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Show ARTS & CULTURE ON CAMPUS 11 Dylan Myatt, a Westminster marketing major, plays a game of League of Legends in his dorm room on campus in Stock Hall. The 0.25 percent of players globally and said he practices often to ensure his knowledge is as current as possible for the players he coaches. is 20-year-o- ld ranked within the top Student plays video games to pay tuition ALEX BOISSONNAS STAFF REPORTER ! r' j ' Every week, Westminster College marketing major Dylan Myatt spends about 20 hours playing Myatt said he started taking League of Legends more seriously and joined an amateur team to play in a tournament that gave him a shot at a professional career Myatt plays League of Legends, a muld-playonline video game where two teams of five players We got fourth in the tournament and they were taking the top two teams, "Myatt said. So we lost our sponsorship, lost everything and die team broke up. At that time I realized I was maybe de- battle each other in real time. According to League of Graphs, a database website dedicated to the cent enough to start making money. Myatt said he began entering in small, video games to help pay his tuitiqa er game, Myatt is ranked within the top OJ25 percent of players globally. Myatt said he initially started played casually, not realizing his skill at the game could translate into anything other than enjoyment I was playing with my friends when you could make five versus five teams for fun, Myatt said. We made it to a pretty high rank, and I realized I . was getting pretty good at the game. Over 100 million people play the game each month, according to Riot Games, the company that makes League of Legends. The company also sponsors a sanctioned professional league where top players compete full time, much like traditional sports. aT J winner-take-- all times per month. These tournaments cost $20 to enter; but the winners could walkaway with anywhere from $300 to tournaments about six the size of the tournament I probably won like halfof them on average, so , League ofLegends. I know a lot of pros that quit because they said Though he hasnt stopped playing tournaments altogether, Myatt said he enjoys his role as a teacher the game stopped being fun, Myatt said. And I enjoy the game a lot, but it makes me think if I much more than he did as a competitor wasnt making money from it how it would be different Myatt said these concerns have shifted how he makes money from the game. Within the past few months, he said he has played in fewer tournaments and started coaching other players instead. Lately I realized that people will pay me land of outrageous money to teach them how to play Myatt said. So I have about 10 regulars that I help $600, depending on coach. like three per For Myatt, coaching has been a more reliable source of income. Instead of relying on winning, he month,Myatt said. Though he was making money from playing, he said the pressure ofwinning took its toll There were times Id win five out of six tournaments in a month and it was amazing, Myatt said. And then sometimes I would win only one out of six and it would be realty stressful I had to plan ahead and save money. Myatt said the strain of playing for money is a common reason talented players quit playing earns a consistent hourly rate. He said he ly charges $40 for a session two-ho- ur typical- of coaching, There are downsides to dedicating significant amounts of his free time to competitive gaming, He also works at a job and is triple majoring in marketing, economics and business management You could almost consider it like a job, Myatt saicLTfl cant dedicate enough time to it during the day then 111 work into die night and it will impact Myatt said. part-tim- e my sleep. According to Myatt, video games are tricky to balance with the rest of his life. Unlike a sport, he can play League of Legends just by turning on his computer Playing video games involves less physical activity than sports do, meaning Myatt can spend large amounts of time practicing, which he during which he works with players over voice communications. said enables unhealthy patterns. Despite the downsides, Myatt said Til watch their ranked games or if they have hes been able to turn his play into work recordings Ill look at the videos with them and tell them what to improve on,Myatt saicLTll play custom games with them and show them my mouse clicks and show them what they need to work oa hes happy If youre good at something and you can - of Salt Lake City X- - X v We are here to help! its about you & your future! Y L Ml SetwictA, aJvL Jhw ajJL CohfjUitp&ial! - free pregnancy tests free limited ultrasound free peer counseling sexual education support material resources community referrals: medical - housing - legal adoption assistance complete information on options post-aborti- on get it and have a good time doing it; then do it,Myatt said. Its stressful at times, but in the end I think its worth it paid for |