Why my dream of becoming a pro gamer ended in utter failure

It's the lot of every sports fan to sit on the sofa watching their stars play and think "I could do that, if I tried" safe in the knowledge that no one is ever going to call them on that claim. In fact, the temptation to cast yourself as an undiscovered star is all the greater, given the general absence of any physical feats of strength or agility. Professional video gaming differs from traditional sports in other ways too. One of the more interesting ones is a very real flow from casual to professional. No matter how good you are during your Sunday kickabouts in the park or your weekly squash matches, winning them won't see you steadily rise up the ranks, eventually taking on the best in the world for prestige and glory. In late November, I decided I would try. How hard can it be to become a professional gamer, really?