Pro 'Counter-Strike' is fueled by fan support (and sometimes its haters, too)

Any given tweet from a Counter-Strike pro has a high chance of being followed by a cascade of supportive messages from fans.

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For many professional Counter-Strike players, fan support is part of what fuels them. Pro player Yegor "Markeloff" Markelov said positive messages from fans helps inspire him.

"Fans are the main part of the esport," Markeloff said. "They always make me happy and motivated to play even better when I see commenters cheering for us."

Playing video games wouldn't pay without these fans. Tournament organizers need those views and engaged fans to attract advertisers and justify putting on these competitions, just like with any other entertainment.

And views are views to the eyes of these organizers, whether they are out there spouting positive or negative comments. Former pro player and current analyst Jason "Moses" O'Toole said it's just part of being in the public eye.

"There are always haters," O'Toole said. "There are certain people on Twitter who always try to twist everything you say... They're always prodding you and goading you, trying to really annoy you."

Player Yaman "Yam" Ergenekon said he wasn't expecting haters when he first started playing CS professionally.

"At the start it's like, 'What's going on here?'" Yam said. "It happens to anyone, even pro sports players, basketball players, anything. You just see people unleash on them on Twitter."

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After being in the scene for years and dealing with trolls online, he doesn't care anymore and just shrugs it off.

"Haters gonna hate," Markeloff said.

Instead of ignoring what haters say to him, Markeloff lets in the negativity, which inspires him to up his game even more than positive comments.

"It's even more motivating when someone says 'You suck,'" he said. "You need to prove to them you don't."

As expected, all the hate happens exclusively online, O'Toole said.

"When you're in person obviously you don't meet any of those [trolls]," O'Toole said. "Everyone I meet is awesome and really nice."

To cut down on some toxicity in the Counter-Strike community, many Twitch stream hosts will actively delete hurtful and offensive comments, but you can't edit every aspect of the internet.

That's just part of being on the internet though -- while most people want to dish out words of praise and support, that electronic veil can bring out the worst in others.

ELeague is owned by Turner Broadcasting, which also is an investor in Mashable.

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