Interview with esports player pkmk, interview with Artem Nechaev, interview with Apex Legends

Contents:

The first question concerns your experience as an eSports athlete. How is your training going these days?

I'm not the perfect role model for training, as I spend 14 hours a day on my discipline. This approach isn't entirely rational. The correct training strategy is to distribute it in portions. It's recommended to dedicate about two hours daily to training, for example, shooting in a regular public match or using aiming training platforms like KovaaK 2.0 or Aim Lab—depending on personal preference. After that, you can devote four hours to competitive games, followed by a couple more hours of ranked play. It's a good idea to finish the day with the training you started with. This approach is more balanced and effective for achieving results.

I recommend that every player set a specific training day. Many experience inconsistency in their skills, and regular training helps overcome this. At the beginning of the day, it's worth focusing on aspects such as tracking, flicks, and aiming, depending on what needs improvement. It's important to consolidate your newly acquired skills with a final practice session at the end of the day. Neglecting this practice will significantly reduce your consistency in the game.

Before joining a team, it's important to consider your level of preparation and game goals. If you've already started practicing or have experience playing with friends, it's worth assessing your skills and understanding of the game. If your goal is to improve your gaming abilities and reach new heights, then joining a team may be a good move. However, if you prefer comfort and the opportunity to develop at your own pace, playing with friends may be a more suitable option. It's important to keep in mind that team play requires communication and coordination, which can be both an advantage and a disadvantage depending on your experience and willingness to collaborate.

Battle Royale games are a unique genre of games that allow players not only to have fun but also to test their skills in esports. Currently, there are numerous tournaments open to participation, including in the CIS region. These events attract both experienced esports athletes and newcomers looking to test their skills. Therefore, battle royale games are becoming an excellent platform for development and participation in competitive gaming.

We recently held a fundraiser with professional players from various teams. Half of the funds raised went toward organizing the tournament, and the other half went to charity. We organized a tournament with a prize pool in which anyone can participate. This is important because it gives you the opportunity to try your hand at esports. If you realize that this is your calling, nothing is impossible. Esports is not an unattainable goal, but a real opportunity to strive for.

It is important for a beginner, working alone or in a team, to determine their skill level. There are several signs that can help you assess the adequacy of your skills. First, pay attention to your problem-solving ability. If you can find solutions and overcome problems on your own, that's a good sign. Second, pay attention to feedback from colleagues and mentors. Their assessments and advice can be helpful in understanding your strengths and weaknesses. Third, comparing your knowledge with market demands will also help you understand whether you're ready for further development. Finally, regularly participating in projects and a commitment to learning will build confidence in your skills.

A common mistake among newcomers to Apex Legends is focusing too much on their kill/death/assist ratio (K/D/A). In this game, this metric doesn't really matter. Professional players often make risky decisions by jumping right into the fray. They can either achieve an impressive 20 kills and win, or they can die quickly. It's important to understand that success in Apex Legends isn't always determined by K/D/A stats, but rather by strategy and teamwork.

Many players wonder, "Where can I find a third player for my team?" In fact, there are no dedicated platforms for finding players. If you're playing public matches and notice a player stands out for their skill, it's worth adding them as a friend and connecting. They might just become your new teammate. Connecting with other players can significantly improve your gaming experience and help you build a strong team.

You can test your skill level by participating in small tournaments. We host GLL tournaments every week with prize pools ranging from $500 to $1,000. Participants have the opportunity to qualify, reach the finals, and showcase their skills. Over time, you'll notice that you can compete with more experienced players. This is a great opportunity for growth and self-improvement.

You don't need to be high in the player rankings to start your esports career. Many successful esports athletes started at a low level and gradually gained experience and skills. The key is a desire to learn, regular practice, and participation in competitions. Beginners should focus on developing their skills, understanding game mechanics, and teamwork. Over time, with persistence and perseverance, you can achieve significant success in this field. Esports isn't just about high rankings; it's also about the opportunity to prove yourself by participating in tournaments and developing your skills.

In Apex Legends, rankings aren't a reliable indicator of a player's skill. Our discipline emphasizes that rankings don't reflect true skill. Rankings are often based on time spent playing and the amount of grinding, not skill. This emphasizes the importance of quality gameplay and strategic thinking, which truly determine a player's success.

In the CIS region, many players, including professionals, have yet to reach the "Master" rank, which is an indicator of their skill level. The "Predator" rank represents the 800 players who occupy the highest positions in our split system. Many of them remain around the 10,000 rating mark, including myself.

If you're a player who reaches the "Master" rank on your own, you might want to consider switching to esports. You likely have outstanding gaming skills and a strategic mindset, making you a candidate for success in this field.

The optimal time to devote to training depends Your goals and fitness level will dictate your workout routine. It's recommended to train at least three times a week to maintain and improve your fitness. Beginners should aim for 30-45 minutes a day, while more experienced athletes can increase the duration to 60-90 minutes. Recovery time is also important to avoid overtraining and injury. Properly balancing training and rest promotes better results and maintains good health. Improvement is a never-ending process. Every day offers opportunities for growth and development, but it's important to approach this wisely. Remember moderation—spending long periods of time playing can be dangerous. Regular walks in the fresh air and exercise are key to maintaining good health. It's easy to get lost in the gaming world: I've spent 16-18 hours playing and not leaving the house for weeks at a time. This lifestyle can have serious consequences, including exhaustion, which can require lengthy rehabilitation. Take care of your health and find a balance between your hobbies and physical activity.

In recent years, many educational institutions, including schools and institutes, have begun to open incubators for the training and development of eSports athletes. This phenomenon demonstrates the growing interest in esports as a significant field. Incubators provide young talent with the opportunity to gain the necessary skills, improve their gaming abilities, and learn to work in a team. Thus, they contribute to the development of professional esports athletes and the development of the industry as a whole. Support from educational institutions plays a significant role in popularizing esports and its recognition as a full-fledged discipline.

Esports incubators play a vital role in training aspiring players, helping them develop key skills and develop the right mindset. They provide valuable knowledge and experience necessary for success in this competitive environment. Thanks to such initiatives, esports athletes can more quickly adapt to industry demands and improve their gaming performance.

Esports is often underestimated as a separate discipline, although it is essentially the same type of sport as traditional ones. You can't simply take someone, give them a computer mouse, and expect them to become a successful player, as in football. To achieve high results, esports athletes must follow a systematic approach, developing their skills and gaining experience. This involves making lots of mistakes, constantly training, and practicing, similar to how a football player perfects passing and dribbling. However, not everyone is cut out for becoming a successful esports athlete, just as not everyone can become a star on the football pitch.

I began my journey in esports when I became interested in video games as a teenager. At first, I played for fun, but soon realized I had the talent and desire to develop in this field. Before becoming part of the esports scene, I actively participated in local tournaments and practiced with friends. This gave me the opportunity to improve my skills and meet other players. Gradually, I began competing in more serious competitions, which led me to professional esports.

I have a secondary vocational education. At a certain point, I decided to continue my education and get a higher education. However, after the release of Apex, I decided to leave the institute and did not complete my studies. Such sacrifices are often made by many athletes striving for success in their careers.

Esports is, above all, about sacrifice. It's not just about the benefits and achievements. Esports athletes often sacrifice a lot. In talking with representatives of various disciplines, I noticed that many of them experience difficulties with social adaptation. These people, immersed in the world of games, spend most of their time in their virtual worlds, which limits their interaction with others. As a result, they miss out on opportunities to communicate with friends, make fewer new acquaintances, and experience difficulties in relationships, including communication with women. Esports requires significant effort and dedication, but often comes at a cost to their personal life and social connections.

As an esports athlete, do you strive to compensate for the lack of social interaction you previously felt?

I began spending more time with my family. I especially began to communicate more often with my mother; we walk together every day, which I never did before. My advice: value your parents, communicate with them, and make time for them—this is crucial for maintaining strong family relationships and emotional well-being.

I have friends outside of esports. These people understand that I might meet them and then not see them for a year. They don't mind, although some might still be upset, but they continue to keep in touch. I'm truly grateful to them for this. However, I haven't fully adapted socially: I still have difficulty communicating, and sometimes I find it very difficult to be in public.

Thank you for your candor. There is a common belief that eSports is intended exclusively for young people, especially people between the ages of 17 and 25. However, in reality, there are many professional players in esports over 30 years old. This confirms that esports is accessible to people of all ages and that experience, strategic thinking, and skill can be just as important as reaction time and physical fitness. It's important to remember that esports isn't just about competition; it's also about a community that brings together people with common interests, regardless of age. Entering the world of esports and computer gaming requires significant effort, especially if you're starting at 25 and have no experience. The barrier to entry can be high for beginners. If you've never held a mouse, it's worth understanding that becoming a professional will require at least 10 years of trial and error. However, with persistence and determination, you can reach a professional level. Games require time to master mechanics and strategies, so it's important to be prepared to invest in training and skill development. esports is a relatively new phenomenon in the world of entertainment and sports. Its popularity has grown in just the past few years, which explains the lack of older esports athletes. This is due to the fact that the industry has not yet had time to develop a generation of players who have reached maturity in this activity. Due to the rapid development of esports, it is expected that more experienced and older participants will emerge in the future, which will only enrich this dynamically developing field.

Esports is closely linked to streaming, which opens up numerous opportunities for players. Many professional esports athletes leave the competitive arena and move into roles as hosts, commentators, or analysts. They also begin to develop their streaming careers while continuing to play video games, but no longer at a professional level. This creates new opportunities for monetization and audience engagement, and allows them to share their experience and knowledge with fans. Esports and streaming are interconnected, which contributes to the development of both areas and increases interest in video games.

In my opinion, age restrictions in sports do not exist and should not be introduced. In practice, I have never encountered a case where athletes were denied participation in a tournament because of their age. I have seen athletes as young as 35 and even 37 successfully compete. This demonstrates that age is not a criterion for participation in sporting events, and many athletes continue to demonstrate high results well into their later years.

Thank you for the conversation, Artem. Our conversation was very personal and profound.

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