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Last year saw Talal ‘Virus’ Almalki level up to one of just a handful of pro esports players to Saudi Arabia home.
Born in Jeddah to a large family (Almalki has five brothers and one sister), it was a mutual love of video games that kept the family playing together.
That love of gaming continued, and soon Almalki was one of the most highly-celebrated first person shooter gamers in the region. His gaming streams and tournament wins soon drew the attention of world-renowned FaZe clan, which signed the young player last year.
We recently sat down with the Virus to talk about what it was like during his early years, how he coped during the pandemic (hint: it involved quite a bit of gaming) and his most recent partnership with Gamers Without Borders.
What motivated you to join the Gamers Without Borders charity tournament?
I love gaming, and for me it’s great to be part of a tournament which supports such an important cause and helps distributing vaccines to those living in the world’s most vulnerable nations. I’m proud of the fact that my country has organized the world’s biggest charity esports tournament for a second year in a row, and I’m glad to throw my weight alongside the world’s best gamers and the global gaming community in the fight against COVID-19.
Why did you decide to become a gamer?
When I was younger, I enjoyed playing difficult video games because I love a challenge. It’s what motivates me. Call of Duty in particular was my favourite because it’s all about precision, patience and some quick thinking. I remember watching YouTube videos of other gamers and trying beat the records they held. Fast forward to now and I’m the first Saudi Arabian member of Faze Clan which is unbelievable, and an absolute dream come true.
How has lockdown been for you? Would you say that gaming has helped people during the pandemic?
For me, in terms of gaming the pandemic actually helped me to become the player that I am today which led me to join Faze Clan. After finishing high school in Saudi Arabia, I went to Canada to study English before moving to New Zealand to pursue my passion for air traffic control.
I graduated in 2019 from Massey University’s School of Aviation but once the pandemic hit I returned to Jeddah to be with my family. This gave me more time to focus purely on gaming, release quality content and improve my performance which is when I set my sights on joining FaZe Clan. After months of hard work and practice I finally made it int the Top 100, then Top 20 and finally joined one of the biggest esports companies in the world.
What do you do to de- stress and unwind?
It’s extremely important to take time focus on my physical and mental health, especially when we live in a post pandemic world. I’ve seen so many creators quit streaming because they’ve put too much pressure on themselves to keep producing content which became too mentally exhausting. The ‘streamer burn – out syndrome’ is actually very common in our industry and not many people talk about it. I try to take a break I’m feeling overwhelmed and focus my energy on going to the gym which I really enjoy – that’s how I unwind.
What does the future hold for you?
To be honest I’m still trying to get used to the fact that I’m a member of FaZe and have an opportunity to do what I love on a daily basis. My focus is to keep improving my game and hopefully bring more recognition to local players. When it comes to gaming, there is so much talent in Saudi Arabia and I hope that my story will inspire others to never give up and pursue their dream!
For more information on Gamers Without Borders – and to catch ‘Virus’ in action – head to gamerswithoutborders.com
