Confessions of a pro gamer

SINGAPORE - He's got a job many teenage boys can only dream of: Mr Romulus Tham, 26, is a professional computer game player.

He is part of a team of six who train with the discipline of an army unit, burning their entire weekends just to get so good at multiplayer online battle game League of Legends that they bag first place at regional and international competitions.

The payoff?

Prize money for top teams in big tourneys, like the League of Legends World Championships held in Los Angeles, California, is a cool US$1 million (S$1.27 million).

If they win, they split the winnings, along with their monthly salary.

When Mr Tham joined the Singapore Sentinels - sponsored by online gaming company Garena - a year ago, his salary was pegged to that of a fresh graduate.

The most the Singapore Sentinals have won so far is US$10,000 ($12,710) at the recent Garena Premier League.

Then there are the other perks.

As a pro gamer, he has fans.

The business graduate from the Singapore Institute of Management admits: "We get quite a bit of female attention, especially from fans in Taiwan and Vietnam, where the team is quite well known." The team has about 32,000 fans on Facebook.

"When we visit those countries for competitions, the lines to see us are like those you see McDonald's queue for Hello Kitty," he says with a chuckle.

Mr Tham sometimes gets recognised on the streets, where fans call out his online moniker "Kailing" and ask for autographs and photos with him.

"It's quite a strange feeling because we don't really see ourselves as celebrities," he says.

"Better-looking members of our team also have complete strangers, usually females, adding them on Facebook. Other fans send us figurines and drawings of ourselves," he says.

The team members have to display talent before they are scouted, and they are hired on a contract basis.

You have to be good and stay good.

The team of five is currently in Vietnam and fighting to enter the finals of the competition's third season.

They train up to 10 hours a day on Fridays and the weekends, and three hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

And discipline is strictly enforced.

Players are fined $25 each time they are more than 15 minutes late.

"We need to instil discipline. This is not just play, it's an actual job," he says.

Mr Tham, who used to work as an insurance agent, was scouted by a Garena employee and he was offered the spot of team captain.

He later got promoted to team coach, a role in which he not only has to be adept at the game, but also has to help younger players in the team to improve through reviewing strategy and technique via post-game footage.

And it can get really intense.

"During the game, the guys are trained not to accuse or blame one another, but during a review, tensions can run pretty high, with people pointing fingers," he says.

"One wrong move can cost you the game.

"There have been times where the guys got so frustrated, they declared they would not play as long as another team member was still part of it."

Acting as a mediator among the team members is also part of Mr Tham's job scope.

Defeat can be so bitter that it causes the all-male team to shed tears.

"We lost the championship last year to a Taiwanese team, and after the game there was complete silence for some minutes, before they all started crying. We had to take the guys aside so they could manage their emotions," he reveals.

"We typically avoid social media for a couple of days when we lose. The forums and Facebook will be filled with messages criticising us, saying that we've let down our country and so on."

He has to train so hard, and with the same characters, that once he's off work, the last thing he wants to do is more computer games, he confesses.

In his free time, the former national bridge player plays contract bridge, goes on dates with his girlfriend and meets up with friends over drinks.

Yet his pride is evident when he explains that the team has already been ranked third in the world by popular electronic sports website GosuGamers and is considered by others as the best team in Southeast Asia, despite being just a year old.

One thing is par for the course though: They have to contend with the negative stereotypes surrounding professional gamers.

"People are typically surprised when I tell them I am paid to play, but that's about as positive it gets when it comes to reactions," Mr Tham says.

"There's still the stigma that gamers are immature, geeky, unable to dress or carry themselves properly.

"Oh well."

Secrets of the trade

1. Stay in shape. It's not just about your fingers. When you are fit and healthy, your focus and mental strength will also be in good condition. These are key to excelling in the game.

2. Look for an understanding girlfriend. It's alright that she's not into gaming. But you don't want to be with someone who constantly complains about your burnt weekends.

3. Don't let pride, ego, and a quick temper get in the way of getting selected. Apart from map awareness and good hand-eye coordination, scouts also look out for people who are humble and keen to learn.

Get The New Paper for more stories.