Gamer Gabriel Parra was ecstatic to see himself hailed as the “Venezuelan star” after scoring the fastest time in an international Formula 1 eSports racing competition in May.
By Reuters – Deisy Buitrago
Sep 01, 2022
“The truth is that when I saw the result… it was something magical, surprising, a dream I always had as a child that came true,” said 23-year-old Parra, who lives in central-Venezuela’s Aragua state, and started playing video games at the age of four.
He is one of some 3,000 young Venezuelans competing in the multi-million dollar “eSports” industry, a lucrative business with international signings, prizes and millions of viewers which has started to boom in the Andean nation, despite economic chaos, poor internet connection, power failures and local restrictions on war games.
The dream of earning a living as a professional gamer is particularly resonant for many young people in Venezuela given the sparse opportunities otherwise available in a country with a minimum monthly salary equivalent to about $22 a month.
Venezuela has long suffered hyperinflation under the presidency of socialist Nicolás Maduro. Although it has somewhat slowed this year, its annualized inflation rate of 167% in May remains among the world’s highest.
Professional gamers who aspire to become international superstars train an average of 40 hours a week. It’s a dream job for many teenagers, offering such advantages of recurring income, the ability to work from home and combining hobby with career.
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Read More: Reuters – Young Venezuelans aspire to gaming stardom despite obstacles
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