The Esports scene has exploded in popularity in recent years, with major tournaments like the MSC (Mobile Legends Southeast Asia Cup) and MPL attracting millions of viewers across Southeast Asia, and now the world. However, the intense schedule of competitions can take a toll on even the most dedicated professional players.
The Importance of Rest for Professional Esports Athletes
Ohmyv33nus, captain of the renowned Filipino team Blacklist International, recently opened up about her struggles with burnout in an episode of The Trio podcast. She explained that her team had hoped to sit out this year’s MSC tournament in order to rest and recuperate after a grueling past season where they competed in over a dozen matches and events.
Unfortunately, changes to the MSC league rules prevented them from re-rostering for MSC while remaining eligible for the upcoming MPL-PH Season 12. This meant Blacklist had no choice but to compete in the major regional MSC tournament in Singapore, forcing them to sacrifice their planned off-season recovery period.
Now they find themselves exhausted both mentally and physically leading into MPL-PH Season 12, which starts in just a few weeks. Despite winning the championship last season, the nonstop schedule has drained their motivation and energy levels.
Ohmyv33nus’ story highlights the need for proper rest, even amongst the most driven competitors. The grind of constant matches, sponsor events, media obligations, and fan meetups can be draining. Without adequate downtime, pros risk deteriorating mechanics, focus and motivation.
Burnout essentially ensures a subpar performance.
Esports athletes are still human. Like traditional sports stars, they need to recharge and refresh. The mind is a muscle that requires calibration through relaxation. Time off allows players to decompress, analyze their gameplay, and approach the game with renewed vigor.
Tournament organizers should take note and build in more player-friendly scheduling. There will always be pressure to maximize viewership and pack events tightly together. However, if top players are not operating at their peak, the competition suffers as a whole.
Thankfully, Vee stated she has no plans to retire just yet. So fans can likely look forward to seeing her and the legendary Blacklist MV3 squad of Wise, Edward, and Oheb back in action for MPL-PH Season 13. Here’s hoping they are granted the recovery period they sorely need before then.
The Esports community must acknowledge that its elite professionals cannot sustain maximum effort indefinitely without breaks. Even the greats require downtime to regenerate and refocus. Those who disregard self-care do so at their own peril.
At the end of the day, these pros are human too.
Their passion and dedication to Mobile Legends cannot come at the expense of their health and well-being. Mandatory off-seasons and reasonable schedules will only serve to enhance the quality of play. This will allow stars like Vee to thrive for years to come.
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