Esports − Everything you need to know about the boom in professional gaming!

Sure, physical fitness is already an integral part of your daily routine. But have you heard about the new megatrend: eSports? Professional video gaming at tournaments and championships is currently gaining popularity at a rapid pace. We interviewed Fabian Broich, sports psychologist and assistant coach of the eSports team Origen. Find out what eSports is really about, how the tournaments work, and the important role that gamers' mental performance plays!

1. ARE YOU NEW TO GAMING? THEN HERE'S A BRIEF REVIEW OF THE BASICS.

The eSport Bund Deutschland eV (ESBD) defines eSport (Electronic Sport) as follows: "eSport [...] is the competitive playing of video or computer games, especially on computers and consoles, according to set rules." [1] Participants compete against each other in teams in tournaments and championships. The most popular eSport games, with which gaming stars win large prize money, include League of Legends, Fortnite, Starcraft II, and DOTA2, to name just a few. FIFA is also very popular in eSports. There are now many successful FIFA professionals who have fulfilled their dream of becoming pro gamers and earn their money by playing FIFA. This is how hobby becomes a profession for professional gamers.

While there isn't yet an overarching governing body in the eSports sector like FIFA in football, there are several eSports leagues: ESL (Electronic Sports League), MLG (Major League Gaming), and ESWC (Electronic Sports World Cup). With nearly 2 million players, ESL is the largest eSports league worldwide. Interestingly, each league has its own structure, including the qualifications. Participants compete against each other in multiplayer matches in teams of several top players.

In Germany, the number of Bundesliga clubs establishing their own eSports departments is increasing. These German eSports teams currently include: Schalke 04, VfL Wolfsburg, Bayer Leverkusen, Hertha BSC, 1. FC Köln, 1. FC Nürnberg, VfL Bochum, VfB Stuttgart, FSV Mainz, FC Augsburg, Borussia Mönchengladbach, and RB Leipzig. However, there are also Bundesliga clubs that are still critical of the eSports trend, such as FC Bayern Munich, where president Uli Hoeneß personally vetoed the opening to eSports. Nevertheless, the new sport continues to grow unabated and is increasingly approaching traditional sports in terms of professionalization.

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2. THE RAPID PROFESSIONALIZATION OF ESPORTS. WHAT DOES THIS ENGAGE?

The eSports market is growing particularly rapidly in the USA and Asia. The number of eSports events is rising, and so are the prize money. But eSports is also enjoying increasing popularity in Germany, especially among the young target group aged 16-25. German eSports teams fill entire arenas with cheering fans who enthusiastically support the professional athletes. They thus create a special atmosphere at every event, a far cry from the days when gamers played alone in their rooms. The fans and the energy in the arena make the sport so lively and tangible that thousands of spectators come to competitions, regularly ensuring sold-out arenas. The team members push themselves in every competition to progress and win, as well as to put on an exciting show for the spectators.

It remains exciting. The professionalization of eSports in Germany is progressing rapidly. In Asia, for example, the Asian Olympic Committee has now included the sport in the program for the Asian Games. In 2022, for the first time in history, teams will compete for Olympic medals in eSports on a virtual playing field [2].

With the professionalization of virtually all levels of sport, the topics of mental performance, recovery, and nutrition are becoming increasingly important. Many professional teams have their own team managers, sports psychologists, and nutritionists. Optimizing their own game and competition processes are essential.

FC Schalke 04 Esports - A Story Of Success:

3. WITHOUT FOCUS, NOTHING WORKS: THE MENTAL PERFORMANCE OF ESPORTS PLAYERS

Maintaining focus and total concentration are extremely important for success in eSports. Professional players prepare for competitions by training several hours a day, developing a strict discipline, and devoting all their time and energy to the game. The importance of mental attitude and mindset is clear. Outsiders associate gaming with adolescent boys sitting in front of computers, eating chips and drinking energy drinks. But this cliché is long outdated. Today's pros focus on optimal nutrition and complementary exercise.

If you first consider the preparation for an important match, it is no different than any other professional sport: It involves tough, daily training that lasts several hours. Also requires discipline and adherence to certain routines. Before a match, pro gamers are exposed to a great deal of stress and, as with any fight, there is immense pressure to win. During the match, it is important to focus on winning, block out the noise of the crowd, and make game decisions every second. Pro gamers have to make and execute more than 300 decisions and movements per minute over several hours. This requires peak mental performance. Factors such as technique, strategy, quick reaction times, the ability to process information in a split second, and reflexes for appropriate coordination are trained for this. In order to apply this training, the athletes must be able to tap into their mental potential throughout the entire match. This naturally involves a great deal of effort and challenge for the players and, in addition to active training, emphasizes the importance of regeneration.

4. THE NUTRITION GUIDE FOR ESPORTS: INTERVIEW WITH SPORTS PSYCHOLOGIST FABIAN BROICH

Of course, we were also keenly interested in the following: What does an eSports athlete actually eat? How do they ensure they consume all the nutrients essential for their mental performance, and what routines do they follow?

We sat down with sports psychologist Fabian Broich, assistant coach of the professional team Origen, formerly Schalke 04. We discussed the path to success, optimal recovery, nutrition, and the players' pre-match routines.

BRAINEFFECT: Do you have a special diet during the competition preparation phase?

Fabian Broich: Before competitions, the stress and pressure are very high, which takes a toll on your psyche. It's important that the pressure doesn't cause digestive problems, which has happened before, especially if you have an upset stomach. To reduce stress on the stomach, we rely on very digestible foods. This includes fresh smoothies, a very balanced diet, and no fast food. We have lists of fruits and vegetables that the guys on the team particularly enjoy. To be mentally fit, your diet simply has to be right.

The boys previously lacked awareness of food and its impact on their mental health and concentration, which was a huge problem. Now, good fats, good carbohydrates, and the like are of great importance. Their perception has changed somewhat in this regard, but it's not yet where it needs to be.

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BRAINEFFECT: What do you eat shortly before a match?

Fabian Broich: The games usually take place between 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. Two hours before the match, we are picked up by shuttle, and two hours before the match, we eat. Anti-inflammatory foods are important to counteract stress and stay mentally sharp. We usually eat broccoli, ginger, and onions with easily digestible meat or fish. We also have easy-to-digest side dishes like sweet potatoes or rice. The stomach is put under a lot of strain by the pressure and stress, so light meals that provide us with plenty of energy are very important.

Shortly before the match, quick energy is important. We usually have smoothies with berries, bananas, or energy bars. An hour before the match, we also take BRAINEFFECT FOCUS with B5 for concentration or AWAKE caffeine capsules.

When we have a 15-minute break between the game and the match analysis, short carbohydrates and thus quick energy are very important again. Then we usually have rice cakes or fruit.

Players may be emotionally unbalanced, lacking in nutritional awareness, and consuming fast food and energy drinks. This isn't a good combination for mental performance and stress reduction. Therefore, a balanced diet is extremely important.

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BRAINEFFECT: Are there certain supplements that are particularly important for esports?

Fabian Broich: As already mentioned, anti-inflammatory substances are very important in esports. When you're under pressure and stress before a match, ingredients that help reduce inflammation help us maintain our mental performance. Important here are omega-3 fats, vitamin D3 from BRAINEFFECT , and GUARD with calcium for the stomach, because it's extremely important to protect the stomach. The products also offer the advantage of being extremely convenient. When we travel and the environment changes, we can still easily take the products with us and are thus prepared for the match with the most important ingredients. The simple dosage form makes it easier and, above all, faster to supply the body with what it needs in stressful situations. This is very important and good in esports.

For example, we're flying to Madrid for the final on September 6, 2018, and we're happy to have the products in our luggage to support us on the trip.

Another extremely important factor in esports is emotional balance. We need to maintain a good sense of well-being and a positive mood, which is crucial during such cognitive exertion. We like to use MOOD by BRAINEFFEFCT for this.

Melatonin and magnesium are also very important for the boys, as is the use of blue light glasses to ensure a good night's sleep.

We sometimes add extracts of spirulina, matcha, or broccoli to a fresh smoothie to achieve a positive effect. As already mentioned, the anti-inflammatory component is very important.

When we go to the gym, important proteins are naturally included in the diet.

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BRAINEFFECT: What are your eating habits after a match like that?

Fabian Broich: It can vary greatly. If we have another match the day after a match, light and balanced meals and good energy are important to us. If there's no match after that, the guys have a bit more freedom. On Tuesdays, we have a cheat day, where the guys can ask for something tasty. We have a chef with whom I sit down once a week to discuss everything.

BRAINEFFECT: What role does other sports play in your everyday life?

Fabian Broich: For us, cardio is very important for concentration. We sometimes play basketball, soccer, go running, cycling, or go to the gym.

We also do a mistake analysis after the games. There are a few minutes' break in between. We try to reduce mental stress with exercises so we can focus.

Reduce mental stress

The guys trust us with our decisions outside of the game. Therefore, well-prepared meals with key nutrients are crucial, as are well-chosen supplements. Here, too, the anti-inflammatory factor is a key focus.

BRAINEFFECT: What do you do to sleep well after many hours in front of the screen?

Fabian Broich: I discussed sleep routines with the boys. This includes not eating anything heavy in the evening, drinking some sour cherry juice with melatonin 30 minutes before bedtime, wearing blue-light glasses, turning off all electronic devices in the room, and, of course, explaining why sleep hygiene is so extremely important. We then explain to the boys which product they should take, why and when, and what role it plays.

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5. FOR AUGUST ESPORT PROFESSIONALS: THE ESPORTS PERFORMANCE COACH

If you want to learn more about how to optimally prepare for the game, then we have the right tool for you: our eSports Performance Coach, developed for pro gamers. We've compiled the best information for your optimal mental gaming performance in the categories of Recovery, Routine & Training, Strong Mindset, and Optimized Nutrition. In videos and podcasts, the Schalke 04 pros and coach Fabian Broich explain how you too can make it to the pro level and, of course, always give 110% in your everyday life at school, university, or work. Get started now with our Performance Coach and defeat every opponent!

Read the eSports Guide

6. CONCLUSION

The success of eSports will continue to grow rapidly, and the professionalization of this new sport will develop with it. With the first Olympic competitions being held at the Asian Games in 2022, it will only be a matter of time before eSports is included in the Olympic Games program.

While Bundesliga soccer clubs are increasingly building their own eSports teams, they are also investing heavily in the training and mental performance of their pros. With our Performance Coach, we help (aspiring) pro gamers get even more out of their game and reach their full potential in everyday life.

7th Upcoming eSports Events 2019

The League of Legends (LoL) Mid-Season Invitational will take place from May 1-19. It will be played in Vietnam (Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City) and Taiwan (Taipei). There are three different stages, with 13 LoL regions participating.

Schedule:

• Play-in Stage: 01. -07. May (Hanoi)
• Group Stage: May 10th - 14th (Ho Chi Minh City)
• Knockout Stage: 17th - 19th May (Taipei)

The first major Dota 2 event will take place in India from April 16-24. Twelve teams from ESL One Mumbai will compete. A slightly smaller event will be the OGA Dota PIT Minor in Croatia, where eight of the best Dota 2 teams will compete for the next Major. Dates: April 22-28.

For Counter-Strike (CS:GO), the StarsSeries iLeague Season 7 will take place from March 30 to April 7. 16 teams will compete.

We're keeping our fingers crossed! Be sure to check out the guys from Schalke 04 Esports!
Twitter: @ S04Esports
Instagram: s04_esports
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/S04Esports/

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Sources:

[1] https://esportbund.de/esport/was-ist-esport/

[2] https://www.br.de/puls/themen/popkultur/esport-ist-sport-100.html

[3] https://www.esportwetten.pro/events-turniere/