For many gamers, esports are the ultimate dream. The life of an esports professional is filled with competition, relentless training, and uncertain futures. We recently spoke with Enzo “WarKr0Zz” Conte, a streamer who’s worked as a manager and player for multiple esports titles, to get a glimpse into the life of those living the dream.
Daily Esports: Tell us about your background, and how you got into esports.
Enzo “WarKr0Zz” Conte: I started playing esports when I was very young, maybe 9 or 10, for the Call of Duty games. I quickly fell in love with the spirit of competition; whenever I came home from school I’d rush to the computer to practice day and night. When I was 16, I started to play Overwatch and reached Top 500 on ladder. That was when multiple teams contacted me and I ended up joining HuB e-sport. When I saw the cash prizes available in Fortnite, I switched to this new scene and have won several tournaments and cash prizes.
What are your training/practice methods for tournaments? How do you get ready?
I have two major preparations when training for tournaments: Mentally, I try not to think about losing, and I make sure to spend time with my friends and family the day beforehand. All other days I’m training in Fortnite’s Creative Mode. I watch a lot of videos to learn new tricks and practice them in Creative Mode, especially the endgame because it’s the most difficult part; you always end with like 50 people in a zone smaller than a room.
I notice you stream as well as play competitively. How do you balance your time between streaming versus participating in esports?
The stream is a part of my training. I stream almost every time I train, because after the stream I can watch it again to see the mistakes I made. Also, it’s really cool to stream because you can share some moments with your viewers who saw you in a tournament.
Do you think streaming is a valuable resource for esport players to utilize?
Streaming is a huge opportunity for professionals because you show everyone that you can regularly play at your level. And sometimes, when I do something awesome a viewer will clip it and share it on Twitter…so all the teams and community will see it.
You worked as a manager for Underrated from October 2017 to April 2018. How different was it to manage an esport team as opposed to simply play on it?
Players only need to worry about playing and practicing. When you are a manager, it’s more difficult; you have to personally know all the players on the team and how they work mentally. When I was a manager I regularly planned “scrims,” which is where you train with other teams. The whole organization of the team rides on your shoulders.
What advice do you have for others hoping to follow in your footsteps and break into esports?
Becoming an esport player is really difficult; you have to be really good from the beginning. After that, it’s all about rhythm. Sometimes you’ll be playing for up to 12 hours a day, but you can’t quit. I had to balance my practice routine with my studies, but it’s something that feels really rewarding when you stick it through to success.
Published: Apr 18, 2019 12:08 pm