Discipline, time management and passion are characteristics of e-sports professionals, say industry players.
For the first time, Blizzard Entertainment brought Overwatch World Cup, an e-sports competition, to Bangkok. It ends on Sunday at Siam Paragon.
While some experts have warned that e-sports could lead children to become addicted to online games, harming their health, Pongphop Rattanasangchod brushes this accusation aside, saying the platform is an opportunity for parents to teach their children about time management.
Mr Pongphop, 25, is the only Thai e-sports gamer on Dallas Fuel, a team representing the Texas city in the Overwatch League, the premier professional e-sports league organised by game developer and publisher Blizzard.
He acknowledged learning a lot from joining the team, including discipline, emotional control and the use of meta-gaming (the most effective tactic available).
Mr Pongphop said unity and good teamwork should enable his team to win the competition.
He is among seven Thai players rostered on teams for the Overwatch World Cup 2018.
Though he did not come from a wealthy family, his mother allowed him to play if he managed his time effectively for studying and practising video games.
Children need to explore what interests them, Mr Pongphop said.
He initially played basketball when he was younger, but he decided he was no good at it and started video games at age 14.
"In any career, be it musician or athlete, very few people can climb to the top spot," he said. "To be the best, it requires determination, practice and dedication."
Many gamers have noted the popularity of e-sports and urged Thailand to embrace the business opportunity. Global e-sports professionals can earn several millions of baht.
Dolpraphob Tiendam, founder of Dreamcasters, an e-sports organiser in Thailand, said gamecasting is still a niche career here, but some can earn up to 40,000 baht a month.
Gamecasting allows for the broadcast of e-sports, filming both the players while they compete and the on-screen action.