The Question of Age in Esports: How Old is Too Old?
The gaming community has been embroiled in a heated debate for years over how old is too old to be a professional esports player.
In a recent interview with Korean online platform Naver, former League of Legends world champion Rookie shared his thoughts on the topic of age in esports.
According to Rookie, esports is a sport that relies on hand-eye coordination and mental agility rather than physical prowess. However, he believes that as players age, their hand dexterity tends to decline while the mental side can still be honed. As a 23-year-old mid laner himself, Rookie claims to have experienced this firsthand.
In the professional League scene, there are a few players in their late 20s, such as Xmithie (29) in the LCS or Sandbox’s Joker (28) in the LCK. However, most professionals are in their early 20s, a period when their reaction times are significantly faster compared to older players.
Rookie also pointed out that throughout the history of esports, many pro gamers retire because their skills diminish as they age. While exceptions exist, he believes that this decline is typical and expected in esports. Nevertheless, he is determined to overcome this “aging curve” through hard work and dedication.
One reason why there aren’t many older League pros may be attributed to the grueling daily routines they follow, which involve extensive hours of playing solo queue games, scrim blocks, and practice. The physical toll on their bodies, if not handled properly, can result in injuries to their wrists and backs. Consequently, the long-term health of players should be a top priority for esports organizations.
This year, legendary Chinese ADC Uzi retired due to health issues. In an interview with Nike, Uzi disclosed that a doctor had previously informed him that his arms resembled those of a 40 to 50-year-old.
While there are concerns about aging in esports, Rookie doesn’t seem to have any immediate plans to retire from professional League.
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