Kim Hammar, 20, changed the everyday life in Lerum to autograph sessions in Beijing.
He makes a living out of playing the compter game Warcraft.
It started as a recreational activitiy five years ago. Kim Hammar sat at home in Lerum and played the computer game Warcraft 3. Originally just for fun, but later also because it gave him cash.
- I won thousand crowns in a tournament and after that it got more serious, he says.
Now he lives in an apartment in Beijing and makes a living of playing tournaments around the world.
- I had been to Beijing before and it's never dull here, things happen all the time.
The salary is paid by sponsors. The exact sum is secret.
- It is not a monster sum for me, surely just like anyone else who graduated and started working. But the best in this game can make millions, he says.
In China the game is often played in an arena and is followed by hundreds, sometimes thousands of fans on site.
- It is really crazy here in China compared to other nations. The fans are very friendly. Even if they want Chinese players to win they also cheer for we others.
Kim Hammar does not have a long-term plan for the future.
- I stay here for as long as it's fun and I'm able to live off it.
He makes a living out of playing the compter game Warcraft.
It started as a recreational activitiy five years ago. Kim Hammar sat at home in Lerum and played the computer game Warcraft 3. Originally just for fun, but later also because it gave him cash.
- I won thousand crowns in a tournament and after that it got more serious, he says.
Now he lives in an apartment in Beijing and makes a living of playing tournaments around the world.
- I had been to Beijing before and it's never dull here, things happen all the time.
The salary is paid by sponsors. The exact sum is secret.
- It is not a monster sum for me, surely just like anyone else who graduated and started working. But the best in this game can make millions, he says.
In China the game is often played in an arena and is followed by hundreds, sometimes thousands of fans on site.
- It is really crazy here in China compared to other nations. The fans are very friendly. Even if they want Chinese players to win they also cheer for we others.
Kim Hammar does not have a long-term plan for the future.
- I stay here for as long as it's fun and I'm able to live off it.
- Janna Roosch
The Swedish press seems to have gone mad over Esports. Interviews and insights from players from CGS, and now the Swedish Night Elf player Kim "SaSe" Hammar was featured in the Swedish magazine Punkt.se.
Esport has received tons of publicity in traditional press the recent weeks. It has mostly been about the Championship Gaming Series, but now the Swedish WarCraft player Kim "SaSe" Hammar has been placed in the spotlight.
SaSe in a photoshoot for the Warcraft 3 World War
The article brings up what it is like to live as a pro-gamer in China, which includes topics as his salary and the events in China.
Read the full article, translated into English, on the right. Or check out the original article scanned in below.
Much thanks to Vanilla for scanning the article.
Links
Gamingeye.com - Source
Gamingeye.com - Scanned in paper article
