Homework & Headshots: Ezra Long<\/b><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ text_font=”Montreal Medium|500|||||||” text_text_color=”#ffffff” text_font_size=”15px” header_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_font_size=”80px” header_5_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_5_text_color=”#000000″ header_5_font_size=”20px” header_5_letter_spacing=”0.5em” header_5_line_height=”1.8em” width=”83.3%” min_height=”0px” custom_margin=”15px|129px|-22px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”10px|0px|0px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”0px|63px|||false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”” custom_padding_phone=”|0px|||false|false” custom_padding_last_edited=”on|phone” animation_style=”zoom” animation_intensity_zoom=”5%” text_line_height_tablet=”” text_line_height_phone=”1.8em” text_line_height_last_edited=”on|phone” header_font_size_tablet=”48px” header_font_size_phone=”32px” header_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_5_font_size_tablet=”14px” header_5_font_size_phone=”12px” header_5_font_size_last_edited=”on|desktop” text_text_shadow_style=”preset1″ inline_fonts=”Montserrat” global_colors_info=”{}”]
Join <\/span>POONG QI TAO<\/b> as he sits down and talks to full-time e-sports player and student, Ezra Long, about his journey and how he balances these dual responsibilities. <\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ custom_margin=”-194px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.4″ min_height=”84px” custom_margin=”-80px|auto||auto|false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-145px|auto|-100px|auto|false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.19.4″ text_font=”Montserrat|300|||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”30px||||false|false” custom_padding=”||0px||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”About Us” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ min_height=”1420px” custom_margin=”-136px||-433px|||” custom_padding=”107px||44px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row column_structure=”1_5,3_5,1_5″ custom_padding_last_edited=”off|desktop” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ custom_margin=”-55px||||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-35px||||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_padding=”2px|0|0px|0px|false|false” custom_padding_tablet=”|0px||0px||true” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”1_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_line_height=”1.5em” header_font=”||||||||” header_2_font=”Raleway|700|||||||” header_2_font_size=”50px” header_2_line_height=”1.4em” header_5_font=”Montserrat||||||||” header_5_text_color=”#b3b3b3″ header_5_font_size=”14px” header_5_line_height=”0.5em” header_6_font=”Raleway|700||on|||||” header_6_font_size=”16px” header_6_letter_spacing=”5px” header_6_line_height=”1.8em” max_width=”659px” module_alignment=”center” custom_margin=”0px|79px|104px||false|false” custom_margin_tablet=”” custom_margin_phone=”-40px|79px|0px||false|false” custom_margin_last_edited=”on|phone” custom_padding=”|0px||||” hover_enabled=”0″ text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”15px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” header_2_font_size_tablet=”35px” header_2_font_size_phone=”25px” header_2_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″] <\/p>\n BY Hype Deputy Editor<\/b><\/p>\n Hype Issue #59<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n <\/strong><\/p>\n Playing video games is a good way to de-stress and take a short break from reality. However, for some, it is more than just leisure. Some take their passion and transform it into their career. Meet Ezra Long, 20, a Year 2 Ngee Ann Polytechnic student pursuing a diploma in Tourism & Resort Management. <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Ezra playing in The Campus Legends tournament in 2023. Photo courtesy of Ezra.<\/span><\/i><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_padding=”||0px|||” inline_fonts=”Montreal Medium” global_colors_info=”{}”] <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n As an avid gamer from a young age, gaming runs through Ezra\u2019s blood. He recalls his first memories of playing video games on his Playstation Portable (PSP), before transitioning to console games on his Xbox, and finally to PC gaming.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n He started playing PC games at the tender age of 13. From there, Ezra played the popular tactical <\/span>first-person shooter game<\/span><\/a>, <\/span>CSGO<\/span><\/a><\/span> (rebranded to CS2 in 2023), for around 5 years straight. In 2020, he transitioned to playing Valorant, another first-person shooter game, which <\/span>hit sky-rocket popularity even before its release<\/span><\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n In his first year of playing Valorant, Ezra would play the game casually together with his friends. 2022 was when things started to take a turn.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI started getting into more competitive gaming back in 2022 during my second year in ITE, when I finally got a bit of free time to follow my hobbies and compete for fun,\u201d he said. Fast forward 2 years, the 20-year-old gamer has played in over 10 different competitions and 4 teams.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n He says the first 2 teams were formed with his friends to simply have fun playing together. Together with his friends in <\/span>Explorers<\/span><\/i> (the second team), Ezra represented Ngee Ann Polytechnic in the 2023 <\/span>Campus Legends<\/span><\/i><\/a><\/span> tournament and emerged victorious. They won another competition later that year.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Ezra (far right) with team Explorers. They emerged champions in the 2023 SAFRA Yishun Esports Fiesta Tournament. Photo courtesy of Ezra.<\/span><\/i><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_padding=”||0px|||” inline_fonts=”Montreal Medium” global_colors_info=”{}”] In his third team, which was semi-professional, Ezra served as a substitute player for only one tournament. It was that tournament, which earned Ezra a contract as a full-time professional player in his current team, <\/span>Elevate<\/span><\/span><\/a>, a North-American-based e-sports organisation.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cInitially in <\/span>Explorers<\/span><\/i>, we tried to participate in that tournament but we lost quite early into the tournament,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n \u201cSo there was this situation where this team needed a substitute and they were already trying to qualify for the playoffs. One of the main players had an issue with his PC, so they needed a sub and approached me.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Ezra helped the team to win all four of the games he stepped in to assist with.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Although he did not continue playing in the playoffs as the main players wanted to play together, this incident gave Ezra the opportunity to show the quality of a player he is to people in the gaming scene. Seeing the potential in him, Elevate <\/i>approached Ezra for his service.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/qt-3.png” alt=”Lion Dancing” title_text=”qt 3″ force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”31px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″] Team Elevate tournament match banner featuring Ezra (centre), who goes by the username \u201cPUDJ\u201d in-game. Photo courtesy of Ezra.<\/span><\/i><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_padding=”||0px|||” global_colors_info=”{}”] <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n While we can appreciate all of Ezra\u2019s achievements, we cannot forget that he is a student too. Balancing this e-sports career of his and school is another hard feat to achieve.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n From Monday to Friday, Ezra\u2019s team will adjust to his school schedule to train. Occasionally, there is training on weekends too. Each practice session lasts between 3-4 hours, which includes scrim<\/a><\/span> matches with teams from other Asian countries. After practice, Ezra will start doing his school work.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cBecause I have to do school work, [over] the last few months, I’ve [only] been sleeping 4 hours every day,\u201d he said. Sleep isn\u2019t the only thing e-sports has deprived Ezra of, but exercise too.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cI haven’t exercised in the last two months,\u201d he mused. \u201cIt really sucks, because from the moment I wake up, throughout the whole day, I have something to do. I don’t have free time.\u201d Ezra describes it as a \u201crelentless cycle of work\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Despite his hectic and tiring schedule, Ezra\u2019s cumulative GPA currently sits comfortably at a high score of 3.94<\/i>, showing that he does not let gaming affect his grades.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/qt-4.png” alt=”Lion Dancing” title_text=”qt 4″ force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”31px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” hover_enabled=”0″ text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″] Ezra (in picture) playing Valorant. His parents fully support his venture into the e-sports industry. Photo courtesy of Ezra.<\/span><\/i><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_padding=”||0px|||” inline_fonts=”Montreal Medium” global_colors_info=”{}”] <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n One thing Ezra dislikes is the arguments that happen occasionally within the team, which he calls \u201cblame games\u201d. He says it is a very terrible feeling when he comes back from school tired, hops onto a gruelling 4-hour long practice just to get scolded.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n This became too \u201coverwhelming\u201d for Ezra when he was training for the most recent competition he played in. Ezra states this as the \u201cbiggest setback\u201d in his e-sports career to date.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThis happened in the last week of the very big games, the semi- and quarter finals,\u201d he said. \u201cI wanted to quit the team mid-tournament because of feeling overwhelmed with having way too many commitments of school assignments and practising for the tournament.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n Fortunately, his girlfriend’s moral support was enough to ensure he did not give up.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cMy girlfriend told me it\u2019s just one more week, like you didn\u2019t practise for two months, Monday to Friday, everyday, just to end it on the last week,\u201d he said. With her encouragement to press-on till the end, Ezra went on to finish the tournament and his team came in third.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n \u201cEveryone in the team wants to win right? So, sometimes words can be said that really hurt but you can’t do anything about it, you know?\u201d Ezra explained. \u201cAt the end of the\u00a0 day, you need to do what you need to do to win.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Ezra (standing) in jubilation after winning the 2023 Campus Legends tournament. Moments of adrenaline and winning games continuously motivate him to compete at the highest level. Photo taken from @campuslegends.sg on <\/span><\/i>Instagram<\/span><\/i><\/a>.<\/span><\/i><\/span><\/p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_padding=”||0px|||” inline_fonts=”Montreal Medium” global_colors_info=”{}”] <\/b><\/span><\/p>\n Regarding his future, although Ezra understands the <\/span>certain aspects which make e-sports an unstable job<\/span><\/a><\/span>, he wishes to continue his passion and play Valorant competitively as a full-time career. If he is unable to do so, he has another plan in mind.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n
Poong Qi Tao<\/b><\/p>\nPublished on<\/h5>\n
August 21, 2024<\/h5>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_font_size=”16px” custom_padding=”||0px|||” inline_fonts=”Montreal Medium” global_colors_info=”{}”]
<\/blockquote>\n
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Where it all began<\/b><\/span><\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
Turning Passion into Purpose<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/h3>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”http:\/\/hypesingapore.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/qt-2.png” alt=”Lion Dancing” title_text=”qt 2″ force_fullwidth=”on” _builder_version=”4.21.0″ _module_preset=”default” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.21.0″ text_font=”Montreal Medium||||||||” text_text_color=”#000000″ transform_scale_tablet=”” transform_scale_phone=”” transform_scale_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate=”0px|-22px” transform_translate_tablet=”” transform_translate_phone=”” transform_translate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_translate_linked=”off” transform_rotate_tablet=”” transform_rotate_phone=”” transform_rotate_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_skew_tablet=”” transform_skew_phone=”” transform_skew_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_origin_tablet=”” transform_origin_phone=”” transform_origin_last_edited=”on|desktop” transform_styles_last_edited=”on|desktop” custom_margin=”31px||0px||false|false” custom_padding=”||||false|false” text_font_size_tablet=”” text_font_size_phone=”14px” text_font_size_last_edited=”on|phone” transform_styles_tablet=”” transform_styles_phone=”” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]
The Struggle for Balance<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
The Human Side of Competition<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n
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Looking Ahead: Aspirations & Advice<\/b><\/span><\/h3>\n