Jason “Lusty” Chen to compete at 2019 Rainbow Six Masters tournament

Jason “Lusty” Chen is among a host of young professional gamers building the foundations of Australia’s burgeoning esports industry.

Jason "Lusty" Chen is competing in the 2019 Rainbow Six Masters tournament. Picture: Saymon Sampaio

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When 16-year-old Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf won the $3 million first-place prize at last week’s Fortnite World Cup Finals, it signalled a monumental shift in the global sporting landscape.

Giersdorf’s winning purse was almost $1 million more than Tiger Woods won at the 2019 Masters and Rafael Nadal won for finishing runner-up at this year’s Australian Open.

Esports are now officially just as viable a career path for talented young people as any other sport.

One of the people leading the charge for Australia in this brave new world of professional competition is 21-year-old Westmead resident Jason “Lusty” Chen.

Chen plays for global esports team Fnatic in the Rainbow Six Pro League. Picture: Saymon Sampaio

Chen is one of Australia’s top players in tactical shooter game Rainbow Six Siege, representing global esports team Fnatic in the Rainbow Six Pro League.

“I’ve been playing Rainbow Six since the release of the game which is around December 2015,” Chen said.

“It clicks really well with me because the game not only requires aim, but it requires lots of teamwork, knowledge of the game and especially, smart thinking.”

Chen’s love of gaming developed during his primary school years when he was living in China.

“My parents used to own an internet cafe that I would regularly go to after school and I’ve been into video games ever since,” he said.

“I first realised I might be able to make a career out of esports when I joined a competitive team and we were consistently winning and staying on top.

He has earned more than $36,000 in prizemoney throughout his professional career. Picture: Sarah Cooper

“With the Rainbow Six Pro League, a weekly esports league, being introduced into the Australian scene I knew I had a chance to make a career out of it.”

Chen has won a total of $36,524 since entering the professional arena in 2017.

He’ll get a chance to add to that later this month when he travels to Melbourne to compete for a $50,000 prize pool at the 2019 Rainbow Six Masters tournament.

With consultancy group PwC forecasting that Australian esports will grow to $21 million over the next three years, Chen said he’s honoured to be able to play a role in Australia’s burgeoning esports landscape.

“I’m very proud to be able to represent Australia on the international stage,” he said.

“As Australian esports is still very new and developing, I feel honoured to be one of the first to build this path for other players.”

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