professional level in S-Tier and A-Tier tournaments. There’s also the chance that you can slowly progress through the gaming backwaters, but if you’re looking to fast-track your career, your main aim should really be to get scouted by a high-level team.

Fortunately, this isn’t as tricky as you might think. Streaming services like Twitch are a great way for wannabe gamers to showcase their talents to the world. Even if you don’t attract the attention of a professional team straight away, you can build up a sizable online audience and monetize your content. Once you’ve established yourself as a streamer, you’ve got a brand you can work with. Now you’ve got some clout, you’ll be able to more easily network with esports teams online and in person at live events.

Creating an account with an online ranking system is another effective way to get your talents noticed. If you don’t have the time to chase team opportunities yourself, think about registering with a player agency. They’ll take charge of promoting you, meaning you only have to show up for the occasional networking opportunity.

Becoming a Professional Esports Player

Thinking about contacting a professional lineup directly? Take a look at a full list of esports teams at www.1337pro.com/en/teams. If your streaming activity or online promotion has paid off, you may find yourself being approached directly. However, don’t assume you’re now guaranteed a spot on the bench and a share of the prize pool. Pretty much every esports team has an exhaustive vetting process. You’ll also need to pass a demanding probationary period. Once that’s done, you’ll need to negotiate the specifics of your contract.

As with conventional sports, the world of esports is incredibly volatile. Team lineups change all the time and there’s no guarantee you’ll hold onto your spot for more than a single playing season.