Reasons Why Esport Players Retire Early- The Unexpected Truth

Esport, a collective term that includes various computer games, is played competitively. Professionals who play such games are called Esport players. Although this type of sport uses much less exercise than traditional sports, Esport players retire much younger than ”plain” athletes. What are the reasons why Esport players retire early?

Why so young?

In most traditional sports, professionals retire between the ages of 30 and 40, but there are exceptions. Like, Herschel Walker, a former NFL player who competed in bobsledding and became an MMA fighter at 47. Tom Brady won his seventh Super Bowl ring at 43, and 16-time darts world champion Phil Taylor retired at 60. Esport players must play for just as long, right? Because if the pro-players mentioned above can last that long, then the professional Esport players must have even longer careers, sitting in front of the computer, or so everyone thinks. The reality is just the opposite. The average retirement age is 23-25, and they are usually at their peak at 20.

Sören (Bjergsen) Bjerg, who retired last year, quit at 24. One of the world’s best Counter-Strike: Global Offensive players, Michael (Shroud) Grzesiek was also 24 when he decided to give up professional gaming. Of course, there are examples on the other side, but we are talking about a few and not extraordinary cases. At 32, Clinton (Fear) Loomis is still a professional gamer who plays on the Sadboys team at the North American DPC Upper Division. However, the age of 30 is already considered senior among gamers, and there are several reasons why Esport players retire early. 

The physical demands

What is the most obvious answer to why Esport players retire early? The fact, that they are no longer physically able to keep up with the gameplay or the new, more energetic players. Commonly their minds and eyes get tired. This is probably the last thing that comes to mind, but it’s still one of the main reasons someone finishes their professional career.

According to one study, Esports is more physically demanding than it seems. What seems like just pushing buttons, believe it or not, moves a lot of muscle groups. Also, the asymmetrical use of the mouse and keyboard works different parts of the brain. So it takes a lot of mental energy to adapt to the gameplay. According to the research, gamers are also physiologically exhausted by competing. Their heart rate during a game is similar to a Formula 1 driver’s, so around 160 to 180 per minute. 

Moreover, because Esport is still a new thing, there’s not that much knowledge behind it. Professionals don’t realize how mentally demanding it is to practice 10-12 hours a day in front of computers, often with the same game that can easily lead to burnout instead of success. The other reason against Esports is that the pros sit in front of the computer all day which is a very unhealthy lifestyle. Most Esport organizations already require their players to spend some of their time exercising. Some organizations have their own personal trainers and dietitians because, as with traditional sports, proper nutrition and exercise are vital for focus. Since Esport is more of a mental sport although, it is also physically demanding, exercise is perhaps more important to them than traditional professionals. 

Reasons why Esport players retire early – The newness of it

Since this type of sport is still somewhat new, it has no culture to handle the lifestyle properly. For example, Jian Zihao retired, saying that he had health issues. In an interview, he shared that according to his doctor, he resembled a 50-year-old instead at the age of 23.

He was one of the most successful players in League of Legends, and online sportsbook sites in the US claim that he was the best shooter. How he got there? The constant lack of quality sleep, the stress, and the terrible diet led to diabetes. There are positive examples too, of course. For instance, Greyson Gilmer (Goldenglue), former gamer, now the head coach of the 100 Thieves Academy, has worked out regularly and has remained healthy.

Esports leave plenty of room for injuries. Are you surprised? Let’s see one of the reasons why Esport players retire early. Not like in American Football, of course, but playing Esports can also cause damage. The long hours before the screen lead straight to back and spine problems and issues rooting from gaining weight. However, the real career killers are due to the mouse and the keyboard use. The various wrist troubles, like carpal tunnel syndrome, cause a lot of pain, and the only solution is surgery. Operations are frequent in Esport circles. If you, too, want to enjoy the games without risking injuries, check out the best Esports to bet on. You can do that at 22bet Sportsbook.

On the top

Esports pay a lot for the best players. This industry started to gain more and more recognition in the past few years and is now available in every part of the world. However, the road toward a fat salary is paved with demanding work. The money comes from the big tournaments, but first, you need to get there.

Even the lower level competitions take work to participate in them, not to mention the international and famous tournaments. Many teams don’t pay monthly payments for the players, but only after a victory, so the bests will stay. 

Although Valve promised to support the smaller teams, like when they devoted more attention to amateur levels, higher-level competitions still dominate the industry. One of the reasons why Esport players retire early is the lack of opportunity or support at the beginning of their careers. Like with many other sports, those who can’t keep up with the best ones stay behind, and since everybody needs money, lots of players quit early. If you want to learn how to become an Esport player, check out our article. 

Reasons why Esport players retire early

Just because someone retires from gaming doesn’t mean they will not work in the same sector. After a player makes a name for themselves, it is much easier to take a different career path. Many ex-players continue as streamers, with what they make a good living with less work. It’s probably a much better option. In addition, they know the secret to becoming an eSport manager. They might use that to their advantage as well.

They can finally truly enjoy their favorite games and earn well. They say to choose a job you love, and you will never have to work. If Esport players do it smartly, this saying will absolutely become true.

All in all, the mental strain and stress due to work soon lead to burnout. The other reason why Esport players retire early is thanks to the great career opportunities within the industry. The best gamers achieve enough fame and success by their mid-twenties, so in this case, the change is a pleasant one. Although, by the age of 25, professional players can decide whether they want to keep going like this or not. So this age seems the milestone of Esports. Who knows? Maybe this number will increase due to the planned support and help. 

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