Esports has grown from small LAN parties into a global industry with professional leagues, huge live events and millions of fans. Whether you dream of competing professionally or just want to test your skills in tournaments, getting started is more accessible than ever. This guide explains how to choose a game, improve, find teams and explore the many career paths in esports.

What Is Esports?

Esports refers to organised competitive video gaming. Players compete individually or in teams in games such as:

  • MOBAs – League of Legends, Dota 2,
  • tactical shooters – Counter-Strike 2, Valorant,
  • battle royales – Fortnite, Apex Legends,
  • sports games – EA Sports FC, NBA 2K, Rocket League,
  • fighting games – Street Fighter, Tekken, Super Smash Bros.,
  • mobile games – popular mobile titles in many regions.

Competitions range from local online tournaments to international championships.

Step 1: Choose Your Game

Pick a game that:

  • you genuinely enjoy playing for hundreds of hours,
  • has an active competitive scene with ranked modes and tournaments,
  • runs well on your hardware,
  • suits your strengths (quick reflexes, strategy, teamwork, mechanical skill).

Focusing on one game helps you improve much faster than playing many casually.

Step 2: Master the Fundamentals

Every competitive game has core skills:

  • mechanics – aiming, movement, combos or controls,
  • game knowledge – maps, characters, items and strategies,
  • decision-making – when to fight, retreat or rotate,
  • communication – for team games,
  • mental resilience – staying calm under pressure.

Our guide on how to get better at video games covers practice techniques.

Step 3: Play Ranked and Track Progress

Ranked modes measure your skill against others. Climbing ranks shows improvement and can attract team interest. Track stats using official tools or third-party trackers, and review your matches to learn from mistakes.

Step 4: Learn From the Best

  • Watch professional matches and streams.
  • Study how top players position, communicate and make decisions.
  • Watch coaching content and guides on YouTube.
  • Consider paid coaching once you've mastered the basics.

Step 5: Join a Community

  • Join Discord servers for your game.
  • Participate in subreddit and forum discussions.
  • Find players at your level to practise and scrim (practice matches) with.
  • Join university or school esports clubs if available.

Step 6: Find or Build a Team

For team games:

  • look for "LFT" (looking for team) channels in Discord communities,
  • create a team with friends or regular teammates,
  • try out for amateur teams,
  • be reliable, positive and communicative. Attitude matters as much as skill.

Step 7: Enter Tournaments

Start with beginner-friendly competitions:

  • online tournaments on platforms like FACEIT, Battlefy, start.gg and game-specific ladders,
  • local LAN events and gaming cafés,
  • school and university leagues,
  • in-game tournament modes.

Tournaments build experience, help you handle pressure and get you noticed.

Step 8: Build Your Online Presence

Stream your gameplay, post highlights and share your achievements on social media. A visible presence can attract teams, sponsors and fans. See our guide on how to start streaming.

Healthy Habits for Competitive Gamers

Top esports players treat their health seriously:

  • sleep well for reaction time and focus (see how to sleep better),
  • exercise regularly for stamina and concentration,
  • take breaks to prevent repetitive strain injuries,
  • eat and hydrate properly,
  • manage stress and tilt with breathing techniques and breaks.

Is Going Pro Realistic?

Only a tiny percentage of players become full-time professionals. It requires exceptional skill, dedication, teamwork and often luck. Many pros start very young and practise for many hours daily. If you're a student, keep up with education while pursuing esports.

Esports Careers Beyond Playing

The industry needs many roles besides players:

  • coach and analyst,
  • shoutcaster (commentator) and host,
  • content creator and streamer,
  • event organiser and tournament admin,
  • team manager,
  • marketing, social media and sponsorship roles,
  • video editing and graphic design,
  • game development.

Read our guide to esports careers for more.

Esports for Parents

If your child is interested in esports, encourage balance: set time limits, check game age ratings, discuss online safety and support structured opportunities like school clubs. Esports can teach teamwork, strategic thinking and resilience.

Esports Etiquette and Sportsmanship

How you behave matters. Teams and organisers look for players who:

  • communicate respectfully with teammates and opponents,
  • avoid toxic chat, even when losing,
  • turn up on time for scrims and matches,
  • follow tournament rules and never cheat,
  • accept feedback from coaches and captains.

A reputation for being reliable and positive can open more doors than raw skill alone.

Equipment for Competitive Play

You don't need the most expensive gear, but reliable equipment helps. Prioritise a stable wired internet connection, a monitor with a high refresh rate for fast games, and a comfortable mouse, keyboard or controller. Our guide to building a budget gaming setup explains where to spend.

A Weekly Practice Plan for Aspiring Competitors

  • Warm-up (15 minutes daily): aim trainers, combo drills or mechanics practice.
  • Ranked games (1–2 hours): play with full focus rather than on autopilot.
  • Review (20 minutes): watch back one match and note two mistakes to fix.
  • Scrims (twice a week): practice matches with your team.
  • Rest day: at least one day off to avoid burnout.

Final Thoughts

Getting into esports starts with choosing a game you love, mastering the fundamentals, climbing ranked ladders and joining communities and tournaments. Stay healthy, be a great teammate and consider the many careers the industry offers. Whether you go pro or play for fun, competitive gaming can be incredibly rewarding. Explore more in our esports section.