Edinburgh graduate helps pro-gamers 'deal with stress' during worldwide e-game tournaments

dailyrecord.co.uk:

An Edinburgh graduate is applying his psychology degree in an unconventional way, helping professional gamers manage stress in the fast-growing world of e-sports.

Kevin Wang, 23, earned his MSc in performance psychology from the University of Edinburgh in 2024. While many of his classmates pursued careers coaching athletes, business professionals, or police officers, Kevin took a different path, joining Fokus, a German e-sports team.

At Fokus, Kevin works with players competing in Valorant, a tactical 5v5 shooter game played on the global stage. Much like traditional athletes, professional gamers face intense pressure to perform, and Kevin helps them navigate challenges such as performance anxiety, confidence issues, and stress related to player statistics. “Players have to make decisions in microseconds,” Kevin explained to EdinburghLive. “They face external pressures from fans, management, and teammates.

At some point, everyone encounters high-pressure situations, and it’s crucial to be prepared to handle them.” In Valorant, teams compete to be the first to score 13 points, requiring split-second decision-making and precise teamwork.