by Esports has grown from a hobby to a global industry in the last decade. Today, it has its own world championships, millions of viewers and offers serious careers. However, behind every scene are people who build foundations and open space for players, organizations and communities.
He is one of them Igor Nedeski, Head of Esports in the International Esports Federation (IESF) and Director of Sports in the Macedonian Esports Federation. His journey from being a player and starting the portal esports.mk, through working in the national federation, all the way to a global position in the IESF shows how much passion and persistence can shape the future of an industry.
In an interview with "Gamers Life", Nedeski reveals his beginnings, challenges at the national and global level and shares advice for young people who want to build a career in esports.
Interview
GL: How did you first encounter esports and what attracted you to the industry?
Igor Nedeski: Like most, I first encountered esports through my love for games. It started out of pure passion for competition and the community that games create between people. That sense of rivalry and connection with players around the world completely won me over. Through work in the Macedonian Federation, and today also through involvement in the IESF, I turned that passion into a profession. What attracts me the most is that esports, just like traditional sports, can give young people the opportunity to show their talent and represent their country on the world stage.
GL: Were you ever a player yourself or were you more inclined towards management and organization from the beginning?
Igor Nedeski: As I said before, I started as a player, but over time I felt more drawn to the organizational side. I realized that I could make a greater contribution by building a system and creating opportunities for players, rather than just competing in my own games. This transition allowed me to combine my personal experience in the game with the vision of developing esports at a higher level.
GL: What was your first serious step in your esports career?
Igor Nedeski: My first serious step in my esports career was when I launched my website esports.mk, dedicated to news and monitoring of esports. That was my entry into the industry through writing and following competitions I realized how dynamic the scene is and how much room there is for development. Not long after that, I joined the Macedonian Esports Federation, where I took the next step and began to actively contribute to the development of esports at the institutional level.
GL: What do you consider to be the biggest challenges in the development of esports in Macedonia and the region?
Igor Nedeski: The biggest challenge in the development of esports in Macedonia and the region is still the lack of systemic support and understanding from the institutions. Although the community is strong and has many talented players, infrastructure, financial support and clear career development paths are often lacking. Another big challenge is professionalization – it is necessary to raise standards in competition organization, referee education and player protection.
GL: As the director of sports in the Macedonian Esports Federation, which project is particularly dear to you?
Igor Nedeski: As the director of sports in the Macedonian Esports Federation, I am particularly fond of the project through which we secured the official recognition of esports as a sport in Macedonia. We are proud that we were the first federation and the first country in the region to achieve this, because we were among the first to recognize the greatness and importance of esports. It was a huge step for our community and a strong message that esports deserves its place side by side with traditional sports. Being a part of that process and knowing that we have opened the door to future generations of esports players is something I am extremely proud of.
GL: How did you come to be Head of Esports at IESF and what does that role entail?
Igor Nedeski: How? Well, easy… 😄 Of course, it took a lot of work and dedication. I started at IESF as a competition coordinator, then took on the role of manager, then esports manager, and step by step reached the position of Head of Esports. This role entails managing the complete esports program from the world championship, through cooperation with publishers and partners, all the way to the development of the referee system and the academy. In short, my job is to make sure that everything works professionally and that players around the world have fair and quality competition.
GL: How different is working on the global esports scene from working on a national level?
Igor Nedeski: The difference is big on the national level, the focus is on the community and players you know personally, while on the global level everything is much more complex, with dozens of publishers and hundreds of federations. National work was a great school for me, and the global level brings greater challenges, but also greater satisfaction.
GL: Where do you see the esports industry in 5 to 10 years?
Igor Nedeski: Ugh, that's a really tough question... They say the sky's the limit, but there's no limit to esports. In 5 to 10 years, I see it side by side with traditional sports, with clear career paths for players and an even greater spectacle for spectators.
GL: What advice would you give to young people who want to build a career in esports?
Igor Nedeski: My advice is to be patient and persistent. Esports is not just about playing games - it takes a lot of work, discipline and a professional approach. If they combine that with the passion they already have, doors will open for them.
GL: What is the moment or achievement in your work that you are most proud of?
Igor Nedeski: I am most proud of the successes we achieved together with the Macedonian national teams, two world and two European titles in CS2, as well as the European title in Dota 2. I had the opportunity to be with these players as a sports director and to be part of their journey to the top. In addition, the organization of WEC23 in Iasi was a special moment, one of the biggest esports events in the world ever. These are the moments that make you realize that all the effort and sacrifices make sense.
Photo: Private archive
Esports today is not just a competition, but a global scene that connects millions of people and gives young people the opportunity to realize their dreams on the world stage. Igor Nedeski in his own way, he showed that success does not come overnight, but through years of dedicated work, clear vision and love for games. His story can be an inspiration to anyone who wants to build a career in this industry, either as players, managers, organizers or leaders. Because, as he says: "If they combine that with the passion they already have, doors will open for them."
