Professional poker players and esports pros have a lot in common. They both work hard to be the best at their profession, they both play games that require skill and strategy and they both spend hours each day practicing their craft. As such, it’s not surprising that we see similarities between these two groups of professionals.
One key difference between the two is that Esports pros might play team sports like League of Legends or Overwatch, as well as more individual games like FIFA. To be better at poker, you will require individual skill, whereas most major esports competitions require four teammates working together to win matches against opponents.
The end goal for both professions is to make money. As you will discover from sites like We Rate Casino, poker players make money by winning tournaments, while esports pros make money by being signed to teams and winning matches. There are a few poker players who make a living from playing online games, but they are the exception, not the rule.
In terms of sacrifice, both groups of professionals put in long hours grinding away at their craft.
Here are five aspects of similarities between esports pros and professional poker players:
Both groups practice for hours each day
This is one of the aspects that both professions have in common. They both play their game so much they get burned out. This is why many pros give up esports after a few years, and it’s also what ends most poker players’ careers after some time. It takes dedication to be the best at something, you only need to look at celebrities and pro athletes who train every day to see how much work it takes to be good at your profession. If you’re not willing to put in that kind of commitment, then these professions aren’t for you.
Mental resilience
Mental resilience is one of the major factors involved in winning tournaments and matches. Top poker players and esports pros need to be able to adapt to changing conditions and remain calm under pressure.
Professional esports teams often lose matches that they were expected to win because their opponents kept calm in the heat of the moment, or because many members on their team weren’t mentally resilient enough for this type of competition.
Sharpness and focus
Both poker and esports require players to be at the top of their game, so they need mental and physical sharpness. It’s how you win matches and tournaments.
Fast reflexes and strong hands/eye coordination
You’ll notice that many competitive gamers have fast reflexes or quick hands, just as most poker pros do. This is because both games require those kinds of abilities to succeed.
Strong problem-solving skills
A good poker player spends time learning about all the different ways a hand can play out, but an esports pro needs to know every detail about their game – they need to know what will happen even before it happens – otherwise, they will struggle to win. This is why problem-solving skills are so important in both professions.
Conclusion
It’s easy to see the parallels between esports pros and professional poker players. Both require enormous amounts of skill, time investment, dedication and mental fortitude — qualities that are also necessary for success in other competitive industries like finance or law. The more you know about this subject matter, the better your chances of succeeding as a player.
