Only eight players in the world qualify for the Asphalt Unite global final.
At six years old, the life of Joel Alejandro Cazares It changed without him imagining it. It was not in a stadium, nor in front of a state-of-the-art computer, but in his living room, watching his two uncles play. video games. “That’s where it caught my attention”remember. “Since then I became interested in a wide variety.”
His first contact was with classic titles by Mario on the GameCube (Mario Kart, Mario Baseball), as well as FIFAy Resident Evil. However, his competitive path began years later, at 13, when he discovered a universe that would trap him for life: Asphaltthe popular racing game from Gameloft.
In 2014, during the golden era of Asphalt 8his name began to resonate within the community.
In 2018, when Gameloft took the definitive step towards eSports. That year the first official tournament in Mexico City for the new installment of the franchise, known today as Asphalt Unite. For Joel, that competition marked the beginning of a professional career that would take him further than he imagined.
Thanks to video games, Cazares has traveled the world: he has been in USA, Amsterdam, Spain (at different locations) and Germany. His track record is equally impressive: he has won national and North American tournaments and a world championship.
“It is a professional experience, like that of any athlete”he states. And it’s not an exaggeration: the organizations take care of everything (logistics, travel expenses, special treatment, VIP rooms and exclusive experiences for players). “I really feel lucky, but like everything, there is a risk in reaching those rooms”.
The price of competing among the best in the world
World ranking is not a gentle process. Only eight players on the entire planet make it to the main stage.
“A round lasts a week. To qualify, a player can train between 5 and 8 hours a day during the seven days”he explains. Each week only two finalists are chosen, until the list of eight is complete. “It is a price that not many are willing to sacrifice”he admits.
Getting to the stage is another story. The pressure is enormous: audience in front of you, cameras, lights, thousands of people connected on YouTube.
“Yes, it makes you nervous.”he acknowledges. “When you get to play the first race, it’s the key moment to stay calm. You know what you have to do and you shouldn’t think about anything other than winning.”
To control anxiety, Joel uses a mental trick: imagine that you are playing in your room, like when you started. “The reality is different, but I try to project myself there,” he says.
What started as a hobby as a result of his childhood watching his uncles playing on a console, at 26 years old he has managed to visit different countries for free, he has lived experiences that he never imagined, and although his parents doubted for a moment that everything was real, they managed to confirm it by supporting Elite Joehis pseudonym within the Gamer life.
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