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SEOUL : A high school dropout dubbed "Michael Jordan of eSports" helped make South Korea a major powerhouse in the video game field – and is now pushing its movement to be recognized by the mainstream. [19659002] The famous "Faker", his real name Lee Sang-hyeok, is the best League of Legends player in the world and in hyper-hip Korea, he enjoys the same fame and fortune as the best basketball or baseball players. , 22, will be one of the biggest stars of the Regional Olympics next month, the Asian Games quadrennial Indonesia, where eSports will be held as a demonstration event for the first time.
It marks a step forward in gaming efforts to be considered a real sport, maybe even win a slot at the Olympics in the future – good news for global eSports powers like Korea from South.
The South benefits from a high-speed broadband and a vibrant Internet culture, and there are cybercafés equipped with powerful high-end computers for school-aged gamers on many street corners.
Last year, Faker started playing video games at elementary school and excelled at League of Legends – an online battle game introduced by Riot Games in 2009.
While he was mounting LoL's online rankings mounted on his identity, he formed a team with friends to participate in amateur tournaments.
He dropped out of high school after being seen offering a job as a professional, making his debut in 2013 and beating the best players one after the other so that he did not have to. he was making his way to fame.
eSports embraced "
The Korean Scene eSports recalls the culture of German football, with basic talents nourished from an early age, some of them going to amateur leagues and, after years of
Many big companies have their own eSports teams, Faker being supposed to be paid at least 3 billion won (11 billion ringgit) per year by its sponsor SK Telecom, the leading wireless operator in the South. [19659002"Thisisacountrywheretheelectronicsportshavebeenadoptedasasportingeventforyoungpeopleandeventhesportsacademyhasbeenasportingevent"saidKIMCHEOL-GeneralSecretary-GeneraloftheKoreaSportAssociation
Last year, eSports was ranked as the third most popular sport among South Koreans aged 15 to 29 years after football and baseball, according to a survey by Nielsen Korea.
Many television channels are dedicated to broadcasting eSport competitions, held in large football stadiums, to thousands of fans, or to elegant arenas designed to present games. In the mid-2000s, many pro eSports teams were established ahead of other countries, "said Kim.
With 25 million players – half the population – the South is the world's sixth largest video game market. ] But many South Korean players and coaches have been hired to work for the best teams in the world, including China and the United States – eSports "two largest markets.
"Now, the United States and China have the same systems and have caught up with us," Kim told AFP "but we have accumulated know-how and culture for decades. the top of the game.
'Improving Your Social Position'
South Korea's obsession with video games goes back to 1990s when Starcraft – an American science fiction game strategy – enjoyed tremendous popularity, so that the South accounted for more than half of its worldwide sales.
Nowadays, teens hoping to become players professionals – or popular among their playful peers – are flocking to an increasing number of -hours schools training them to better play video games.
A typical "gambling academy" features rows of teenagers or d & rsquo; Men in their twenties playing at Overwatch or League of Legends, with a coach – usually a former pro – suggesting better moves.
"If you become a good player, it can improve your social status and help you make more friends," said Kim Han-eol, student at the video games academy at the chain YTN .
Six more players will accompany Faker to Indonesia next month for the competition.
"The Asian Games are not just an event watched by the players but something watched by the entire nation," Faker said. "I will win the match no matter what". – AFP
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