For any South African to play video games competitively, it is a rather daunting task. Politics in the industry aside, the conditions aren't always conducive to bring the best out of gamers. Putting that aside, Africans with an interest in esports should always celebrate the achievements of Africans when there is something to celebrate - no matter how small.
On the world stage, Africans generally have a tough time making a meaningful impact. So when one of our own almost managed to finish in the top four at the recently-concluded World Electronic Sports Games (WESG), it truly is a cause for jubilations.
Jana 'SaltyMonkey' du Toit represented South Africa and travelled to China last week to compete in the female portion of the Hearthstone tournament of the APAC Regional Qualifiers. With eight players in the pool, du Toit managed to finished 4th overall after a nail-biting semi-final elimination.
First tournament
Recognised in South Africa as a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive player for Energy Finesse (and also being its Vice Captain), this was the first Hearthstone tournament that she entered - and she is naturally as pleased as punch with the result.
"Considering that this is my first tournament, I think I did exceptionally well. The fact of losing the semi-finals 4-3 is a tight game. It is by no means a walk-over, and I am very proud of myself being able to stand my ground," she told ESPN Africa's Charlie Fripp in an interview.
"My preparation lacked slightly and in the future I would do that differently, but I'm rather happy with the result. Of course you are disappointed when you don't win, but all in all I'm not disappointed in how I did. Considering especially in the semi-final I was 2-0 down and I was 100% convinced that I was going to 4-0ed, but then I clawed my way back and won three games consecutively. I am really proud of myself for having being able to get my mind around it," she explained.
Being the only South African to play Hearthstone at WESG, it isn't always easy to figure out how your opponents are going to react to situations - especially if you haven't played on the Asian circuit before.
Deckbuilding
How does the South African playstyle differ from that of Asians? Well, according to du Toit they tend to take more risks - something that South Africans are a bit shy to do.
But, she elaborated, SA players can definitely keep up.
"By no means are we inadequate, but we do think very differently than what they (WESG players) do. They tend to play a bit more aggressive and are able to minimise their luck a bit more than what we are. Statistically I think it is how they work it out, and I'm going to write it down to just pure experience. I know they watch a lot of streams and really keep up to date with the meta."
The one area where South African can learn a lot from international players, are the way in which we build our decks.
"Their deck building, I'm afraid, is actually better than ours. They are extremely ballsy. We had a player, where everyone was banning Warlock, targeted Warlock and put in a Shaman. That is extremely ballsy to do. The whole mentality of how I'm approaching this game and lineups don't differ that much, but they do tweak theirs slightly more. What South African are lacking are deckbuilding," she said.
Experience at WESG
Du Toit's result aside, she explained that her experience at WESG will be a treasured memory for a long time.
"The venue was incredible. It looked a bit like The Dome, as it was literally a dome. Unfortunately the venue was a bit far from the hotel that they put us in, so it was an hour trip by bus there and back every day. But the area where WESG is located, is an area that China is trying to uplift, so sending us there I think they were hoping to uplift the community a bit - which you can respect. But you have to give it to the Chinese as they do put on quite a show, and really looked after us."
She relayed fond memories of the food, the amazing hospitality - and having her picture taken by random strangers on the side of the road.
"China itself was very good to me - people were very nice to me because they are not used to blondish girls with light eyes. I had a bunch of really random people take photos of me for no apparent reason. Or I will be walking down the street and they will be sneakily taking pictures of me. I think the place that we went to is kind of a bit remote and I don't think they see a lot of tourists. I think I'm on so many people's social media profiles!"
Combining time for CS and Hearthstone
Wanting to focus more on Hearthstone this year, du Toit was very quickly to dispel any rumours or speculation that she will be solely competing in Blizzard's card game.
"Last year was very Counter-Strike focused, but I'm never going to leave CSGO behind, so nobody has to panic. I'm not leaving it behind, and it is very possible for me to do both," she said.
Elaborating a bit further she explained that CSGO and Hearthstone tournament are not at the same time, and "if you prep well you can still do both."
She added: "But last year was CSGO-focussed for me where this year I'm planning to not put as much into CSGO as I'm trying to elevate the Hearthstone scene slightly."
How will she elevate the local Hearthstone scene? By promoting the game as much as possible, and attempt to get more girls playing through various initiative.
"This year I would like to maybe campaign for Hearthstone a bit more in terms of awareness to get more people involved in the Fireside Gatherings. Maybe just build the community, and actually get someone to (regularly) stream Hearthstone in SA. We need to change the way we approach it as casters. I also want to promote girls in Hearthstone, because as much as my competitors at WESG were insane, I would like to see more of them. The more players we are, the more we elevate the skill."
As part of her personal Hearthstone goal, du Toit would like to qualify for Worlds "but I don't really know how well that is going to go."
Stressing the CS point further, she was quick to add: "But don't worry - I'm not letting go of CS, and will be playing just as much as always."
Getting into Hearthstone
But how did du Toit get into a game like Hearthstone? She chuckled when explaining the circumstance, saying that it was rather accidental - as was her interest in Counter-Strike.
"A friend of mine was playing Hearthstone and they told me that I would really like it. At the time I thought that game was nonsense and that I don't want to play it. But then one day I was bored while working from home and I just wanted something to play. So I started playing Hearthstone and all of a sudden I started playing competitively."
Future plans
Most competitive players tend to be active until their late twenties, from where they move into different roles in esports. For du Toit, she envisions a similar path when the time is right.
"In a couple of years I would like a different role in esports and sort of just give way to other girls. I think I have done a lot in my short time - not everyone is aware of what I have been doing - as I have put in a lot of time in to very specific things. (I want) to further girls in gaming, improve girls' skills in gaming, and just awareness in general. At some point I can't keep doing that and playing, then there would be point in which you can do the same for the community from a position where you are no longer a player."
Elevating girls in gaming
Teams like Energy Finesse, of which du Toit has been an instrumental member, has had a very specific set of goals when it was created. Of those, du Toit explains, were to normalise girl gaming.
She feels passionate about creating a CSGO team, an environment or community where girls aren't scared of the community, scared of other girls or be scared of how a guy would treat you. Finesse wanted to achieve that goal by getting more girls involved and normalising the scene.
"The more you get involved, the more you elevate the skill and the better the competitors become and the scene as a whole. We used our platform as Energy Finesse to get other girls to take note and want to be in gaming. By creating that environment, you create a community that simultaneously want to get better. How would you elevate girls in gaming? By getting more involvement," she said.
Tying in with what she explained earlier, she will take her love, passion and knowledge of Counter-Strike, and apply that to Hearthstone in the same way.
"I want to achieve the same thing for Hearthstone. I would like to have Hearthstone WESG qualifiers this year be 16 girls, and we can achieve that. I don't even care how good or bad they are, if we get 16 girls then that is already a massive change," du Toit concluded.