The gaming world has transformed over the last decade. It used to be a niche hobby that was considered nerdy, but now it’s entered the mainstream, and so many more people are getting involved. There has also been an explosion in esports (competitive gaming tournaments), which are getting the same respect as traditional sports. In fact, there are some big competitions with prizes in the millions, and you can find competitive tournaments for most games.
If you’re an avid gamer, you might be thinking about entering one of these tournaments. But be aware that the competition is stiff, so you need to take the right approach. Here are some important tips to keep in mind when entering your first esports tournament.
Get the Right Setup to Practice On
You are going to be up against the best players in your chosen game, so practicing is vital. But just like any sport, you need the right equipment to practice on. If you are using a busted-up old laptop that can hardly run the game properly, you won’t be able to hone your skills. So, before you start thinking about entering tournaments, get yourself a proper gaming computer and start putting some hours in. These Lenovo Gaming PC Deals are perfect if you want a good gaming computer without investing a huge amount of money. Once you have your setup, experiment with different keyboard and mouse setups and monitor positions until you have the ultimate computer setup to boost your performance. Just remember, when you are practicing, you shouldn’t go overboard. If you start losing sleep to play more, your performance will suffer.
Find a Local Tournament
You’re not going to be entering the world championships right away, so set your sights on something more attainable. There are lots of local tournaments around, and this is a good way to get some experience and start building your skills. So, search online and find a small local tournament to enter. Once you have entered, you have a goal to aim for, so between now and the date of the tournament, you can perfect your gameplay.
Watch Some Streamers
If you want to be the best, learn from the best. There are so many great Twitch streamers that you can watch to pick up some tips and tricks. Some channels are more comedy-based, and they won’t be as useful, but there are lots with serious players that will help you develop new techniques and learn strategies to help you match up to the big competition players.
Don’t Worry About Winning
This seems counterproductive, but when it’s your first tournament, you just want to focus on showing up and getting some experience of what tournament play is like. Obviously, you should play your best, and if you do win, that’s a great bonus. However, don’t go into the tournament thinking that it’s a failure if you don’t get first place.
Your first esports tournament is a big step, and if you get it right, it could be the start of a successful career in competitive gaming.