CHENNAI: I was about to give up, but Team Elunes provided me with a new identity. Gradually, I developed a keen interest and there was no turning back. Currently, I’m a professional gamer,” says Jeet Rajesh Kundra (21) and one of the youngest gamers in India.
His journey towards gaming was not easy. He started off as a casual gamer in cyber cafes. Born and raised in a typical middle class family in Mumbai, he had to juggle academics, parental pressure and gaming. During the initial stages, every morning began with his parents reminding him that he was wasting his time sitting up late nights for games which would not give him a secure future. He adds, “It was very difficult to convince my parents. I dropped out after class 12. Only after playing the Rage Quit Cup in New Delhi, fortune favoured me.”
He says, “During my early teens, I used to play games like Mario and Contra at cyber cafes which charged `50 per hour. Then I started playing DOTA 1. I did not know that gaming would become my career until I played DOTA 2. Now when I look back, it feels like a dream.” With complete focus, he is now part of India’s best team — Entity Esports. When he discovered that his interests lay in gaming, he started investing more time in it. He maintained separate schedules for gaming.
Jeet, who is otherwise known as ‘Swifty’ in the virtual world, has mastered DOTA 2. Gaming is no child’s play. He, along with his team, has won several tournaments including ESL India Premiership Summer 2017
He has all the equipments including high-end gaming keyboard and mouse at the boot camp. He often visits Bengaluru where the team gets together for practice. The funds for these equipment come from his earnings through gaming. He practices for 10 hours every day. “Gaming is an art. It involves coordination and quick thinking. Presence of mind to any kind of situation is essential,” he says. His ‘stress buster’ games are CS:GO and Temple Run.
Jeet suggests that beginners should have a calm and composed mind before playing any game. “The games give pressure, mentally and physically, especially DOTA 2. It includes eight hours of non-stop desktop usage. It is necessary to stay focused when you are a beginner,” says Jeet.
Talking about the gaming scene in India, he adds that it is still considered as a pass time amongst many. Although, the gaming industry has progressed a lot in the past two years, there is still room for development.
Swifty is planning to take part in tournaments like ESL India Premiership winter season.