Footballer turned gamer Kelsie ‘Kels’ Grieg has made history by becoming the first woman in the world to qualify to play Call of Duty at elite level.
The 22-year-old, from Aberdeen, started playing the popular video game six years ago when a serious groin injury meant she had to give up her promising football career.
But Kels, who played for Scotland Women’s Under 17s, used the skills she honed on the pitch to see off her Call of Duty rivals in the super-competitive world of esports and is now at the top of her game.
The former Hazlehead Academy pupil is being hailed as an “inspiration” for blazing a trail for female players in the male-dominated world of online gaming.
Kels, who has been nominated for a Sunday Mail Young Scot Award, said: “It took a while to sink in that I had qualified for the Call of Duty Challengers Elite tournament nevermind that I was the first woman ever to do so. To be honest, I qualified in January and it is still sinking in.
“I truly hope me getting this far on the world stage will encourage other females to get involved - I want to rubbish the stereotypes that people have, especially in such a male-dominated scene.
“There’s always been some sort of stereotypes around women competing in esports and whilst I’ve experienced some of that in Call of Duty, for the most part the community has always been welcoming.
“Yes online gaming is a terrifying male-dominated world but if I can conquer it so can others. I might have been the first female to get this far but I hope I won’t be the last.
“My next goal is to become the first woman to play in the pro-league and I’m determined to score it. Why not? I’ve got this far and have earned the respect of the global community.”
Kels, who now travels all over the world taking part in global tournaments, added: “I got involved in gaming completely by accident. I was 16 and playing football at a national level for Scotland when I got injured.
“It was a bad groin injury that I couldn’t walk off so I was stuck sitting in my bedroom with nothing to do. It was a horrible depressing time for me. I went from playing football twice a day to literally being able to do no exercise.
“It was playing Call of Duty online with my friends that got me through that bad time and it seemed the more I played the better I became.”
Kels, who games for at least six hours every day, started to get noticed by some of the better players on the online battle circuit and they helped get her name out there.
The former Fernielea Primary School pupil, who goes by the gaming name of Kelsaroony, said: “I started competing with friends in online tournamnets and then I started coming up against some of the pros who thought I was okay and that got my name out there.
“My game just kept improving and earlier this year the team I am in found ourselves at the top of the Challengers which is the level below the multi-million dollar Call of Duty pro-league.”
Kels plays as part of team eFuse which includes James “Genesis” Smith, Conor “BBConor” Beale and Ewen “Disarray” Harmer.
She said: “We have to put in a lot of hours both playing Call of Duty and watching back games so we can work out what we need to improve. It’s at least six hours every day and we have tournaments on Saturdays and Sundays.
“If you want to make it you have to put in the hours. If I am not in my bedroom gaming, I’m away at a tournament abroad. It’s become my full time career.
“Until recently I worked as an aquatics assistant for Aberdeen Sport but now I’m concentrating on trying to go pro. I get money for qualifying for competitions and for streaming on Twitch.”
Kels added: “My mum and my whole family have been very supportive. It’s a wierd career for them to come to terms with especially as they are having to listen to all the negatives and not the pros of gaming.
“But my mum goes out of her way to read everything about the gaming world and watches me play. She loves the opportunities it has given me and all the fantastic places I’m getting to see.”
The gamer, who is one of Europes top players, said her footballing past has played a part in her Call of Duty success. She said: “I started playing in the boys team when I was at primary school and went on to play for Aberdeen before being scouted for the national team.
“The skills and leadership I learned through football, especially the competitive aspect, translate well into gaming. Football taught me to go for the win every time and it also gave me a thick skin.
“There is always someone who is ready to tear you down but I give as good as I get and I’m also able to pick myself up and move on. I’m used to the name calling or the guys who won’t team with me because I am female.
Kels, who attended the Scottish FA’s performance school in Aberdeen, added: “Playing football with the boys taught me how to survive in a male-dominated world and I’ve been able to silence a lot of men by proving the skill I have. I love proving people wrong and I want to encourage other girls to do the same.
“I’ve had lots of girls come up to me and tell me I’m an inspiration which is really great. I just hope they see me and go for it themselves. Call of Duty isn’t just for boys.”
Kels’s record breaking and inspirational achievement has earned her a Young Scot award nomination in the entertainment category.
There is only a fortnight left to nominate someone you know for an award. The winners will be announced at a star-studded festival-style ceremony at Glasgow’s Platform - formerly known as The Arches - on June 8.
Sunday Mail Young Scot Awards 2023 - Categories
To nominate go to www.youngscotawards.com
Nominations close on April 10.
YOUNG HERO
Sponsored by XSite Braehead
This award is for an extraordinary young person or group who deserves special recognition for their bravery. Someone who has shown amazing courage, battled the odds or showed incredible perseverance.
COMMUNITY
Sponsored by Scottish Children's Lotter
This award celebrates the work accomplished by a young person or group that improves the lives of other people within a community.
UNSUNG HERO
Sponsored by Solace Scotland
Do you know a young Scot or group who goes the extra mile but never asks for any recognition or reward? This award is for someone who has overcome difficult personal circumstances, risen to a challenge or donated their own time to help others.
ENHANCING EDUCATION
This award is for a young person or group who have truly influenced education in their community, either by providing access and opportunities for others or by influencing change in education for their communities.
SPORT
Sponsored by sportscotland
Across Scotland, young people – through their efforts and determination – are achieving extraordinary things in grassroots sport. This award celebrates sporting stars of the future.
HEALTH AND WELLBEING
This award is for young people who are involved in supporting and inspiring others to improve their physical and mental health, are looking to change policy or services or are involved in health charities.
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
Sponsored by Arnold Clark
This award recognises a young person or group who are working tirelessly to promote equality, diversity and inclusion or challenge prejudice and discrimination against age, race, gender, cultures and identity.
ARTS
This is your opportunity to celebrate a young person’s contribution to arts and culture in Scotland. Are they inspiring others to express themselves through arts or making a difference to their local community?
ENTERTAINMENT
There are so many ways to entertain – this award is not just for the famous but for the stars in our midst who entertain us every day.
ENVIRONMENT
Sponsored by SSE
Do you know a young person or a group of young people who give their time and effort to help protect the world for future generations? This award is for them.
ENTERPRISE
This award is for a young person or a business run by young people who have demonstrated entrepreneurial flair.
YOUNG SCOT OF THE YEAR
Sponsored by Young Scot
The overall winner chosen from the 11 category winners.
To nominate go to www.youngscotawards.com
Nominations close on April 10.
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