Kim “Geguri” Se-yeon’s story of her entry into the world of professional Overwatch is an interesting one, to say the least. Her ridiculously high level of play as Zarya lead pair of professional players to call her out for cheating; they even went so far as to promise to quit the game for good if she could prove she wasn’t. Geguri took the challenge and streamed herself playing live to definitively prove she is truly an amazing player and does not rely on any cheating software. According to a post on Reddit, the two professional players were forced to eat their words, most likely with a healthy dose of salt, and quit the game entirely.
Geguri was eventually signed to play with the Shanghai Dragons of the Overwatch League, becoming the first woman in the league. Though the Dragons’ inaugural season was by no means a successful one with a record of 0-40, the team has since turned it around for Season 2. The Dragons currently sit with a 7-7 record and even made it to the Stage 2 playoffs. As an integral part of the team, Geguri proves that professional eSports is not, and should never be a boys club.
Geguri has recently been named as one of Time’s Next Generation Leaders of 2019. As the first woman to make it to the Overwatch League, she is an inspiration to so many people, especially young girls who enjoy video games. “Since I am the only female player in the whole league, I think there are a lot of people who look up to me and see me as a role model. Knowing this, I’m trying a lot harder to inspire others to get to where I am today,” Geguri told Time.
Geguri joins just nine other individuals on the list of Next Generation Leaders. According to Time, the list is comprised of “young people forging new paths in politics, music and more.” Her inclusion both challenges the gender stereotypes in gaming as well as brings eSports as a whole into the public eye.