Scout revealed that his love for gaming started at a young age. He used to play games like Contra and Mario as a child
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On a recent episode of Raj Shamani’s highly-acclaimed podcast, Figuring Out, Indian gaming legends Animesh “Thug” Agarwal and Tanmay “Scout” Singh took center stage to share their awe-inspiring stories. In a candid conversation, Scout delved into his humble beginnings in the world of esports, where his unwavering passion for gaming fueled his rise as a professional esports athlete. From his early days of Contra and Mario as a child to daringly traveling to Mumbai without a ticket just to play PUBG, Scout’s journey is a testament to his determination and unwavering commitment to his craft. His story is a true inspiration to aspiring gamers everywhere. Scout’s Inspiring Journey to Becoming a Pro Gamer in India.
Scout revealed that his love for gaming started at a young age. He used to play games like Contra and Mario as a child, and it quickly became his escape from everything else. He also shared that he was passionate about football and even joined a football academy in Punjab to pursue it professionally. However, gaming remained his true passion, and he used to ask his mother for ₹20 INR to go to a cafe and play games. His mother would often incentivize him by telling him to complete his homework first, after which she would take him to the cafe.
Scout admitted that he never thought of gaming as a career option and was unaware of the potential of esports as a competitive field. Nevertheless, he continued to play games regularly, including Counter-Strike. When he returned to Gujarat for college, he and his friends used to finish their tuition and head to cafes to play games during their 11th and 12th grades. It was during this time that he learned about esports and started watching videos of international players to learn from them.
Read More: The Role of Luck in Esports: Insights from Scout and Thug
Scout’s passion for gaming led him to travel to Mumbai every weekend from his hometown of Daman to play PUBG and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO), even though he did not have a PC and the cafe near his house only supported CS1.6. He shared that he used to tell the owner of the cafe that he would stay overnight and the owner trusted him, allowing him to play for two days before returning home on Sundays. Scout also revealed that he injured his hamstring during a football event in Kolkata, which resulted in four to five months of bed rest. During this time, he searched for ways to access PUBG PC on mobile but could only play other mobile battle royale games.
Scout’s luck turned around when PUBG Mobile was announced. He started playing the game and quickly climbed the leaderboard, becoming the first Indian player to reach the top 100. Despite playing on a Moto G4 Plus with a cracked screen and not having a sponsor device for the tournaments, he caught the attention of players from other countries like Indonesia and Thailand. They informed him about competitive PUBG Mobile tournaments in their countries, and Scout expressed his desire to participate and learn from them. Luckily, by the end of the same year, a tournament was hosted in India, and Scout played in it. He shared that he played on a Samsung Note, which was offered to him as a prize, as he did not have the money to buy a device or ask his parents for one.
Scout’s dedication and skill did not go unnoticed, and he was eventually offered a salary of ₹5000 and an iPhone by Team IND, which he had to return if he left the organization. This marked the beginning of his professional esports career, and he continued to work hard and excel in PUBG Mobile competitions. Scout’s journey from being a passionate gamer with humble beginnings to a successful esports athlete is a testament to his perseverance and talent.
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