Athar Ellahi, a 25-year-old engineering graduate, who is a passionate e-gamer also, has started his own YouTube channel “Kashmiri Gaming Community” to showcase the talent of e-gamers from Kashmir valley to the rest of the world.
Hailing from Harwan area of Srinagar district, Ellahi is popularly known as “MasTer” in the e-gaming world. He was recently awarded as “Most Valued Player of the Tournament” at an online game K-Valorant tournament.
Athar spends most of his day playing online games and trying to create new content for his YouTube Channel, while preparing to pursue his masters in Europe.
His inspiration is “Kenny Schrub” a French e-Sports player who has played for many teams most prominently “G2 Sports”.
“I have been playing games since I was a kid. But watching him play and destroy teams in Counter Strike pushed me into gaming professionally”, Ellahi said.
He said he had to adjust and work on a timetable to manage his engineering studies and gaming at the same time.
“I never gave up on gaming. It has taught me, never to give up” he claimed.
Gaming used to be a bit expensive when he was younger. Nowadays a basic mid-range gaming pc costs less than a good mobile phone designed for gaming.
“People buy a mobile phone worth Rs70,000 to Rs100,000, instead you get a personal computer for much less. This shows us world has become virtually.”
With the restoration of 4G internet speed and introduction of high speed optical fibre internet connections, Athar knew that this was the chance he was waiting for, “I created a YouTube channel of KGC as a platform for youngsters to showcase their talent. I did it as no country recognises Kashmiri players or streamers as e-sports players, even though we have potential to play in top leagues.” he said
He believes that he has grown up to fully realise his dream and has no other option but to find an alternative way to financially support his passion. However, he does not want the young generation to go through the same.
“We mostly stream Counter Strike and Valorant on our channel and roll out best plays as a YouTube video every 20 days.”
“This is my end game. All I want is to see is a Kashmiri youth to play at the highest level first in the country and then the world.”
