Ann: Company Presentation, page-14

TECHNOLOGY

Gamer in a league of his own as hobby turns career

Brandon Holland, aka Swip3rRR, is a semi-professional gamer who plays League of Legends. Picture: Hollie Adams​

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• The Australian​
• 12:00AM April 19, 2018​
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• Sam Buckingham-Jones
  
  

  Journalist
  Sydney​

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When Brandon Holland logged on to his computer in high school, the gaming world was an escape from reality. Now it’s a job. He has a salary, workplace, desk, daily hours and managers.
Unlike in most other jobs, however, Mr Holland is more of an athlete than an employee. The 23-year-old is the captain of the Sydney-based Chiefs eSports Club, one of the highest-ranked teams in the burgeoning Electronic Sports scene.
“We play 10-12 hours a day on an easy day,” he said. “Whoever works the hardest wins.”
Mr Holland is an expert at League of Legends, an online multiplayer battle game in which players in teams control characters with unique abilities to destroy a group of enemies. It’s big business, but one that has been slow to develop in Australia.
The game’s World Championship last year had 60 million viewers and a total prize pool worth more than $US4 million ($5.2m).
“eSports is growing so rapidly,” Mr Holland said.
“It’s a matter of time before it surfaces in Australia. The community is older here, video games aren’t as accepted.
“It’s such an interesting thing, especially to watch. In five to 10 years it will overtake some other sports.”
Mr Holland estimates he has travelled abroad to play about four times each year in recent years. The team that tops the Oceanic Pro League travels overseas to compete internationally.
Two Australian teams have this year been bought by AFL clubs — Adelaide and the Essendon Bombers.
The average age in Mr Holland’s workplace is 18. At 23 (he turns 24 tomorrow), he is the elder of the group. “We did a bit of a revamp this year. One of my friends retired, another became a lawyer. One hadn’t studied at all and went to study,” he said. “There are a lot of different careers in eSports. You can become a coach, manager or performance trainer.”
Mr Holland works hard to stay in shape. “I used to be overweight,” he said.
“It’s not completely necessary to have the physical side of things, but it’s made me a better player. I encourage all my players — it’s becoming standard to have a fitness side. It’s easy to accept the stereotypes of gamers, but it’s not the case.” Now, whenever Mr Holland logs on to his computer, he escapes into reality.​

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