Pokimane's Tips for Being a Diamond Level Gamer

What's up guys? Audrey here at Riot headquarters, home of League of Legends and the North American League of Legends Championship Series. Now, Pokemon is one fierce female gamer. She has over 200,000 followers on Twitch, and 30,000 subscribers on YouTube, and she's a diamond level league player. Lucky for us, she's letting us hang out with her as she catches an epic match up between NRG and TSM. You might recognize this lovely young lady because you might be one of her over 200,000 Twitch followers. Pokemon. Thanks so much for hanging out with me.

Thank you for having me.

We are in League of Legends heaven. What's it like being here, getting to experience the LCS up close and personal?

Honestly, it's awesome just because you get to be in a huge crowd of people who share the same passion as you do. TSM, TSM, TSM! As much as I love the online community, seeing that in person is just like so surreal and it really just energizes you and it makes you even more hype.

It's better IRL.

Exactly.

Well, I gotta say, I am so impressed. You are a diamond level league player. As league fans know, getting there is no easy task. So what are your top tips for people to get to a diamond level or above?

My biggest tip and the biggest tip that really anyone can give you is small champion pool, map awareness, keeping an eye on the jungler. Those are really like the most important things if you want to climb.

I have like three of these. I think I have two of these actually. They're so soft. They're so soft. Little babies. And these figurines are just like amazing. How often are you online like looking at merch?

League and video game merch is my life. I love that stuff.

I think one of the hardest things about what you do is just by fact that you are a female in this world, and it's almost inevitable you're gonna have to put up with a lot of stuff from the community. How do you deal with the negativity that comes your way?

I think the best way to handle online hate is really to just get some humor into it. Just laugh it off. Realize that this person really knows nothing about me, so they don't really have a lot of credibility to really put you down.

Yeah. Right?

Yeah.

Oh, we have the infamous.

Yes. I have two of these and one of these. I've never even seen this one. These are so cute. These are adorable. A lot of the shirts here are really awesome. I have like three of these. There's something about wearing what you love that makes you feel good, you know? Like if I'm wearing an Akali shirt and someone recognized it and they're like, "Oh my God, you play League? I do too." There's just something about that. Like, it makes you feel good.

Exactly. Yes. Yes. It's like you're part of a club. Like you're part of a special league. But don't. And when you're not gaming, what do you like to do?

I love school. I know that's like a shady.

Can we talk about? No, no. Can we talk about this? She studies chemical engineering, guys. Boom. My stop.

I love math. That's my favorite subject. I know when people say that they're like, "Are you crazy?" But

No, I was on the math team in high school. So I'm with you. I like math. But being around the pro players and getting to see the games, does this make you want to go pro at any time? Could you see yourself up on that stage in the LCS Arena?

It's amazing to do for if you're really passionate about League, which I am, but I know that for me to want to go pro, Riot would have to have female-only tournaments to start off with. It's pretty difficult to just like one girls climb up the whole thing.

Do you think there are enough female League players that this could be a real thing?

100%.

Well, put it out there, right? Lead the charge.

Yes.

There you go. Well, before we go, do you mind saying hello to our French Young Hollywood fans?

Yeah. Salut tout le monde. Euh, j'adore parler en français et je savais même pas qu'il y avait beaucoup de français qui regardaient Young Hollywood, mais j'espère que vous avez aimé euh, l'interview et j'espère vous revoir bientôt.

What'd she say?