41. This is the case of 25 enne Thomas “ZooMaa” Paparatto , US professional player of Call of Duty who announced his retirement – at least “for the foreseeable future” – from the scene (he was in the New York Subliners) due to a wrist and thumb injury .

In a long post, ZooMaa explained that a few years ago the wrist and thumb started to show weakness, so much so that require surgery. “Unfortunately, the injury has returned, making it really difficult for me to compete at the highest level against some of the best players in the world. world. Playing with weakness and pain in the hand is no longer possible “.

The loss of competitiveness and the possibility of causing further damage to the hand have therefore led the pro player to step back . “It breaks my heart to walk away from a game that I have put my heart and soul into every single day for eight years,” ZooMa explained, thanking the whole esports world.

” I’m not sure what the future holds and will explore all options as I love this game too much to completely walk away . I see it as a door that closes and another that opens “, he concluded. The experience gained could make him an excellent coach / mental coach for the future levers of the world of eSports, but the roles in the sector could be multiple in a rapidly expanding world.

” Games have reached a very exciting level in our society. They are no longer seen as a refuge for social outcasts, they are now part of the mainstream, “said Professor Andrew Przybylski, director of research at the Internet Institute at the University of Oxford. to NBC News.

As for the injury, pro players put tremendous stress on their fingers and hand in general for several hours every day, like a football player urges his knees to to the point of breaking the meniscus or ligaments: without wanting to bring anyone unfortunate, the world of esports will likely have more and more to do with this type of problem. Surgeons and orthopedists are advised.