From small computer shops with groups of gamers betting for a couple of hundred pesos to massive arenas filled with pro players battling for a multi-million dollar cash prize, the esports scene in the country has truly come a long way.

Back in the day, gaming was seen as a vice that would only disrupt the studies and bring nothing but negative impact to the young ones.

Time has passed and tides have changed, the booming industry is now seen as one of the highest paying professions in the digital age.

Esports is all about winning

Take a look at Karlo "Kuku" Palad, who, according to Liquipedia Dota 2, is the highest earning Filipino esports athlete with an estimated winning of $987,744.63 or P50.6 million in his six years as a professional Dota 2 player.

At 17 years old, Kiel “Oheb” Soriano has yet to celebrate his anniversary in the pro scene but has already earned $85,000 or around P4.5 million pesos.

That’s just their tournament winnings. Thanks to a huge fan base, a pro player could double his money through their livestreams, or attract brand sponsorships and endorsement to fatten his bank account.

Esports has opened a different path for the new generation, with some saying it is the easiest way to a lavish life. Philippine eSports Organization secretary general Joebert Yu even revealed that some pro players in the country enjoy a six-digit earning a month.

For Yu, the esports landscape may have changed but the formula to success in this industry remains the same. Whether bagging a couple thousands through betting back then, or taking the lion’s share of today's hefty prize pools, it always boils down to one word – winning.

“It’s like, let’s say Manny Pacquiao, if you keep on winning there goes the endorsements, the big deals, the big fights. I will say the same thing with esports. There’s a time that winning will be the primary factor,” said Yu.

“May mga ibang factors na rin like being an influencer, that’s being well known, pag marami kang hatak na tao that can get you earn you more. I think the formula naman ay 'di nagbago, you have to win,” he added.

Blacklist coach Kristoffer “Bon Chan” Ricaplaza can attest to that. The multi-title mentor, a former IT professional who turned down a promotion in his first work to pursue his career in esports, knows exactly that being in the industry allows you to provide more than what your daily needs but it only started when he began winning.

“Nung nagsimula kami totally wala kaming sponsor, wala kaming sahod, walang allowance, walang boot camp. Nagsimula kami sa five digits (salary a month with first sponsor), five digits pa rin naman pero malaki na yung difference since,” he said.

“Napunta kami sa Blacklist, na-double kami, nakakuha kami ng achievements, nakakuha kami ng championship tumataas iyon.”

Professional gaming as a sustainable career

In the early years of the esports scene in the country, it’s a must for aspiring professional players to have a full-time job in order to still provide for their family needs while answering the call for their passion.

Today, it’s like hitting two birds with one stone – players get the fame and big pay checks all while enjoying the game they love and under the bright lights of currently one of the most engaging forms of entertainment around the globe.

“I would say compared before malaking difference kasi kahit manalo ka you have to sustain pa rin your living. You still have to work pa rin kasi the opportunities are very much less, compare now na marami,” said Yu.

“There are teams right now that their only job is being an esport player. They earn way, way more and sometimes mas competitive pa sa mga basketball players (in terms of earnings). They’re earning more than most regular jobs,” he added.

An esports career is shorter compared to other fields, but it pays ten-folds from the regular jobs. Through playing games, esports players were able to build their own house, get their own latest gadgets, buy expensive sports cars and put up big businesses and investments in.

But that’s one facet that aspiring players should be wary of when they enter the professional gaming scene. Earning ten times or hundred times more at such a young age could give false financial security – something that can be traced to the short life span of an esports career.

Coach Bon Chan pointed out the importance of having a safety net once a player’s career declines.

“Kayang kaya talaga (esports career as a sustainable source of income). Ang tanong ay hanggang kalian lalo na kung ikaw ay pro player, siguro maganda habang ikaw ay nasa peak performance, imaximize nila, mag-save sila hangga’t kaya nila dahil darating yung panahon magde-decline ang performance nila,” coach Bon Chan explained.

To be fair, the esports scene gives retired players other means to still earn. With the emergence of big companies feeding on the esport ecosystem, taking the leap to the coaching and managerial ranks in the esports organization or establishing a streaming/ influencer career is not really a bad move.

Weighing between esports and studies

For Yu and Bon Chan, it’s important to seize the opportunity of entering the esport scene when it knocks on your doors. Not to encourage aspiring players to leave school for a shot to a lucrative career, they believe that players should be smart in weighing the opportunities presented to them.

“I would say personally na you go finish your school, you get you degree but if there’s an opportunity to earn so much naman, it depends on the player,” said Yu. “Opportunity doesn’t come often. School kumbaga very important but you can go to school whenever you’re ready especially if you already have the means,” explained Yu.

“Meron namang pagkakataon na napagsasabay nila yung study and gaming ng 'di nagde-decline yung grade nila sa school at the same time maganda pa rin yung performance nila sa laro. May makakadiscover pa rin sa kanila. Let’s say makapasok sila sa malalaking org then dun pa lang sila magdecide kung ano yung ipa-priority nila,” Bon Chan echoed.

It’s no question that being an esport athlete is currently one of the highest paying careers but just like in any sport, before the big checks, countless times in the training room and plenty of sleepless nights were invested to prove to the industry that they’re one of the best.