Okay, here’s my take on a blog post about my experience diving into the world of Esports World Cup commentators, trying to figure out what goes into that role.
So, I was watching the Esports World Cup highlights from Riyadh, you know, the Team Falcons winning thing, and I got super curious about the commentators. Like, what do they do? It’s not just yelling, right?
First thing I did was hit up Google. I searched for “Esports World Cup commentators,” trying to find out who they even were. I saw some stuff about Valorant in the EWC 2025, and then some articles about the Free Fire tournament Team Falcons crushed. No commentator names jumped out, though. Strike one.
Next, I figured, okay, let’s get more general. “How to become an esports commentator.” That’s when the fun began. I found a bunch of articles and YouTube videos. Seems like everyone and their grandma has an opinion on this.
Here’s what I pieced together:
- Game Knowledge is King (or Queen): You gotta know the game inside and out. Not just how to play, but all the pro strats, team histories, player stats… the whole shebang. This makes sense, right? You can’t explain what’s going on if you don’t even understand it.
- Practice, Practice, Practice: Record yourself commentating over old matches. Listen back. Cringe. Repeat. This is key, apparently. Gotta get comfortable talking and thinking on your feet.
- Build a Brand: Stream, make content, get your name out there. Nobody’s gonna hire you if they don’t know you exist. This felt like the hardest part to me, TBH. So much self-promotion involved.
- Network Like Crazy: Go to tournaments, talk to people, make connections. It’s all about who you know, apparently. This is tough for an introvert like me, but hey, gotta try, right?
So, I decided to try a little practice myself. I pulled up some old Counter-Strike matches (because, nostalgia). I muted the original commentary and just started talking. Dude, it was rough. I stumbled over my words, I didn’t know half the callouts, and I kept saying “um” every other sentence.
I recorded like, 10 minutes, and then listened back. I almost died of embarrassment. My voice sounded weird, my analysis was garbage, and I generally sounded like I had no idea what I was talking about (which, let’s be honest, I kinda didn’t).
But, I kept at it. I watched more pro matches, took notes on what the real commentators were saying, and tried to steal their style (without being a total copycat, of course). I practiced reading patch notes and explaining them in a way that wasn’t totally boring.
I even tried streaming myself playing a few games and commentating at the same time. Let’s just say I’m not quitting my day job anytime soon. My chat was empty, and I kept getting killed while trying to explain what I was doing. Total disaster.
What Did I Learn?
Being an esports commentator is way harder than it looks. It’s not just about yelling hype phrases (although that’s part of it). It’s about deep game knowledge, quick thinking, and a whole lot of practice. I have a newfound respect for those guys and gals.
I’m definitely not ready for the Esports World Cup anytime soon. But hey, I learned a lot, had some laughs (mostly at myself), and maybe, just maybe, I’m a tiny bit better than I was before. And that’s what matters, right?
Maybe I’ll try casting a local tournament or something, just for fun. Who knows? Maybe I’ll surprise myself. Or maybe I’ll just continue embarrassing myself on the internet. Either way, it’ll be a good story.
