The Mastercard Gamer Academy, an initiative which aims to foster the next generation of esports professionals, is back for 2025 with applications now open for Season 2.
Teaming up once again with renowned esports organisastion G2, the academy is set to provide an opportunity for the next generation of esports professionals. It returns after an inaugural programme earlier in 2024.
Over eight months, 10 successful applicants will receive hands-on training, personalised mentorship from G2 Esports ambassadors and players, gain exclusive access to major esports events, plus behind-the-scenes experiences with top esports professionals.
Ambassadors include top esports hosts Sjokz (Belgium) and Yinsu Collins (UK), women’s Valorant team G2 Gozen, G2 COO Sabrina Ratih, plus G2 League of Legends players.
UK League of Legends streamer star Caedrel (who just announced his new Los Ratones roster) is also promoting it:
Participants will gain backstage access at the League of Legends Mid-Season Invitational, the 2025 Valorant Champions, and the G2 Esports headquarters in Berlin.
Participants can also expect:
- A curriculum covering topics such as brand engagement, team management, content creation, event execution and more
- All-expenses-paid trips to major esports events
- Mentorship from experienced esports professionals, including the G2 Hel, Gozen, and LEC League of Legends and VCT Valorant teams
- In-person and virtual sessions with industry mentors, offering insights on various aspects of the esports world
According to a press release, the Mastercard Gamer Academy aims to ‘offer career development opportunities that will open doors for emerging talent from a wide variety of backgrounds’.
Applications are open until December 18th 2024 for people aged 21 and above at the Mastercard Gamer Academy website
Yinsu offers esports career tips in Mastercard Gamer Academy video
UK Valorant host and Mastercard Gamer Academy ambassador, Yinsu, said in the below video: “When it comes to becoming successful and one of the best in any field, I think it takes a lot of hard work and sacrifices.
“It’s something people don’t really talk about, you have to make a lot of sacrifices, your social life, sometimes your sleep, you also have to have a lot of self belief – being your own number one fan and your biggest cheerleader.
“Networking is important for literally every aspect of your life. But you don’t have to change who you are or pretend you’re someone you’re not in order to network. Just sit down, write down what you can offer other people and what you have or possess that other people might want to get to know you.
“When it comes to networking, when you’re confident with what you can and can’t offer, you’ll meet likeminded people and make a good impression.”
Yinsu, Mastercard Gamer Academy ambassador
“Confidence is also a really big one in this industry of a lot of burnouts and imposter syndrome. You have to stay confident and be okay with what you can or can’t do. Sometimes you have to accept you’re not gonna be able to achieve x, y or z overnight or you’re not going to have what it takes to solve a problem, and that’s fine.
“You learn from it and grow from it, instead of letting it play on your mind or hurt your personal self-esteem and confidence.”
Related articles: G2 exit Worlds 2024 after winning LEC Season Finals 2024
Dom is an award-winning writer and finalist of the Esports Journalist of the Year 2023 award. He graduated from Bournemouth University with a 2:1 degree in Multi-Media Journalism in 2007.
As a long-time gamer having first picked up the NES controller in the late ’80s, he has written for a range of publications including GamesTM, Nintendo Official Magazine, industry publication MCV and others. He worked as head of content for the British Esports Federation up until February 2021, when he stepped back to work full-time on Esports News UK and offer esports consultancy and freelance services. Note: Dom still produces the British Esports newsletter on a freelance basis, so our coverage of British Esports is always kept simple – usually just covering the occasional press release – because of this conflict of interest.
