Read previewThis as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Andy Collins, a 26-year-old software engineer from Chicago pursuing a professional esports career playing the first-person shooting game Valorant.
Being a professional esports competitor wasn't the most well-known or traditional career path at the time.
Valorant has only been out for four years, but its professional esports scene is rapidly growing in popularity.
Even though I'm playing far fewer hours per day than before — I only spend around four hours after work each day playing other teams and strategizing for my weekly matches — I'm in my best-ever form.
Are you a professional esports athlete and want to share your story?
Persons:
—, Andy Collins, didn't, would've, Valorant, — you've, DarkZero, Valorant esports, I'm, wasn't, I've
Organizations:
Service, Business, Robert Morris University ., Valorant's Challengers League, North American, League, —, The Guard, Riot Games, DoorDash, Starbucks, Madison
Locations:
Chicago, United States, Austin, Valorant, mhall@businessinsider.com