TK Nguyen: We might lose the game, but Vietnam wins global’s heart | EP 357

Key Concepts:

• Esports as a global phenomenon and professional gaming.
• GAM Entertainment as a national esports brand representing Vietnam.
• League of Legends as a popular esport.
• The importance of representation and national pride in esports.
• Building a high-performance culture and holistic development for esports athletes.
• The potential for Vietnam to become a global leader in esports.

1. Introduction to Esports and GAM Entertainment

• Esports is described as a global phenomenon, attracting top-tier talent and generating significant global traffic.
• The Esports World Cup in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, had a prize pool of over $70 million.
• Vietnam is becoming a symbol of resilience and ambition in esports, representing a rising nation.
• TK Win, CEO of GAM Entertainment, is interviewed about his journey in transforming a passion into a powerful force.

2. TK Win's Background and Motivation

• TK Win initially gained recognition from Skylight Nha Trang, a rooftop beach club.
• COVID-19 led to the temporary closure of Skylight and a shift towards esports.
• Randy Dobson, chairman of CMG Asia and founder of California Fitness, invested in NRG Esports in North America and saw the opportunity in Vietnam.
• TK Win missed sporting events and concerts while growing up in the US and saw esports as a way for Vietnam to be represented on the global stage.
• NRG Asia was brought to Vietnam as a joint venture with CMG, and GAM, a League of Legends team, was acquired.

3. The Potential of E-Gaming in Asia

• The gaming industry is massive, exceeding the combined music and film industries.
• Gaming is likened to soccer, with esports being the professional side, like the Premier League.
• League of Legends is the most popular esport globally.
• Approximately 3 billion people play games across mobile, console, and PC platforms.
• Vietnam has the opportunity to be a global leader in esports.
• Captain Levy is highlighted as the face of esports for Vietnam, recognized globally.

4. Content and Spectatorship in Esports

• Viewers can participate in esports through live events in arenas and online streaming.
• The LCP finals, a regional event from Riot Games, will be held in Da Nang, Vietnam, with an expected attendance of over 10,000.
• Global events like MSI (Mid-Season Invitational) and Worlds (World Cup) are held in massive arenas.
• In 2022, GAM represented Vietnam at Worlds in New York, playing at Madison Square Garden.
• The experience of seeing Vietnamese players competing on the global stage and upsetting the number one team from China was described as incredible.

5. Building a National Brand and Dream Outcome

• TK Win's dream is to see kids wearing GAM jerseys and celebrating a world championship victory, similar to celebrations for the Vietnam national football team.
• The focus is on building a world-class organization that competes against global giants like T1, Gen G, NRG, and G2.
• The goal is to create energy, emotion, heartaches, and ups and downs for the fans.
• GAM is positioned as Vietnam's team, with a theme song called "Rise as One" by Jua Pro, uniting Vietnam around the team.
• The aim is to represent not just GAM fans but the entire nation of 100 million people.
• Brands like FPT, VinFast, and Vietjet have partnered with GAM because of the engaging stories and aspirations they create for the youth.

6. Inspiring Stories of Young Esports Players

• The story of Kia is highlighted as an inspiring example.
• Kia had to drop out of school in first grade and worked selling lottery tickets.
• He discovered League of Legends at a PC cafe and quickly excelled.
• Gaming allowed him to learn how to communicate, read, and type.
• He earned a 3 million VND monthly allowance playing for a local team.
• Kia's story has gone viral, and he won the Wii Choice Award for most influential Gen Z in 2024.
• He now provides for his family and has traveled the world through esports.
• Kia is recognized as a top lane god and has a gold medal from the SEA Games.

7. Team Structure and Culture

• GAM aims to professionalize esports by building a culture around high-performance leadership.
• A League of Legends team consists of five players, two substitutes, a head coach, an assistant coach, an analyst, a GM, and trainers.
• The team previously lived in a crowded apartment but now resides in a five-bedroom villa with a chef and trainers.
• The NRG gaming house was created to provide a better environment for the players to focus on their performance.
• A full media team creates content and tells the stories of the players.

8. Becoming a Professional E-Gamer in Vietnam

• The esports scene in Vietnam is still in its early stages.
• In more developed markets like Korea, there is a step-by-step process from high school to professional teams.
• In Vietnam, players often go directly from playing at local internet cafes to the professional league.
• GAM invites high-ranking players from the Vietnam server to try out at their gaming house.
• There is a need to build a pipeline for talent development in Vietnam.

9. Leadership and Team Management

• TK Win's role involves strategic partnerships, financial management, and coaching the young players.
• He focuses on developing the players' mindset and health, in addition to their in-game skills.
• GAM's "worldass formula" is mindset times health plus skills.
• The team has morning routines that include hydration, sunlight exposure, mindfulness, stretching, and light cardio.
• TK Win also serves as a hype man, connecting with audiences at international events.

10. Vietnam's Position in the Global Esports Landscape

• GAM has represented Vietnam more than 10 times on the global stage in League of Legends.
• The team has reached the play-in stage and the Swiss stage at Worlds.
• The goal is to break into the top eight.
• GAM is dominant in Vietnam but is often the underdog internationally.
• The team has achieved upsets against teams from Brazil, North America, Europe, and China.
• The top teams in League of Legends are currently from China and Korea.
• T1, with Faker as their star player, is a dominant force in esports.
• The importance of health, fitness, recovery, and longevity is emphasized for esports players.

11. Addressing the Stigma and Promoting Wellness

• There is a stigma that esports is unhealthy, with players staying at home all day.
• GAM actively promotes wellness and encourages other teams in Vietnam to do the same.
• Ideas for watch parties include morning runs and yoga sessions.
• A 5K run with cosplay could be organized to combine fitness and gaming.

12. Entrepreneurship and Future Vision

• TK Win defines entrepreneurship as taking a risk and seeing an opportunity.
• He views esports as a platform for telling stories that unite and inspire a generation.
• He would like to see more entrepreneurs in sports and media to help elevate the entertainment space in Vietnam.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

The interview with TK Win provides a comprehensive overview of the esports landscape in Vietnam, focusing on the journey of GAM Entertainment in building a national brand and representing the country on the global stage. It highlights the potential for Vietnam to become a leader in esports, the importance of developing young talent, and the need to promote a high-performance culture that emphasizes both in-game skills and overall wellness. The discussion also touches on the entrepreneurial aspects of building an esports organization and the vision for creating a movement that unites and inspires the nation.