Category Archives: Top

TOP Autumn - #4 - Conclusion

Closure

In the second edition of the Talent Development Programme, some lucky talents are going to work again to become a professional esporter. We have selected seven talents who have the ultimate drive to make it in the world of esports. We will subject these talents to four weekends of workshops, trainings and courses from well-known faces from the sports and esports scene.

Saturday 27 November

The very last TOP weekend of the Autumn Edition has arrived. All TOP talents have worked towards this moment in recent weeks and of course all aspects of the programme will return in the final weekend.
The day started with a workshop by sports psychologist Jan Sleijfer on the so-called '3 batteries' method. This method refers to the recharging of the different batteries in the body that enable our talents to perform optimally. A sensor was attached to the ear of the participants so that Sleijfer could measure different values.
On the basis of these results, the talents can train in a specific way to reduce stress levels and to positively influence the ability to concentrate.

After this hefty morning task it was time for lunch, followed by a final visit to BodyResults in Volendam. The TOP-talents were brought with the H20 Esportsbus to the location where they could exercise freely. Here they were given a full body scan in turn, after which the results were compared to the scan of the first weekend. The results were very surprising for some.
The day ended with a game-athlon. The participants alternately played League of Legends, Rocket League and Formula 1: most TOP talents are very talented in one specific genre. In the end, everyone received points depending on how they had performed. Of course, there could only be one winner and that was Duncan, even though he had never touched League of Legends.
At the end of the day, the talents were brought to the hostel where they could get a good rest for their last day!

Sunday 28 November

The very last day of the TOP Autumn Edition was, of course, about closure. Every TOP talent had a final talk with Dirk Marcellis, who looked at how they had fared the past few weeks and what awaits them in the future.
In the meantime, the talents received tips & tricks from Movament when it comes to ergonomics within gaming and esports. In addition, they could of course play some games before the project was closed.

While the final interviews with the talents were being completed, the family members of the talents started to pour in. Dirk Marcellis and Mike de Jongh gave a nice closing presentation and of course the talents were called up on stage one by one to show the audience what they had learned.
This brings us to the end of the TOP Autumn Edition!

We would like to thank our partners: De Talentenacademie, Jan Sleijfer, BodyResults, Movamento, Maentra Media and Grenade.

Are you the next TOP talent?

Unfortunately, the TOP Autumn Edition has come to an end, but don't worry! In the spring we will start again with a new edition.
Do you want to apply for the Spring Edition of the Talent Development Programme?
Sign up at h20.gg/talent/ and maybe you will become the new esports talent of the Netherlands!

TOP Autumn - #3 - Confrontation

Confrontation

In the second edition of the Talent Development Programme, some lucky talents are going to work again to become a professional esporter. We have selected seven talents who have the ultimate drive to make it in the world of esports. We will subject these talents to four weekends of workshops, trainings and courses from well-known faces from the sports and esports scene.

Saturday 6 November

The third weekend of the TOP Autumn Edition was all about confrontation and reflection. The TOP talents started the weekend with a nice cup of coffee or tea. The second weekend was, of course, some time ago, so the participants had to catch up. The conversation quickly turned to specific TOP-related matters such as whether someone had found a team for his game by chance and whether the talents had reflected on the course so far. Reflection is an important part of the TOP programme.
After everyone had caught up, it was soon time for the first part of the weekend. The Fit Employee was our guest this weekend and gave a workshop on meditation. During this workshop, our talents learned how to find their own peace and how to deal with any negative thoughts. After this intense exercise, it was time to take a break and enjoy a nice lunch.

Donny Stumpel of Next Level Esports was the second to provide the participants with new information and skills this weekend. There was a change between a presentation and a workshop about the so called 'esports player cycle'. Together with Donny the talents went through the different steps to see what makes them an esports player or can make them one.
Together with Maarten of Maentra Media, they looked at what it takes to make a good game stream. Questions like: how do I get a steady number of viewers on my stream, what is the best layout for my stream and other questions were all discussed. After that the talents went to work on their own stream.
After these parts, it was time for dinner and then the first day ended with a game session.

Sunday 7 November

The participants stayed at the City Trip Hostels in Purmerend. From the hostel the participants walked to the H20 Esports Campus.
After a hearty breakfast on campus it was time for another workshop with Senaptec. Together with Olly Satoer of Senaptec the talents worked on further developing their reaction speed and precision.
During these exercises the participants were called up one by one to Dirk Marcellis of the Talent Academy to go through the talent map together. They also looked at the different behavioural patterns the talents showed and then they were able to reflect on them.
To end the day, the talents worked together to escape an Escape Room. Here they had to work well together to get out. The end of the Escape Room also meant the end of the TOP-weekend.
 

We would like to thank our partners: De Talentenacademie, De Fitte Medewerker, Senaptec, Next Level Esports, Maentra Media and Grenade.

 

Are you the next TOP talent?

The current course may already be underway, but don't worry! In the spring we will start again with a new edition.
Do you want to apply for the Spring Edition of the Talent Development Programme?
Sign up via h20.gg/talent/ and maybe you will become the new esports talent of the Netherlands!

TOP Autumn - #2 - Changing environments

Changing environments

In the second edition of the Talent Development Programme, some lucky talents are going to work again to become a professional esporter. We have selected seven talents who have the ultimate drive to make it in the world of esports. We will subject these talents to four weekends of workshops, trainings and courses from well-known faces from the sports and esports scene.

Saturday 16 October

Of course, every TOP weekend has a theme and this time the theme was 'changing circumstances'. Pretty vague, but all the more exciting for our TOP participants.
We started early in the morning with a recurring workshop from the first TOP edition: the Wim Hof Ice Bath Challenge given by Niek van Halteren. The goal of this workshop was to finally sit in the ice bath and only get out after three minutes. Quite a task!

For this, our top participants were prepared with the help of special breathing techniques to protect the body and mind from the cold. After the participants had gone through various exercises, it was time to step into the ice bath. It was not easy, but in the end everyone managed to last three minutes!

After a hot shower and a chat afterwards, it was time for a history lesson about one of the Netherlands' greatest esports players ever: Sander "Vo0" Kaasjager. Sander has been active in esports since 2004 and has travelled the world for his job. An impressive story for our participants who naturally have aspirations to do the same in the future.
After his story, it was time for a healthy lunch. Of course, entirely according to the guidelines of last weekend's healthy eating workshop. With a full stomach, it was time for the next workshop. This time it was the turn of Senaptec. The participants were tested on their hand-eye coordination and reaction speed to see what level they were at. After the 0-measurement, the results were discussed with Olly Satoer of Senaptec. Now our TOP participants know what they need to work on and how far they have progressed in the learning process.
Nowadays there is no way around it: social media. For a professional esporter social media is an important tool to advance their career. Therefore Mahdi Nasrallah from Esports Coaching came by to teach the participants what is important with the use of social media and which different channels are best for your specific goals.

A TOP-weekend is of course not complete without a healthy dose of gaming. Of course the participants were able to game themselves, but at the same time as the TOP weekend, H20 Esports Campus was also the location for the national LAN finals of the Dutch Country League Finals which they could of course attend. This is the real thing!
Before leaving for Citytrip Hostels, the participants finished the evening with the chaos game. During this game, the participants' personalities came to the fore as they dealt with changing circumstances, which was also the theme of the weekend.

Sunday 17 October

Sleeping in was not on the agenda on Sunday. The participants were woken up at 7 a.m. and told that they were expected on the sports field half an hour later. Fitness trainer Michel van Halderen told the participants to run a few laps on the athletics track to warm up. 
After the warm-up, it was time to work out in the gym. The participants could immediately try out various strength exercises. The exercise itself was not the only measuring point, because after the fitness session the participants were immediately given a measurement by Senaptec. The reason for this was to see what happens to the hand-eye coordination after a physical effort.
After this hard work it was time for a healthy lunch and to boost their energy levels they also received a protein bar from Grenade.

After lunch it was time for a physiotherapy workshop by Movamento. Here, various things were measured such as the posture of the participants while gaming. A good posture is crucial, because otherwise there is a big chance that esports players will slowly develop physical complaints. The TOP participants were given tips on how to maintain that good posture while playing, no matter how exciting the match is. 
After the workshop, our top players could still play games and of course watch the final of the Dutch League Country Finals!

We would like to thank our partners: De Talentenacademie, Movamento, Senaptec, Michel van Halderen, Esports Coaching, Grenade and Niek van Halteren.

 

Are you the next TOP talent?

The current course may already be underway, but don't worry! In the spring we will start again with a new edition.
Do you want to apply for the Spring Edition of the Talent Development Programme?
Sign up via h20.gg/talent/ and maybe you will become the new esports talent of the Netherlands!

TOP Autumn - #1 - Fit for esports!

The TOP Autumn Edition is finally live! 

In the second edition of the Talent Development Programme, some lucky talents are going to work again to become a professional esporter. We have selected seven talents who have the ultimate drive to make it in the world of esports. We will subject these talents to four weekends of workshops, trainings and courses from well-known faces from the sports and esports scene.

Saturday 25 September

The beginning of every TOP weekend is always exciting, because what can you expect exactly? The participants were expected early Saturday morning at the H20 Esports Campus. First of all they were treated to a welcome speech by H20-CEO Dirk Tuip while enjoying a cup of coffee or tea. 
Afterwards, Dirk Marcellis of the Talent Academy took the participants to the Rabo Esports Stadium where they were given a presentation about the Talent Academy and what their role is within the TOP programme. 
Then it's time for the first real TOP part, taking your own profile pictures. Of course, a successful esports career needs professional photos. After every TOP talent got their own picture, it was time for the first meal of the day. Good food, a protein bar from Grenade and a refreshing drink from Damn Good Nutrition. This was also necessary, because the next part was very sporty.
The participants were tested on their physical condition at BodyResults. You wouldn't expect it, but esports can be very tiring. Therefore, it is important for an esporter to stay fit. At BodyResults, they had to do various workouts and were given an InBody Scan after which their fat percentage, muscle mass and body shape were examined. The results were taken home.

Once back at H20 Esports Campus, it was time for the next event. The company Perform 2 Achieve was ready to give a workshop on the importance of hydration. This is a vital part when it comes to top sports. During the workshop the talents had to check whether they had taken in enough fluids this day with varying results.
After dinner, it was time to take the Personal Identity Test (or PIT-test) followed by an evening of gaming. During the gaming session, the talents were called up to Dirk one by one to discuss the PIT test.

Sunday 26 September

On the Sunday morning, the participants were woken up with a beautiful musical greeting. We had a TOP talent on his birthday and he was warmly congratulated with loud music in the early morning. 
To start the day off fresh and fruity, the participants were served a good breakfast. Then it was time for the second workshop of Damn Good Nutrition, this time about the importance of good nutrition. What does a professional athlete need to look out for in terms of nutrition and what is the best food to eat? This and more questions were answered by the team of Damn Good Nutrition. After this, it was logically time for a good, hearty lunch. 

After lunch, it was time for the talents to work on their own talent folder. In this folder, they keep track of their progress throughout the TOP programme. Measuring successes and setbacks is important for the growth process. This component was combined with the so-called 'over the line' game, in which the participants were given statements that can sometimes be sensitive. The aim is to step out of one's comfort zone. In between the activities, of course, there was plenty of time for gaming.
Just before the end of the weekend, the sleep pyramid was discussed. The participants were given this topic as homework for the coming weeks. We are looking forward to the next TOP weekend, because something tells us that it might be a cool weekend.

We would like to thank our partners: The Talent Academy, Damn Good Nutrition, Grenade, Perform 2 Achieve and BodyResults!

TOP Spring Edition

The Autumn Edition of the Talent Development Programme is almost upon us. That is why it is so good to look back on the past months in which H20 Esports Campus, together with numerous partners, organised the first talent development programme in the Netherlands for gaming talents (H20 Esports TOP Program) has executed.
In The Netherlands we have enough top sporters running around and also in the field of esports there's enough talent running around. However, often the right guidance is lacking in the beginning of someone's career in esports. For this reason H20 has set up the Talent Development Program (TOP) in which nine talented gamers with the ambition to become professional esports players are coached by professionals from the esports and sports world over a period of four months.

Talents

Ambitious talents had to submit videos with their motivation and current skills in a game of their choice in the run-up to the TOP track. In the end, out of more than one hundred applications, we selected nine talents that we, in cooperation with our partners, started working with in the spring.

The first batch of TOP talents are: Sven Gerritsen (League of Legends), Thymo Gans (Fortnite), Boyd Veenstra (Valorant), Ties Winkel (Valorant), Ryan Yap (League of Legends), Saharat Yimpra (Fortnite), Stef Keuken (Rocket League), Rover Stolte (Fortnite) and finally Tim Rolfes (Simracing).
These talents have all successfully completed the TOP track despite many challenges, setbacks and sometimes confrontational discussions. 

H20 Esports TOP Program

The Talent Development Programme was divided into four weekends over a period of four months. Each weekend focused on a different aspect of the professional esports world. There is a lot more to a professional esports career than just being good at one specific discipline. 
Weekend 1: Get to know yourself
The first weekend of course served as an introduction to the course. The talents were tested on their personal fitness and responsiveness. In addition, they were given workshops on the importance of a good night's sleep and how to make the best use of their energy.
Weekend 2: Consciously out of your comfort zone

The second weekend was all about pushing their own limits by remaining calm in an ice bath using the Wim Hof breathing method, condition and strength training in the early morning and 'gaming under resistance'. In addition, the talents were given a history lesson by Dutch esports legend Sander "Vo0" Kaasjager and were given a presentation on the importance of proper nutrition.

Weekend 3: Your own behaviour towards others
The third weekend was all about building a good professional foundation. The TOP talents got presentations about the qualities a professional esporter should have, which legal rights an esporter has and how they can create and promote their own brand name. In addition, they received personal training from professional esporters in their respective games.
Weekend 4: Putting your experiences into practice
During the fourth and final TOP weekend, the focus was on the path after the Talent Development Programme. They had to make a plan for the future and they were tested again on their responsiveness. In addition, at the end the talents were interviewed about their experiences and received their own esports jersey with the TOP logo and their own name. 
 

Testimonials

Tim Rolfes, Simracing TOP talent: "The workshops during the TOP programme were really fun to do. In the beginning I sometimes wondered what the point of this was, but eventually I noticed that these workshops and training sessions, among other things, made me feel better and I gained more concentration while gaming."
Stef Kitchen Rocket League TOP talent: "I have gained a lot from the TOP programme. I am a lot calmer now because of all the breathing exercises and anti-stress workshops and I also suffered a lot from stage fright and I have overcome that quite a lot, if I do say so myself. I shouldn't really persuade anyone to take part in the programme, because it really speaks for itself. You learn so much here, it's almost unbelievable. The atmosphere here is really great!
H20 Project Manager Tobias Zevenhoven: "This unique group of TOP talents have all proven themselves during the programme. It is really cool to see how these participants have developed. Despite the fact that each had their own game, there was a good atmosphere in the group and they all got along very well."

Partners

The TOP programme would be nothing without the help of our many partners and sponsors. We would therefore like to thank each partner and sponsor individually.
Talent Academy Group (TAG), under the guidance of former professional footballer Dirk Marcellis, helped us with the coaching of the talents and TAG was also responsible for a large number of workshops. BodyResults took care of the physical measurements of our talents at their location in Volendam. Senaptec tested our talents on aspects like reaction time, hand-eye coordination and depth perception.
Rowan Stroo of SEG gave a presentation on building a successful esports career and Remco Wortel of Vissers Legal gave a presentation on the legal side of esports. Mahdi Nasrallah of esportscoaching.nl and social media manager of Ajax esports gave a course on promoting your own brand through social media.
Sports psychologist Jan Sleijfer of NLsportpsycholoog gave presentations about breathing and stress. Damn Good Nutrition provided the drinks, but also presentations on important nutrition and Grenade provided the energy bars that our talents could grab for free.
Stanno provided the sportswear and Gladiator provided the gaming chairs at H20 Esports Campus. Garmin has provided the Garmin Instinct Esports Watches to the TOP talents and interested people can buy the Garmin Instinct Esports Watch with discount via h20.gg/garmin-instinct-esports-watch/.
We would also like to thank our game trainers: Dion "FASHR" Derksen for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Valorant, Floris Wijers for simracing and Frank Bastik from Twaanlab for Rocket League.

Besides that we would like to thank everyone who paid attention to the first TOP track in any way and we will see you at the TOP Autumn Edition in September!

TOP talents have successfully completed the first TOP course

During the weekend of Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 June, the H20 Esports Campus Amsterdam was the location of the last TOP weekend of the current programme! In the Talent Development Programme (TOP) we train nine talents to become professional esports players.

Saturday, 26 June:

The final weekend of the Talent Development Programme (TOP) Spring Edition took place last weekend. After each participant was tested, the talents started the final learning steps towards a full-fledged esports career.
Today, the participants started making a plan of action: what do they want to achieve after TOP? And where do they see themselves after completing this programme? Led by Dirk from the Talent Academy, the talents forged their own plan. Then it was time for lunch!

With their bellies full, the participants went to work on their own games. This allowed them to prepare for what was still on the programme in the evening. For some participants, this was still a challenge. 
The last activity was a so-called game-athlon. The participants got to work with the games of the other TOP talents. First, they went on the virtual race track of our sim racer Tim, where the participants had to race against each other. Then came building and speed in the game Fortnite. Finally, it was all about precision, with games such as Rocket League and Valorant. 

Sunday 27 June

The participants had to get up early for an early gym session. There is nothing better than starting the day actively to wake up well. 
The first workshop focused on maximum performance. Through small exercises with the body and the mind, the participants gained insight into how they can perform better and how the body helps them to do so. They also practised meditation, which made the participants feel relaxed and calm. 
The next workshop was given by Senaptec. Here, the participants could once again enter the world of precision and speed. All participants were tested and had to undergo a number of measurements and it turned out: there was still a lot to gain! Only one of the participants measured a precision of no less than 100%! This rarely happens. After the Senaptec exercise, it was time for a hearty lunch and then the conclusion of the TOP programme.

The family members of the participants were invited to the closing of the programme. After all, a TOP programme also needs a TOP closing. The parents and participants were addressed by Dirk Marcellis of De Talentenacademie, H20-Founder Dirk Tuip and H20's Operational Manager Mike de Jongh. They also received a cool shirt with their own nickname and the logos of TOP and H20. They received this as a gift for concluding the first TOP course. After all the speakers, the participants and their parents could go to the Esports Lounge Cafe to have a drink while the last interviews were conducted in the H20 Streaming Studio. Finally everyone went home and the very first TOP had come to an end.

Are you the next TOP talent?

The current course may have ended, but not to worry! In September, we start again with a new edition.
Do you want to apply for the Autumn Edition of the Talent Development Programme? Sign up quickly via h20.gg/talent/ and maybe you will become the new esports talent of the Netherlands!

This is how the third TOP weekend looked like!

During the weekend of Saturday 5 and Sunday 6 June, the H20 Esports Campus Amsterdam was the location of the third TOP weekend. In the Talent Development Programme (TOP) we train nine talents to become professional esports players.


Saturday, 5 June:

The third TOP-weekend is unfortunately over again! This weekend was all about teambuilding. Some esports you play solo, but in many esports you are part of a team, but where can you find a well-functioning team that suits you as a player. Our talents went to work on it this weekend.
As is almost tradition by now, the weekend began of course with a test to see if everyone was healthy. After this, the TOP talents got a presentation from Rowan Stroo, Esports Director at SEG International, a management agency for esports players, footballers and artists. Rowan's presentation was about building a good online esports career, giving them a lot of information about the qualities an esporter needs to have to build a great career and how to achieve this.

After Rowan Stroo's presentation and a short break, it was time for another presentation. Remco Wortel of Vissers Legal highlighted a complicated but very important part of esports life, namely the legal side. Which legal possibilities do you have as an esporter and what do you have to pay attention to? Not something every aspiring professional is doing, but crucial. After this, it was time for lunch.
After a tasty lunch, attention was paid to the public persona that you project as a professional. Creating and managing a social media account is a matter of course in order to maintain a good fan base. That is why our toppers went to work on creating their own social media account. They were given the task of using a social post to highlight the TOP weekend like an esporter or influencer would. Important aspects are content, beautiful visuals and of course a certain degree of professionalism.
Afterwards they got a streaming workshop in the H20 Streaming Room. They learned what it takes to start a good stream and what effect this has on your fan base on all social channels.

After dinner, it was time for a surprise. Coaches came to coach the TOP heroes in the games they played. Frank Bastik for Rocket League, F1 Esports driver Floris Wijers for simracing and the Counter-Strike professional Dion 'Fashr' Derksen for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and Valorant. The participants were coached by these coaches for three hours. After that it was time for a good night's rest, because they had a busy day ahead of them on Sunday. 

Sunday, 6 June: 

On the second day, the TOP talents had to get up early for a run. It is important to start the day healthily with a bit of exercise. After they returned from their morning workout, it was already time for the first activity.
The boys got a social media-course from Mahdi Nasrallah from esportscoaching.nl and also working as a social media manager for Ajax esports. During this course the boys received important tips on how to use the right social media channels, how to present yourself on social media and what you should and should not do! The social media assignment of Saturday also came back, as Mahdi looked at the posts they had made and gave useful feedback.
 

After a morning workout and an instructive course, it was time for lunch again. The rest of the day was led by Dirk Marcellis, former professional footballer and performance coach of De Talenten Academie. The TOP talents had to work on their own qualities by means of a personal identity test, or PIT-test. They did this in the form of small games. To conclude this block, the participants had to act as real team players, as they had to solve an escape room. Here, teamwork and communication were put to the test, but in the end they succeeded!
This concluded the third TOP weekend. We will see our talents again at the fourth and last TOP-weekend on Saturday 26 and Sunday 27 June.
 

Interested in the TOP track?

Do you think you have what it takes to become a professional esporter and do you want to be the next TOP talent?
Go to h20.gg/talent/ to sign up for the Autumn edition!

This is how the second TOP weekend looked like!

The H20 Esports Campus Amsterdam was the location of the second TOP weekend on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 May. In the Talent Development Programme (TOP) we train nine talents to become professional esports players.

Saturday 1 May

Saturday 1 May, it was time again for the second TOP weekend in which we trained nine talents to become professional esports players! All the talents had brought lots of extra stuff with them because they had to stay overnight.
Before we started, of course, everyone had to undergo a little quick test and fortunately everyone tested negative. Then it was time for the real thing! The day started with a Wim Hof workshop. The method of the same name was of course invented by the Dutch Ice Man, Wim Hof. 

In this workshop, the talents had to do exercises in which they learned how to push their own limits. It was a lesson in not giving up, but continuing no matter how badly you want to stop. Finally, the talents' willpower was put to the test when they each had to sit in an ice bath for two minutes!

After a nice hot shower, the talents had to go straight to Senaptec where, just like the first TOP weekend, their reaction skills were tested in the Esports Vision Lab. This happened with a number of 'reaction games'. After the talents were physically and mentally exhausted, it was time for a hearty lunch. Good nutrition is of course very important for top talents. 
After lunch it was time for a presentation by an esports legend. Former professional esports player Sander 'Vo0' Kaasjager took the talents into the world of a professional esporter. The former Quake champion talked about his experiences, travelling and how it really feels to be an esporter. Our nine talents were very impressed by the presentation.

Afterwards, the talents enjoyed a delicious portion of home-made pasta. After dinner, they had to work on their own goals. The professional ex-soccer player Dirk Marcellis from the Talent Academy took care of this workshop. At the end of the day, the talents could of course play free games and then go to bed early.

Sunday 2 May

On the morning of Sunday 2 May, the participants were lovingly woken up at 6.45 a.m. by a cheerful tune played on a boom box, with the volume turned up nice and loud. This sweet, gentle approach helped a lot, because 15 minutes later our talents were already ready to work out. 

This sports session was given by Michel van Halderen of fitness centre Wellness Profi Centre on the grounds of the H20 Esports Campus. The session consisted of a combination of condition and strength training. Despite getting up early and the surprise of a sports session the talents did great! Therefore they deserved of course a good breakfast. During the breakfast they also discussed what they had learned in the past weeks.
After breakfast, it was time for a presentation by Damn Good Nutrition about how important nutrition really is for a professional. Our talents should of course pay attention to what kind of nutrition they take, what kind of nutrition is best for them and how healthy is what they consume. Of course, our talents were very hungry after the presentation, so it was time for a nice lunch.

After lunch, Dirk Marcellis gave a fun but educational chaos training that looked at how the talents would deal with changes in situations. They had to work together in this game in order to win.

The last activity of the TOP weekend was ´Gaming under resistance´ in which the talents had to play an official game in their respective video games but with a big twist. In their own video games they are of course very focused, but do they stay focused when people try to distract them?
The talents were bombarded with loud noises from all sides while gaming, bright lights were nearby and a shoutcaster was chatting in the background so it seemed as if they were in a full esports stage. The top players had trouble concentrating in the beginning, but eventually it went a lot better. After the chaos training, they reflected on how they had experienced it. With this, the second TOP-weekend was also successfully concluded!

Interested in the TOP track?

Do you think you have what it takes to become a professional esporter and do you want to be the next TOP talent?
Go to h20.gg/talent/ to register for the Autumn edition!
The current course runs until the beginning of the summer and the next TOP weekend will take place on 5 and 6 June.

Partners

We would also like to thank our partners!
Talent Academy Group, Damn Good Nutrition, Senaptec, Grenade, BodyResults, Stanno and Gladiator Esports, thank you very much!

This is how the first TOP weekend looked like!

The weekend of 3 and 4 April saw the start of the first edition of the Talent Development Programme. In the TOP programme, nine game talents are trained to become true esports players. We give you a short summary of the first weekend.
The TOP programme started on Saturday 3 April. The participants arrived at the H20 Esports Campus at 9am. They then had to do a COVID19 quick test, because of course it has to remain safe. After all participants had been tested negative, the weekend started with a presentation by H20-founder Dirk Tuip. In this presentation Dirk told how he started this company and how he experiences it. 
After the introduction it was time for a tour through the H20 Esports Campus where the participants were thrown in at the deep end. They had to give a presentation about themselves on the mainstage in the Rabo Esports Arena. Dealing with stage fright is of course one of the most important aspects if you want to become a professional athlete. Of course, this also includes an appropriate photo. After this impromptu photo shoot, the participants were treated to a hearty lunch prepared by H20's catering staff.
These are the nine TOP talents of the Talent Development Programme:

 
After the hunger had been satisfied, it was time to get some exercise. The whole group got ready for a trip to BodyResults, a gym where the participants were tested on how fit they really were. Upon arrival, the first five participants were measured with a body scan. The BodyResults staff were able to determine all sorts of things from these measurements, including fat content. After this measurement, it was time for a vigorous workout that lasted no less than an hour! The TOP talents went all the way. After this gruelling workout the participants returned to the location with the esports bus. Here they ended the day with a presentation on sleep from the Talent Academy.

Day Two

The second day of the TOP weekend started on Sunday at 10 am. Our TOP-talents were suffering from muscle ache from the hellish work-out the day before. With a presentation by Jesse Groenendaal we went back in time with the game Quake. The former Quake-pro told about his experience in the world of esports and what the participants could expect. After this history lesson, it was time for a nice, hearty lunch to boost those overworked muscles.

While our talents were having lunch, a set-up was prepared by the company Senaptec, where the participants were tested on their reaction time. Here, the participants got to know interesting results about their eyes that they can put into practice in the future. During this test, time was used to discuss the pre-completed PIT test with the participants. These results were discussed by former professional footballer Dirk Marcellis. At the same time sports psychologist Jan Sleijfer gave a workshop in the Gaming club. In this workshop, participants learned about their 'batteries' and how to influence them while gaming. The workshop focused on breathing, but also on the stress that the participants experience while gaming. The day ended with a presentation on behaviour by the Talent Academy.
The second TOP weekend will take place on Saturday 1 May and Sunday 2 May.