The Fnatic Esports staff is hiring sports activities scientists to enhance participant efficiency

The Fnatic team won the trophy after the “Counter-Strike: Global Offensive” final between FaZe Clan and Fnatic on March 4, 2018 in Katowice, Poland.

Norbert Barczyk | PressFocus | MB Media | Getty Images

LONDON – Esports team Fnatic has started hiring sports scientists to improve their players’ performance.

Fnatic, with players all over the world, set up a “High Performance Unit” after a $ 10 million investor funding round closed in November.

“One of the things we are currently investigating is how we can bring in all of the knowledge that comes from the sport,” Sam Matthews, founder and chief executive officer of Fnatic, told CNBC on a call.

The unit will examine and observe how sleep and stress levels affect the performance of the 60 players on Fnatic’s teams who are paid hundreds in front of games like Apex Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Dota 2 and League of Legends from millions of viewers.

The device will also examine alcohol and cortisol levels, as well as the effects of a caffeine dip on a gaming session.

“It’s the first time we’ve had a sports science lab to find out what really makes the difference in a player’s performance,” said Matthews, who co-founded Fnatic in London in 2004.

Fnatic currently employs three people in the High Performance Unit, but the company plans to add five more employees by 2021.

“In sport, the competition is getting tougher,” said Matthews. “As in F1, you always look at edges that you can get, regardless of whether it is hardware, training or psychology.”

Fnatic also leverages a network of nutritionists and freelance fitness trainers who encourage players to hit the gym, Matthews said.

Many professional players train or play more than ten hours a day, and some of them make over $ 1 million a year doing so. However, the physical and mental stress on the body can sometimes lead to health problems.

Matthews said, “These people are largely fit and healthy, but there is always an abnormality in the rule.”