The true competitor...

Alasdair Donaldson (in Protea colours) demolishing his Namibian counterpart (in blue and red).

It really doesn't matter whether you are deemed to be an amateur or a professional, it is the mind set of the person that defines him/her as a true competitor.

Sure, professionals do have an advantage over amateurs in that they receive a salary and are able to do the sport as their first calling, whereas amateurs have to juggle with time to fit gaming into their work, family life, and other obligations.

Robert 'PandaTank' Botha was a true professional. With his monthly sponsorship from CoolerMaster, Robert was able to dedicate  his working day to gaming. For Robert it was a profession and he stuck to his strict routine of gym, practice, and analyzing the game.

Yet every so often, an amateur pops up who shows that he is made of the stuff.

Such is the likes of Alasdair Donaldson, who not only made it into MSSA's BOO! Protea Esports Team that wet off to play in IESF's 9th World Championships - Busan, got through the group stages, but is also committed to help train the next generation of SA's Tekken gamers.

While at such IESF's 9th World Championships - Busan, Alasdair watched an learned. He too made a point of playing as many 'friendlies' as possible against the other competitors. Alasdair made it quite clear that he was there to perform - everything else was irrelevant.

Participation at top international events are not seen as an end result, but instead are seen as just the beginning. Thus having participated in IESF's 9th World Championships - Busan, Alasdair seems to be even more enthused to play in championships in order to further  improve upon his already awesome standard.

For amateurs like Alasdair, participation in the sport seems to be a calling.

Sacrifices are made for the sport, but there are also huge rewards.

A loss is a loss.

Gamers in action at IeSF's 7th World Championships - Seoul.

In the harsh competitive world of gaming, it does not matter by how much you lose, if you lose, you lose.

It really does not matter by how big or small the  margin of the loss, it remains a loss, and such loss will stop the team from progressing in the tournament.

When reviewing the results of any team sport, it does not matter how many goals are scored. Although  the goals scored may count for other purposes, what really matters is how many games are won, drawn and lost.

Thus teams, involved in competitive play, must focus themselves on winning competition games, and even if they are amateur teams, behave in training and in competition as if they were professional teams.

When playing abroad, as either a club team or the national Protea team, the  gamers must understand that it is an honour to do so, and that they will be judged by all the other teams on their standard of play, behaviour, and bearing.

Bad sportsmanship at international level cannot be tolerated.

Needless to say MSSA's South African National teams are highly thought of by all of their peers due to their impeccable manners and sportsmanship.

It's all about the money!

I am always amazed at this time of the year with all the gamers claiming to be 'professionals'.

For the vast majority of gamers nothing could be further from the truth.

However, this year a youngster bragged to me that 'gaming owes him a living'!

Really! How?

Nobody is owed anything in this world unless there a clear indication/contract by the other party that there some form of payment to be made in lieu of services rendered.

The act of a person who willingly becomes involved in a sport does not create that contract, unless such person is employed to play for his/her employer.

If there isn't a contract stipulating employment, then that gamer is just an amateur.

That is if the gamer is playing for a non profit organisation.

I am of the opinion that due to the definition of the word 'remuneration' in the Basic conditions of Employment Act, that gamers who are playing for companies are being paid remuneration when they earn prizes of any form. This has serious implications for the company and the gamer alike.

Obviously the company will have to comply fully with the Basic Conditions of Employment Act.

For the gamer though, it means that he/she will have to enter into a contract in which his/her conditions of employment are stipulated.

Thus it stands to reason that only the gamers that play for companies of a profit making venture (like bvd, ventus, and the like) are proper professional gamers and possibly entitled to all the benefits that the Act allows.

Gamers who do not receive remuneration for the gaming, however, are not professionals and whether or not they earn prize money, are amateurs.

However, may be wrong, and if I am, I would like to know why.