A PRO video game player has opened up about competing with men – and revealed the downside to her unusual job.
Kelsie Krieg, 22, from Aberdeen, recently made history becoming the first woman to qualify for an elite Call of Duty tournament.
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She was a Scotland women’s football star at under-17 level before suffering a career-ending groin injury.
Getting hurt had a silver lining, however.
Kelsie now finds herself in a competitive space of a different kind – rubbing shoulders with the best eSports – or electronic sports – players in the world of Call of Duty.
She now travels all over the world taking part in global tournaments.
A pioneer paving the way for more women to establish themselves in a male-dominated sphere, Kelsie has been heralded for her efforts.
She said: “It took a while to sink in that I had qualified for the Call of Duty Challengers Elite tournament never mind that I was the first woman ever to do so.
“I truly hope me getting this far on the world stage will encourage other females to get involved – I want to rubbish the stereotypes that people have, especially in such a male-dominated scene.
The former baller, who now goes by the gaming handle Kelsaroony, caught the attention of eSport pros in online tournaments.
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Before long, her improvements resulted in her knocking on the door of the game’s elite.
She said: “I started competing with friends in online tournaments and then I started coming up against some of the pros who thought I was okay and that got my name out there.
“My game just kept improving and earlier this year the team I am in found ourselves at the top of the Challengers which is the level below the multi-million dollar Call of Duty pro-league.”
Kelsie plays as part of team eFuse, with the demands of competition leaving little time to do much else.
She said: “It’s at least six hours every day and we have tournaments on Saturdays and Sundays.
“It’s become my full time career.
“Until recently I worked as an aquatics assistant for Aberdeen Sport but now I’m concentrating on trying to go pro. I get money for qualifying for competitions and for streaming on Twitch.”
ESports players gain most of their income through sponsorship and advertising – more so than prize money won for winning tournament matches.
As the eSport market continues to swell, brands are eager to have popular players adorn their logos or mention them while they’re competing.
Professional eSports gamers can earn anywhere from £10k to £150k per year, excluding extra sponsorships and bonuses.
For the eSport star, her job can weigh heavily on her family, with some criticism having to be shouldered by her family.
Kelsie added: “My mum and my whole family have been very supportive. It’s a weird career for them to come to terms with especially as they are having to listen to all the negatives and not the pros of gaming.”
