Having had the misfortune of playing against some of these uber-gamers out there, I can say that it takes a LOT of skill and the same type of practice, talent, and dedication to play these things as any other sport out there. Is it the same as “real sports?” I can’t really say, because in these things you’re constrained by different things and not necessarily human endurance or physical ability. Reaction time, coordination, and strategy are common elements to professional athletics, however, and these kids have that in droves.

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