I look up to E-Sports gamers. They're talented!
I listened to a podcast from one near the top a few years back... fraga comes to mind, sorry if wrong.
Incredible amount of time, focus that goes into it. He alluded to how he got into gt as a kid, all about fun. How things changed over time, as became competitive online. Talked about depression, constantly trying to shace off milli seconds. For hours everyday.
didn't sound like fun at all to me tbh... far removed from when/why he used to play it.
I know it's 'just a game' but I don't think any of the drivers at those levels are there by accident. Casually playing for a few hours a week. No doubt certain genetics at play to reach elite level of anything, but sounds like proper commitment. Constabt focus, dedication and not just in an unwind for 30 mins when rest of house have gone to sleep.
Defo need something about you to compete at these kind of levels, imo.
As you say, fair play.
I'm sure we'd all love to earn a living from video games. But it doesn't happen by accident imo, and I'm not sure everyone knows dedication it takes to compete at the top. Seems almost like another full time job. I suspect most work full time, as I don't think gt even pays remotely well at all iirc.. more around slight possibility of earning contract racing irl.
As I say, i don't think it's a case of picking up a ps pad a few times a week, whilst laid on sofa and suddenly you're in the finals.
When you think about amount of people that play the game across the globe. It's pretty much elite sportsman level of odds of making it.
The barrier to entry is extremely low after all. All you need is a ps5 gt7 and an Internet connection. Good luck!