Melbourne eSport star wins almost $5 million at Dota 2 tournament
A Wheelers Hill eSports whiz, who’s now outearning the majority of Australia’s top athletes, could have unlocked the secret to peak performance in the gaming world. Here’s how.
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A Melbourne eSports star has collected more money in a week than the highest-paid AFL players earn over multiple years.
But Anathan ‘ana’ Pham’s record $4.62 million win may never have happened if he didn’t prioritise his mental health by stepping away from gaming last year.
The 19-year-old from Wheelers Hill took an extended break in November to focus on other interests and refresh his mind.
But he returned to his team, OG, primed and ready to prepare for a shot at back-to-back success at the Dota 2 world championships in China.
Thanks to all the fans that were by our side.. Still cannot comprehend what just happened.. ðŸ™ðŸ™ðŸ™ðŸ‘¨ðŸ¿â€ðŸŽ¤â¤ï¸
— Anathan Pham (@anadota99) August 25, 2019
OG and Pham created history on Sunday night to become the first team to win The International, the world’s richest eSports tournament, twice.
Australian eSports commentator David Parker, who goes by ‘Godz’ in the gaming world, said Pham timed his run to the tournament perfectly.
“I think stepping away from competition and the constantly high fan expectations and criticism helped Ana a lot to compete at the highest level,” Parker told the Herald Sun.
“Unlike traditional sports, Dota doesn’t have much of an off-season so many players and teams get burned out by the time The International happens.”
Pham shot to stardom last year when he played a starring role in OG’s breakthrough win in Canada, winning more than $3 million alone as he was named the most valuable player.
This latest windfall alone makes Pham Australia’s 13th highest-earning sportsperson, going by the Financial Review’s latest sports rich list.
He was 18th in those rankings after his breakthrough success last year, but this win will shoot him past some household names.
Pham will overtake tennis player Nick Kyrgios, basketballer Thon Maker, soccer ace Aaron Mooy and fast bowler Pat Cummins.
Not bad for a kid who left school at age 16 to chase his gaming dream.
Only a select number of AFL players, including Brownlow medallist Dustin Martin and Sydney legend Lance Franklin, bring home more than a $1 million a season.
But Pham and OG showed that success was no fluke, winning the tournament again by defeating 2017 champions Team Liquid during a best-of-five grand final in China.
Parker said OG are the best team in the world and more than capable of making it a three-peat next year.
“Despite winning last year, they didn’t come into The International 2019 as favourites by any analysts,” he said.
“This definitely helped them even if teams weren’t underestimating them.”
His OG teammates include a Finnish pair, a French man and a Danish veteran.
The overall main first prize was about $23 million, with the team to split the winnings five ways.
Dota 2 is a five-on-five strategy game where teams play on a virtual battlefield, attempting to kill the opposing players and destroy their base.
My #ti9 view for @OGesports vs @TeamLiquid! Such a special event. pic.twitter.com/LyjlzstlhQ
— David Parker | Godz (@BTSGoDz) August 25, 2019
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The strategy-based game requires an immense amount of practice and skill, with top players training all-year round to compete with the best.
Pham doesn’t turn 20 until October, but has already pocketed close to $9 million during his career.
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