Dean Sutton, 25, makes a living from playing games on the Xbox console, competing in the UK national final of the Championship Gaming Series. The gamer, known in the gaming world as Picaso, is travelling to Los Angeles to compete with his team, Birmingham Salvo, to try to secure a place in the World Championships, which has a first prize of $500,000.
He said: "I'm getting paid a salary for the next year plus any prize money. The prospect of splitting $500,000 between my teammates is pretty good. It seems a bit weird just for playing video games, but I'm glad it could be our team."
Dean, started playing four years ago plays Forza 2, a motorsport game, while other team members specialise in football game Fifa, the Dead or Alive fighting game or the team-based shooter Counter-Strike.
Dean said: "I've never been out of Europe before so that's exciting.
Michael O'Dell, manager of the Birmingham Salvo, who selected Dean for the team, said: "He is one of the best players in the world, there is no doubt about that.
"I think he can help take the team to the world final, it's just about how he can handle the pressure of being watched by millions of people."
If successful in securing a place at the World Championships, Dean and the rest of the team could be watched by an estimated 300 million viewers as the competition is broadcast on Sky in the UK, Direct TV in America, Star in Asia, and Eurosport.
They will fight it out against seven other teams from America, South America and the rest of Europe for the prize money.
Source: Echo-News