EPTPlease click on it, so they will probably let me write more about esport.
Thank you guys.
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I translated it as well:
In Germany, their names are Marcel Reif, Wolff-Christoph Fuss or Bela Réthy. Almost everybody knows them as they commentate the favourite sport of the Germans – football. Only few know Thomas Kilian. He lives in South Korea, where he commentates the computer game “Starcraft 2” on a professional level. Electronic sport, e-sport, has not only within Asia developed towards a public phenomenon. On a global scale, tens of thousand are following Kilian via livestream.
„This is so epic, unbelievable! What a comeback!“ When Thomas Kilian is doing his job, pure passion comes out of him. From his room in Seoul or from big tournaments, as recently from “IGN Pro League” in Las Vegas, the 30 years old from Heidelberg, Germany, commentates the strategy game.
The biggest e-sports tournament in the world, the MLG (Major League Gaming) was held six times in 2011, at peak times followed by more than 240,000 viewers from 175 countries at the same time on its live streams. Caster, as commentators like Kilian are called in technical language, greatly contribute to this development. "They immediately point out if a player does some nice moves and tatics so it is possible for viewers without a lot of experience to understand what is going on," says Jonathan “DarkForce” Belke, one of the best players within Germany. The caster has to face the difficult challenge not to bore veteran players but also not to scare away rookies, so-called noobs, due to shoptalk. Already in school, Kilian had been active in the e-sport community under his ID “Khaldor”. In 2001, he made first experiences as a caster. “I got first instructions on what I have to focus, before just starting on a gut level.” At this point of time, viewer numbers above 100 were seen as great success.
Next to his hobby, he studied International Business Administration. However, “since my heart was committed to e-sports, I decided to try my luck as a caster for one year.” During this summer, in 2010, “Starcraft 2” was published. Due to new technological possibilities, various players and casters quickly offered livestreams to watch. Thanks to added commercials, one can earn some extra money by streaming. „Khaldor“ experienced his breakthrough by chance. As the English caster of a big tournament bored their viewers, a lot of them switched to Khaldor’s German stream. Quite surprised, he was faced with more than 20 pages of foremost positive feedback on his page. Although, the great majority of the viewers did not speak a word German, they were fascinated by “Khaldors” crazy-impassionate style to cast. Thus, he became a topic within the community starting to cast in English from time to time.
By now, he lives in Seoul for more than half a year. He commentates the Korean Global Starcraft League (GSL), which can be considered as Champions League of “Starcraft 2”. Moreover, he casts Korean and European tournaments. He is contracted with the Korean channel “GomTV” broadcasting Starcraft to prime time. By doing so, he earns good money: “It is enough to save a bit each month.” However, a lot of people do not understand that it is hard work, “what I am doing. If I see 18 years old teenager starting to cast a bit, thinking they would be rich, I have to smirk.” He is working the whole week, sometimes all around the clock. In the evening, he casts the GSL for „GomTV”. Tournaments, which take place within Europe, he has to commentate by night due to clock changes. In the morning, he attends a Korean language class. Around noon, he then tries to find some sleep before the same procedures starts all over again. According to him, his chances to get promoted are limited.
Actually, he casts “Code A”, which can be considered as second division of GSL. The first division, “Code S” is occupied by a legendary duo, the Americans Dan “Artosis” Stemkoski and Nicolas “Tasteless” Plott. “There is no way around the casting archon”, says Kilian.
