Home Gaming Hearthstone player denied access to tournament final…by his parents

Hearthstone player denied access to tournament final…by his parents

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DENIED

Stop for a second and imagine that you’re a college student who just happens to be pretty good at Hearthstone. You have to focus on your studies, but at the same time, you find the time for competitive gaming because you really love it. Your skill and hard work finally pays off. You qualify for the finals of a big tournament, which also includes an all expenses paid trip to the LAN. Only one obstacle remains – your parents – they aren’t fans of your hobby, not even remotely. You bite the bullet and share the news with them. Their response is negative; you can’t attend this tournament, not unless you plan on moving out and supporting yourself through college. Sounds like a tough situation, right? Well it’s exactly what Hearthstone player Marcus “BOXception” Kwak has had to face.

Marcus, a relatively new Hearthstone player, managed to qualify for ESL Legendary Series season 2 finals where he could play for a share of $25 000. He shared his story in a rather lengthy post on Reddit. Here’s an extract detailing the response of his parents (via Daily Dot):

My parents do not approve of gaming and I have gotten into a lot of trouble because of it in the past. I was so scared to what they would say I did not tell them right away. I knew I had to tell my parents eventually so yesterday on Memorial Day I told my mom at first. She was first were concerned but then supported me saying good luck telling your dad. I told my dad and it was an immediate no and I got into a lot of trouble.

The decision that came down was I either give up my spot and not play in the LAN and stay under the support of my family, or I go and play but pack my things and leave home and I get all support cut off from my parents. I am a college student and I during the summer I have nowhere to go live except for home. And I also do not have enough money to support myself for the rest of my life while paying for school to finish it. It was one of the hardest decisions of my life. Do I give up my childhood dream of playing at a huge gaming event in front of thousands of online viewers, or do I give up my entire life spent in order to go to college and pursue a dream that had no certain future.

That’s kind of heart breaking. I don’t see why Marcus couldn’t attend the event. I mean, it would require zero financial contribution from his parents, would only take a few days of his time, and he would have the chance to make some money in the process. Unless the event coincided with some big university exams or something along those lines, I don’t see what the big deal is or why his parents would present him with such a hectic ultimatum.

Reddit users felt the same and showed their support, offering up advice and sharing their own experiences. Marcus has now revaluated the situation:

Thank you all so much for the support. I did not expect this much feedback and stories shared from all of you. I will take everything into consideration, but in the end I do only have 1 more year left, so might as well finish it all the way through then decide what comes next. But don’t worry the dream is not completely dead and is currently put on hold. Thank you all again.

I think that’s fair. At least this way he can get his education done and dusted, and maybe then he can find a way to support himself and manage his gaming dream. I hope it all works out for him.

What are your thoughts? Should Marcus have pursued his dream now, or is he right in waiting it out?

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Last Updated: May 28, 2015

59 Comments

  1. I fucking hate narrow-minded, uneducated “parents” who prevent their kids from doing what they love – making a success, and career out of it, all because it isn’t what they would do. Fuck them. Fuck all “parents” like them.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      May 28, 2015 at 14:43

      Strict is good, too strict can be abusive

      Reply

    • veelckoo

      May 28, 2015 at 20:50

      Not enough ‘fucks’ to treat you seriously ….

      Reply

      • Deceased

        May 29, 2015 at 12:39

        Latching on to @ToshZA:disqus’s post then and adding “Fuck the Fucking ‘parents’ who shit all over their Fucking children’s dreams of doing something that they Fucking love in this life and could possibly go Fucking far with, but are too Fucking narrow-minded to realise that their Fucking children aren’t younger versions of them Fucking selves… Way to Fucking go you Fucking Assholes”…

        Actually, I take that back… Zero fucks given…

        *Realises it’s too late and fucks were handed out freely today… gg @veelckoo:disqus, well played*

        Reply

  2. GooseZA

    May 28, 2015 at 14:36

    Bit of a dick move by the parents there. I could understand if he was wanting to quit school to be like, a full time streamer or something (in which case, finish school and then do what you want) but this is a once off event.

    Reply

  3. RinceTheElfRoot

    May 28, 2015 at 14:39

    • Rock789

      May 28, 2015 at 14:45

      Damn Hobbits hitting on all the women! :p

      Reply

      • RinceTheElfRoot

        May 28, 2015 at 15:12

        You shut up!

        Reply

        • Rock789

          May 28, 2015 at 15:13

          Hobbit lover!

          Reply

      • Deceased

        May 29, 2015 at 12:40

        Sam is the real hero man, he can hit on whoever he wants 😐

        Reply

  4. Captain JJ Hack&Slash&Dodge

    May 28, 2015 at 14:40

    Parents can be so judging sometimes. It’s sickening. Just support your child in what they choose to do, it’ll affect their entire future. It’s not like the kid’s decided to go into a life of crime, for sh!t’s sake.

    Reply

    • Rock789

      May 28, 2015 at 14:46

      Actually, if they told me they were going to become the next Don of the Mafia, that whole ‘life of crime’ thing might pay off in the long run. 😉

      Reply

      • Captain JJ Hack&Slash&Dodge

        May 28, 2015 at 14:55

        Until they cement your feet and drop you in the lake, of course. 😀

        Reply

        • Rock789

          May 28, 2015 at 14:58

          They can’t do that… I’m the Godfather! **mumbles something about the day of my daughter’s wedding**

          Reply

  5. Kensei Seraph - Terran Ghost

    May 28, 2015 at 14:41

    It sounds like the father falls into the bigoted (did I use that word right) group of people who think that gaming of any kind is for 5 year old children and is not a hobby for grown-ups and thus his almost grown-up son must abandon his childish ways and become a adult.
    I could be completely wrong but that partially is the way my father sees it.
    Whenever I tried to discuss my gaming hobbies with him I always got the response “Whatever floats your boat.”
    I haven’t bothered sharing my gaming hobbies with him in more than 8 years and have never told him that I enjoy anime because I’m certain he would consider it “childish”.

    *Deep breaths*
    Ok, I’m slightly calmer now.

    Reply

    • Pariah

      May 28, 2015 at 14:56

      Yeah my gf’s parents are the same. They speak about our gaming hobby as something cute or novel, but with that tone of “when are you going to grow up”.

      Reply

  6. RinceTheElfRoot

    May 28, 2015 at 14:41

    Judging by his use of English his parents were probably correct. Trololololo

    Reply

    • Kensei Seraph - Terran Ghost

      May 28, 2015 at 14:42

      That’s pretty rich considering the average level of English from journalists and commenters on this site.

      Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      May 28, 2015 at 14:43

      No we know what happened to don’t support DRM…

      Reply

    • Captain JJ Hack&Slash&Dodge

      May 28, 2015 at 14:43

      Admiral, is that you?

      Reply

  7. Hammersteyn

    May 28, 2015 at 14:42

    Is he doctor yet?

    Reply

  8. Captain JJ Hack&Slash&Dodge

    May 28, 2015 at 14:44

    The sad part is that it sounds like he would’ve considered doing it if he could look after himself.
    So the parents would then effectively push their child away simply because he wanted to play in a video game tournament. How ridiculous.

    I get that he needs to finish studying, but it’s not the tournament is going to take a year to finish. He will be able to study in between.

    Reply

    • Hammersteyn

      May 28, 2015 at 14:45

      Agreed

      Reply

    • Admiral Chief's Adventure

      May 28, 2015 at 14:45

      Indeed, in this case, I believe the parents are wrong. However, there are always two sides to a story…

      Reply

      • Captain JJ Hack&Slash&Dodge

        May 28, 2015 at 14:45

        Spoken like a true parent 😉

        Reply

    • Pariah

      May 28, 2015 at 14:45

      This actually happened to me (in a sense, it wasn’t gaming but fine arts) – except I gave my mother the finger and went for it. Still don’t regret it. 🙂 Worked for everything I have.

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        May 28, 2015 at 14:45

        Did you get your finger back though? 😛

        Reply

        • Pariah

          May 28, 2015 at 14:55

          Thankfully yeah. She got over herself and we have a good relationship now. The fact she’s on the other side of the country helps a bit too XD

          Reply

      • Kensei Seraph - Terran Ghost

        May 28, 2015 at 14:46

        That was pretty brave.
        Since it seems to have worked out for you, congrats

        Reply

        • Pariah

          May 28, 2015 at 14:48

          Nah, not brave. Got a job instead of studying (still doing what I wanted to), and never looked back.

          Reply

      • Admiral Chief's Adventure

        May 28, 2015 at 14:48

        Fine arts…that explains a bit.

        In any case, glad it worked out for you!

        Reply

        • Pariah

          May 28, 2015 at 14:48

          Hahahaha, yeah I’m a bit crazy. Fits the type of work nicely though. 😛

          Reply

          • Admiral Chief's Adventure

            May 28, 2015 at 14:51

            I used to think you were an odd character, then I met Dutch, Avo and mr humble pie

          • Pariah

            May 28, 2015 at 14:53

            Oh I am odd. But at least there are words able to describe me. In their case? Still looking.

      • Captain JJ Hack&Slash&Dodge

        May 28, 2015 at 14:52

        Yea, I can relate to an extent. I wasn’t given much of an option in my choice either. Just had to do it and pass it. Now I have a job I hate, with reputable qualifications in areas I feel nothing for.

        Reply

        • Pariah

          May 28, 2015 at 14:54

          Therein lies the problem. I wasn’t prepared to do something I hated. I’d have probably killed myself by now.

          Reply

          • Captain JJ Hack&Slash&Dodge

            May 28, 2015 at 14:56

            I’m lucky to have a great wife. That’s about the only thing that keeps me going.
            Oh, and The Witcher 3 also keeps me going these days. 😀

          • Pariah

            May 28, 2015 at 14:58

            haha wp man. Those are 2 of the best things in life. A good companion, and a fun hobby. 😀

  9. RinceTheElfRoot

    May 28, 2015 at 14:47

    Would be nice to have a bit more context. Was the final during exams? Very easy to jump onto the parental hate wagon without knowing more. Maybe the parents were worried that if he took part in the final he would then ditch his studies in order to carry on gaming as a full time career, and while that is cool I think education is far more important.

    Reply

    • Kensei Seraph - Terran Ghost

      May 28, 2015 at 14:49

      Agreed, but from the tone and how his mother was supportive it seems like it clashing with his exams is unlikely.

      Reply

      • The Sten

        May 28, 2015 at 14:51

        Its not the details of THIS particular tournament that you have to take into considration. Its the dates of the tournament after that, and the one after that.

        Reply

      • RinceTheElfRoot

        May 28, 2015 at 14:52

        I just know when I was a young adult studying I had responsibilities to the money going into my studies that outweighed pretty much anything else in life. But every situation is different. It does sound a bit like the dad was being an old-fashioned ass hat.

        Reply

  10. Hammersteyn

    May 28, 2015 at 14:51

    If only Esport was a real sport like Football or Baseball I’m sure he would have been allowed to go
    *RUNS

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief's Adventure

      May 28, 2015 at 14:52

      FOOLS BALL IS THE…

      Reply

    • Captain JJ Hack&Slash&Dodge

      May 28, 2015 at 14:52

      What’s Football?

      Reply

      • Hammersteyn

        May 28, 2015 at 14:53

        Ask Gavin, but get a nice head start.

        Reply

        • Captain JJ Hack&Slash&Dodge

          May 28, 2015 at 14:56

          Oh, is he one of those? ;P

          Reply

    • RinceTheElfRoot

      May 28, 2015 at 14:56

      You have a VERY good point there. Even cheerleaders get support from family, and we all know how long that career path is…

      Reply

  11. WitWolfy

    May 28, 2015 at 14:57

    I used to think I was good at games, until I discovered Xbox Live back in 2008. Only then did I realize what a casual I really am.

    Reply

    • RinceTheElfRoot

      May 28, 2015 at 14:59

      High five that!

      Reply

    • Captain JJ Hack&Slash&Dodge

      May 28, 2015 at 15:00

      “Game experience may change with online play”
      Yes, I experienced that I’m terrible compared to other people in just about any FPS game ever made.

      Reply

      • WitWolfy

        May 28, 2015 at 15:20

        It’s like I purposely shoot at the walls or at their feet. It’s insulting.

        I remember this one dude shredded me on Guitar Hero 3 too. He played “Into the fire’s and flames” on hard with a guitar while I was jamming it the remote and he mopped the floor with me.

        Reply

  12. The Sten

    May 28, 2015 at 14:59

    dad, i am progame, son i am dissapoint

    Reply

  13. Captain JJ Hack&Slash&Dodge

    May 28, 2015 at 15:08

    This actually makes me think of something that happened at work yesterday:
    We interviewed someone new and the person being interviewed said she’s a gamer.

    The other girl also doing the interviewing told me afterwards that it’s so “weird”.
    Fuck you, that’s what.

    Reply

  14. Pieter Smal

    May 28, 2015 at 16:01

    “I am a college student and I during the summer I have nowhere to go live except for home.”

    My flatmate was kicked out of university for playing DOTA – he never attended classes, never bathed (bloody hipster!), and played computer the ENTIRE day! Get a life!

    Reply

  15. Pieter Smal

    May 28, 2015 at 16:01

    “I am a college student and I during the summer I have nowhere to go live except for home.”

    My flatmate was kicked out of university for playing DOTA – he never attended classes, never bathed (bloody hipster!), and played computer the ENTIRE day! Get a life!

    Reply

  16. MakeItLegal

    May 28, 2015 at 20:53

    Ifeel sad for him

    Like heartstone is hard enough as is to be good at it should be worthy of praise

    Reply

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