Alan Enileev, which is known in the gamers community as Virtus.pro|Alan, has taken the first place on the Monze track in the most appropriated game for such place – the Need for Speed: Most Wanted. The only representative of Russia, which received the golden medal of the WCG 2006, is a first-year student of the juridical faculty in the MSRU, but now he discusses the ending of its career and the future manager's office. In a special interview to the BOLSHOI magazine Alan Enileev is counting how much money can earn the professional gamer in Russia and explains why the virtual races can be similar to the real contest.
There is an opinion that the race simulators make the cars owners drive fast and risk more. Does the champion of the Need for Speed has his own car and what driving style do you prefer?
Today I am 18 years old, but reached the first place on the WCG when I was 17. I received the driving license almost straight after my birthday. At the same time, I managed to answer 20 theoretical questions without any mistake – it is really cool. Father presented me his car, but I had an opportunity to buy my own. At any rate, I managed to overcome the 200 km/h limit driving this automobile. After a victory in the world championship I realized that my potential in the virtual car sport is at the limit. Today I am thinking about the real races, but the participation in such a contest needs lots of money. It is really hard to find the sponsors, but I will try my best.
You have put together and divided your prize money with Nicolas Frontov (vice-champion of the WCG). Why did you do it?
In case if we reach the final together, we divide the prize money into equal parts in accordance to the old tradition, but this time we have taken decision to do it in another way. First place - $12 thousand and second - $11 thousand. Officially, the winner receives $15 thousand and the vice-champion – 8$ thousand. This is a some kind of a friendly tradition, but I offer to share the prize fund in order to calm down the nerves and not to be disappointed because of the serious difference between the first and the second prize. Nevertheless, I used to take the second place only three times and never took the lower positions. During a year of the professional virtual automobile races I managed to become winner 10 times in the different prestigious championships. Besides, the prize money has not been spent yet, it is lying on special accumulative bank account. I'd live to invest these resources in the real estate.
Everybody know what the virtual automobile sport is, but how the typical competition between two cyber racers is being organized? Do the stars of the Need for Speed influence upon the gamers in the physical and emotional ways?
The most hard and dynamic competition for me was the Italian WCG with German gamer aTTaX|FoX. We fought for entering the next round on the East Part track: a hard lap, 11 kilometers, two 90-degree and two ophidian turns. The average speed is 280 km/h. From the very start and during all five laps we were almost equal leaving the rival from time to time behind for 0, 5 seconds. On the penultimate lap I took the leadership having about 10 meters seconds as an advantage. A really hard turn lied ahead. I knew that FoX is using the view from the bumper and decided to override his trajectory of turn in order to make him start risking. Nevertheless, thinking about such a complex tactic solution I managed to scratch my own car a little in the turn. It is called "he than mischief hatches, mischief catches". My German rival managed to overcome me by 0, 5 seconds. As a result I have concentrated all my reserves and finished the lap first with a 0, 66 seconds advantage.
After that I was really exhausted, both morally, and physically, during 7-8 minutes. It was the hardest victory in the whole my career. I even noticed that the overexertion provokes the right leg's spasm – the leg, which you press on the acceleration pedal. A real pain leaves no opportunity to provide an appropriate acceleration level in the turns, you have to make yourself press and forbear, but this is rather hard. This was a reason why I have lost the Russian WCG.
How can the professional gamers define the importance of the contest and how much money can attract their attention as a prize?
Championships are being conducted rather often, but, as a rule, the high-class cyber sportsmen are always taking part in such contests as the WCG, "Perm period", ASUS Open, Championship of Russia and Russian Championship, i.e. the competitions, which provide an opportunity not only to win lots of money, but also gain a status, become famous. Almost everyone knows me in the gamer's community after my participation in the WCG, but the real popularity has been raised as well. As far the prizes, an appropriate sum for the Russian championship is 25-90 thousands rubles for the first place. In case if this is an international contest – from 4 to 25 thousands dollars.
What does it means to be a professional gamer in Russia? Are there any special conditions in order to make a real career in cyber sport?
Principally, the "cyber game" lifestyle allows the young man to earn good. For example, last year I managed to earn more than 20 thousands dollars plus the additional prizes – MP3-players, computers and other home appliances. I used to spend more than 45 thousands rubles for the computer steering wheels last year. Today the professional gamers, who are the members of the Russian teams, can earn about 200 – 1000 dollars. The salary level of my new team – theVirtus.pro – can be compared with the above mentioned sum. But one cannot be invincible forever. Sooner or later the other gamers will come and conquer your positions. I plan to take part in the virtual automobile races during a year or more. Than I want to become a team manager and will deal with the training providing, voyages abroad, etc. The jurisprudence is likely to help me with these plans. Otherwise, I'd like to organize my own championships – it needs lots of relations to be established and today I'm dealing with it.
Are there minimal chances to sign an advertisement contract by any Russian professional gamer?
I do not think that anyone from the gamer community has such chances. And if they appear - not sooner than in 5-7 years.
The Cyber sport doesn't have any coverage in the mass media, but the situation improves step by step. Today the Stream-TV is launching the first gamer channel and NTV+ is to release a weekly issue devoted to the cyber sport. Nevertheless, the advertising contracts can be signed only in Germany and Korea. I'd like to live in German taking into consideration my status – I could live there thank only to the cyber sport. Germany and Korea are the heaven for all cyber sportsmen.
