It may be every teenagers dream, but being a professional gamer is a reality for Russel Van Dulken.
The 19-year-old from Kelowna is a superstar Counter-Strike player playing in the biggest eSports competitions in the world. Alongside his team, Team Liquid, Van Dulken plays against other professional teams across the world in games that gather millions of viewers.
Starting playing seriously in 2015, it only took a few years for Van Dulken to realize this was his desired career.
sa国际传媒淲ith my first pro team, I was getting used to playing in a team environment, it was for me to learn and educate myself,sa国际传媒� Van Dulken said. sa国际传媒淲ith my second team, I knew it was happening; when I moved to California, thatsa国际传媒檚 when I knew.sa国际传媒�
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With his gamer handle sa国际传媒楾wistzz,sa国际传媒� he quickly rose through the ranks of the professional eSports leagues. Moving to California in 2017 was a strategic step to be able to train in the same room everyday with his teammates, something that had become a necessity for teams if they wanted to improve and win.
And winning is something hesa国际传媒檚 done, having earned over $300,000 in his career and three first place titles in eSports major competitions in 2018 alone.
Winning comes a lot harder in professional game than one may think. Van Dulken said itsa国际传媒檚 more than just putting in a few hours while sitting in a chair.
sa国际传媒淪ix days a week, eight to nine hours, and if wesa国际传媒檙e all in the same area itsa国际传媒檚 11 to 12 hours.sa国际传媒�
sa国际传媒淲esa国际传媒檙e all physically active. I work out 6 days a week. People donsa国际传媒檛 realize how physical and mental health are important. You need to make sure yousa国际传媒檙e feeling good and eating healthy,sa国际传媒� said Van Dulken.
He said itsa国际传媒檚 also important to have an office where he can separate his work and his home life.
sa国际传媒淓ven though itsa国际传媒檚 just leaving your house, itsa国际传媒檚 good. Yousa国际传媒檙e forced to socialize, which I like, and yousa国际传媒檙e not just at home with the computer on.sa国际传媒�
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While his game-play has gotten him plenty of recognition from the large, international eSports world, hesa国际传媒檚 still surprised that he has grown a fan-base, especially at his old high school, Rutland Secondary.
sa国际传媒淎n old teacher contacted me to see if I could interact with some students, and like 45-50 students came,sa国际传媒� Van Dulken laughed. sa国际传媒淭ruthfully, I feel like people didnsa国际传媒檛 know I existed.sa国际传媒�
Meanwhile, nearly a million fans will tune in to watch him, and other gamers, play during national competitions.
While hesa国际传媒檚 unsure if eSports will ever take off locally in Kelowna, Van Dulken thinks virtual reality games (VR) will soon blow up and change the world of pro gaming.
sa国际传媒淚 think computer games (that I play) will be around for a long time, but with wireless VR headsets now, more games will be trying to build something in VR.sa国际传媒�
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According to , a Counter-Strike coverage site, Van Dulken was ranked as the 12th best player in 2018. Twistzz said hesa国际传媒檒l continue with his gaming, with his next national championship coming April 28 in Australia.
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