Interview with Pro Player Admiral

 


I had the privilege of sitting down with Admiral, a varsity esports player with a background in professional gaming. From competing at the highest level in professional Overwatch—where he famously helped eliminate an all-star Korean team—to now balancing varsity esports and academics, Admiral has experienced the best of both worlds.

In this interview, we discuss Admiral's beginnings, his fondest memories, and his transition from starting as an amateur to now, where he is a varsity player.

Q1: When did you start playing video games, and which game did you start playing?

I started playing video games when I was around 6 or 7 years old. The earliest game that I can remember playing was Call of Duty: World at War.

Q2 Was your name always Admiral when you started playing games? What is the story behind your name or previous names?

No, my name used to be “Private Raptor.”. It was military-themed since I was part of a Call of Duty clan. I changed the name to AdmiralRaptr in 2016 and into “Admiral” in 2021 to make it easier for the casters to say my name.

Q3. When was the first time you made that leap from being an amateur to a pro player? What was that transition like for you?

I would say it was when I qualified for a big regional tournament in 2020. At that point I started taking it more seriously, since I was starting to play against the best of the best in Europe. In order to keep up with the competition, I had to put in more hours.

Q4. How did your family and friends react to you being a professional player?

Family members were fine with it as long as I kept my grades in check. To my friends, it always seemed interesting—they would frequently ask questions about my upcoming matches.

Q5. What is your most memorable moment of your esports career? Was it travel-related, or was it a notable win?
Probably getting a massive upset win to eliminate an all-star Korean team, “Atlanta Reign,” from the biggest tournament of 2023 (Overwatch League 2023 Playoffs) in front of a giant crowd in Toronto.

Q6. Has gaming allowed you to travel? And if so, quickly name your top 3 travel spots.

Yes, there are tournaments hosted all around the world. My favorite spots would be Hawaii, Stockholm, and Dallas.

Q7. I see you have now entered the world of Varsity esports. Has being in this environment enabled you to continue your career and also pursue the world of education?
Yes, but it is very hectic—I’m trying to balance playing on 2 different teams at the same time, on top of taking 15+ credits every semester.

Q8. What advice do you have for aspiring pros?

Find something that you can become exceptional at. This doesn’t only have to apply to esports either.
I would recommend treating gaming as a hobby until you believe that you could truly make the leap and go pro.


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