He is one of Malta’s most successful international competitors, has followers around the world, and has just won $20,000 at his game’s world championships in London, but you’ve probably never heard of him.
Kurt Fenech – or kurt0411 as he is known online – is part of the rapidly growing world of competitive video gaming, or eSports, and makes a full-time living playing EA Sports’ popular football game FIFA.
He has recently returned from the FIFA eWorld Cup in London, which brought together the best players from around the world, and which he entered as one of the favourites. Mr Fenech reached the semi-finals, losing to the eventual winner and missing out on the top prize of $250,000.
“I have a lot of mixed emotions: part of me is still angry that I couldn’t go that one step further, but at the same time I’m proud of what I achieved,” he said.
“This year was just setting a benchmark. I feel more comfortable now, playing at more events. Next year, I can definitely make that final step.”
Like many of his age, Mr Fenech, 23, started playing FIFA as a child against friends and others online.
At 15 he was already aware he could compete at the top level, and when EA Sports began…
