A Northern Ireland esports athlete is celebrating after being selected to represent Team GB at the upcoming European Games.
Emma Rose won Commonwealth gold last year in Birmingham and now she is targeting another medal.
The inaugural European Games Esports Championships will be held in June and will see esports athletes and teams from across Europe compete in two titles - eFootball 2023 and Rocket League.
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They will compete in parallel with the 7,000 athletes representing 48 countries at the third edition of the European Games in Kraków and the Małopolska region of Poland.
Emma - who became the first transwoman to represent Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Esports Championship - will once again be competing at eFootball and she says getting selected for Team GB is "huge".
"It is huge for me. I am over the moon," Emma beamed.
"Getting to be the first transwoman to represent Northern Ireland at the Commonwealth Games and now getting the GB call-up for the first ever esports in the European Games. Words can't describe how I am feeling.
https://twitter.com/Emzii192/status/1663494120571011073?s=20
"I actually could have played for either the Republic of Ireland or Great Britain. When I got the text from the GB manager asking if we could chat I literally jumped out of my chair."
It has been quite a year for Emma following her Commonwealth gold last summer.
She has also been sharing her esports story with other gamers at events across the UK and even in the United States.
"Yeah, what a first year of being thrown into esports. A gold medal at the Commonwealths and then flying all around the UK and even America," said Emma, who hails from Coleraine but now lives in Belfast.
"I have been talking to schools and colleges about my journey in esports, attending events and even making it over to Las Vegas for the esports awards with some of the biggest names in the business.
"I took a bit of a break from efootball after the Commonwealth Games. I made some FIFA content and just enjoyed playing other games.
"But everything I do I play to win, so I've still been keeping up with efootball in case I ever got the opportunity again. Sadly, making a career in esports means you don’t get to play as much games."
As for next month's European Games, Emma says she always harbours a burning ambition to succeed, but she also voiced her pride at "representing women and marginalised communities".
She added: "The competitor in me says nothing but first place. However, it is also about just being there and representing women and marginalised communities showing that we can compete and we can take part and that there is a place for everyone.
"That’s my main goal, to continue to prove that it doesn’t matter who you are where you come from or any of that crap. You can play and are welcome in esports and gaming."
Emma has been playing her part in growing esports in Northern Ireland the UK, and she says the industry has been "booming" over the past year.
"Esports here is booming. You can now study esports for a degree in Belfast and many other colleges over the UK," Emma added.
"Ireland is growing massively with teams like Wylde and Nativz so it’s a super exciting time for anyone involved.
"I will say tho there's a massive hole in Northern Ireland for a headquarters of a team! So if anyone wants to set up a Belfast-based esports team give me a shout!"
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