On March 18, 2026, the lecture halls of the Bank University of Ho Chi Minh City were the scene of an exceptional scene. More than 350 people, mostly young men under 22, dressed in formal attire, took the stage to receive their awards. Far from the usual image where they sit in front of their computer screens or eyes glued to their phones, today they receive certificates bearing the red seal of the Vietnam E-Sports and Entertainment Association (VIRESA): “Master E-Sport Athlete” “.
That’s when hundreds of players – who started with just a smartphone and a burning passion – were officially recognized by the state as professional athletes.
The 2026 Hall of Fame event, with 106 champions awarded and 13 people receiving congratulations from the Prime Minister, is the clearest proof that the stereotype of “video game addiction” now belongs to the passed, leaving room for a profession synonymous with glory and considerable income.
The profession of player is now officially recognized by the State.
The emergence of video games also created, in its early days, a difficult profession full of prejudice. A few decades ago, young people passionate about keyboards and mice were often described as “useless”, “spoiled” or obsessed with games to the detriment of their future.
But in 2023, VIRESA organized an official ranking ceremony for Vietnamese e-sports athletes. For the first time, players received state titles, in accordance with the national sports system: level 1 athlete, Master athlete, national coach – titles previously reserved for athletes in traditional sports.
Vietnamese e-sport is now in the spotlight, and the profession of professional player is officially recognized.
The scale of the 2026 awards ceremony – officially called the Hall of Fame – marked a significant leap forward from previous years: 106 esports champions received titles, 98 athlete certificates and of national coaches were presented and 13 people received congratulations from the Prime Minister.
On this festive occasion, PUBG Mobile made an impression with 36 representatives reaching the top. The strongest emotions came not only from players who had already participated in the Southeast Asian Games or international competitions, but also from promising young talents from the community. Their journey through three intense seasons of PMNC 2025 is a true source of inspiration: glory is not acquired without effort; it is forged through each battle, each week of fierce competition, and today, all these efforts are recognized by the State and recorded in history.
Behind the title of champion hides a job made of sweat and tears.
After decades of relentless development, when we think of an e-sports player, we immediately imagine monthly revenues of hundreds of millions of Vietnamese dong, free accommodation and meals in luxurious gaming houses, thousands of cheering fans, numerous titles and perhaps even the prestigious medal of the Southeast Asian Games… These are the most visible “great rewards”. But a brutal VIRESA statistic is rarely mentioned: less than 1% of players manage to make a living from the professional e-sports system.
To be part of this 1%, these young men in their twenties must submit to iron discipline. Their days extend from early morning until midnight. Training, practice fights, analysis of matches and opponents take them between 10 and 12 hours. No vacations, no weekend outings like other young people; their world is reduced to a survival map.
Then, their health insidiously deteriorated. The blue light from screens has damaged their vision. Carpal tunnel syndrome and cervical spondylosis have become disabling occupational diseases.
No one can forget the story of Uzi, a Chinese e-sport legend, who was forced to retire at 23, his hands being so worn out that they appeared to be twice his age. Added to this were the sleepless nights, the pressure of results and the scrutiny of thousands of spectators at the slightest error. Behind his spectacular exploits were painful hands and a tough mind, forced to remain tense so as not to collapse in the face of criticism.
The generation born at the same time as PUBG Mobile and its springboard to reach continental heights.
The champions in the spotlight today are those born between 2003 and 2005, a generation who grew up with the game PUBG Mobile. They are now entering their twenties and twenties, a period that experts consider the peak of their performance, where their reflexes and experience reach their optimal level.
Young talents, forged in fierce national tournaments like the PMNC and PMPL, have emerged. The brilliant LeVis (Phan Van Dong) won the gold medal at the 31st Southeast Asian Games at just 19 years old, while D’Xavier set a record by winning the PMSL Southeast Asian Championship twice in the same year (2025). These successes are not the result of chance; they were favored by an increasingly professionalized tournament system.
In April 2026, the PMPL VN Spring tournament will make its return, offering a valuable entry point for the selection of the national team at the 20th Asian Games (ASIAD 20). PUBG Mobile is one of 11 medal-winning disciplines in the ASIAD e-sports competition in Japan. For the first time, PUBG Mobile Vietnam has a comprehensive and robust roadmap, from the community to the mainland scene, allowing players to fully engage in the sport.
VIRESA also stated in its official announcement: “The National E-Sports Championship system, scheduled to be implemented in 2025, constitutes the basis for promoting the development of the e-sport community in general and PUBG Mobile enthusiasts in particular in Vietnam, in order to discover new generations of players as talented and passionate as previous generations. HAS”
25 is not an age limit to become a professional player.
The career of a professional player is short, often ending around age 25 with the decline of reflexes. But this is not the end. This milestone reached is now only a gateway to new perspectives within a rapidly expanding ecosystem.
They can leave the stage to become coaches, analysts or commentators, like the former player Kuook. It is thanks to the effort and perseverance he put into the field years ago that Kuook can offer the public such an insightful and professional perspective on the game.
Do Van Quoc (Kuook), former PUBG Mobile player and commentator, said: “Having been a professional player is a huge asset for me as a commentator, because I understand the maps, the dominant meta and the psychology of the players during each game. This is arguably what allows me to convey matches to the audience with more emotional depth, sometimes providing an objective perspective, and other times making me feel like I’m immersed in each combat situation.”
Thanks to the support of higher education and the national strategy for the development of cultural industries by 2030, e-sport has become a real sustainable professional springboard. In 2025, Ho Chi Minh City Banking University will inaugurate an e-sports arena on its campus, where gold medal athletes from the Southeast Asian Games are currently studying. This arena will also host the Hall of Fame ceremony in 2026.
At the national level, the Vietnamese cultural industry development strategy for 2030, with a vision for 2045 (Decision 2486/QD-TTg), identified software and video games as one of the ten pillars of the cultural industry, with the objective of a turnover of one billion dollars Americans by 2030. The video game industry is no longer considered an issue to be “taken into account” by political decision-makers; it is now the subject of orders, investments and development of its infrastructure over the long term.
Observing the world, Faker, the “living legend” of esports, continues to compete at the highest level at over thirty years old. During the 2025 World Championships, he declared: “In life, there are no absolute answers. Everyone must find their own way. As long as we move forward, we will find meaning in our existence. »The moment when these young champions will proudly enter the Hall of Fame will also mark the history of their youth. The journey strewn with pitfalls fades, giving way to time which continues to polish and confirm the value of these exceptional diamonds.
Source : https://baovanhoa.vn/the-thao/choi-game-thuc-su-de-kiem-tien-chuyen-nghe-cua-nhung-tuyen-thu-mang-danh-xung-kien-tuong-quoc-gia-216257.html
