I think you're only a pro gamer if you make a living off competing in video game(s). By this definition no one is really a pro in tf2 because no one makes their living off competing because there are no orgs which pay salary and prize pools aren't enough. B4nny makes his money off streaming and YouTube mostly (afaik) so I wouldn't really consider him a pro gamer.

uhh well one thing i dont think b4nny really lives off his esea checks... its kinda his stream so i wouldnt necessarily say hes a pro gamer.
i can give you a list of tf2 players that now make money off videos games that arent tf2

yeaahh pretty unrealistic
vulcan ur pretty fucking retarded

smh
i asked if anyone makes enough money off of tf2 to sustain a lifestyle

being a famous streamer doesnt mean youre a pro at video games

Technically B4nny does but it's not off of competing in tf2 just off streaming. Plus i doubt his current income to sustain a whole life nor would he want to do this for his whole life.

Just to play devil's advocate here, a pro TF2 player can technically exist. Perhaps not with tournament wins alone, but if you throw in team sponsorships and whatnot, it *can* happen.
Things like Twitch or YouTube revenue can also turn you into a pro gamer if you do it as a profession, and make enough money with your content and tournament wins. Really, all you need is a steady income that's centred around TF2 to be considered a pro gamer. So, for players like b4nny, I can see him making a fair amount with tournaments and Twitch/YouTube revenue to classify him as a pro. On the other side of the pool, YouTubers like ArraySeven, Funke, and Uncle Dane, could all also be called pro TF2 players, assuming they make enough off YouTube revenue.

Pro - profession, and if you've managed to turn TF2 into a self sustaining profession, then it doesn't really matter how skilled you are at the game itself. If you make money playing TF2, you're a pro TF2 player.

Making a living from YouTube makes you a pro "youtuber" not a pro gamer. Making a living from twitch then makes you a pro streamer. Making money from organizations paying you salary and winning prize money from competing in video games makes you a pro gamer. In tf2 there are no organizations which will pay you salary and there isn't enough prize money to make a living.

no it makes u a pro computer operator

If your primary source of income revolves around a single video game, to a point where your entire online channel or identity makes you a well known member of that game's community, does that not warrant the pro gamer title? If all you do is TF2, and you're known for TF2, and you're making money for creating TF2 content, than that should make you a pro TF2 player, right? The platform that pays you (Twitch/YouTube/etc) shouldn't take away from the content you create, and your involvement within the community.

Being a [game] pro means that you play that game at a high enough level that you are paid for it. Someone that makes a living streaming tf2 or making videos about tf2 isn't a tf2 pro because they don't get money for playing tf2, they get paid money for creating content about tf2.

I disagree. They are being paid to play and create content for the game, albeit through indirect sources like YouTube or Twitch. If they are being paid money for playing and recording or live streaming TF2, I don't see why that doesn't also make them a pro gamer. People seem to have the misconception that pro = skillful. It doesn't. In this context, it's about making money, and turning TF2 into a profession. If your primary source of income is TF2 in any way, shape, or form, you managed to turn TF2 into a profession, thereby turning you into a professional TF2 player.

YouTube, Twitch, and other websites or services are the platforms for which you receive payment, and grow an audience. They can be compared with sponsorships of professional teams. The games themselves are not paying you, with your paycheck coming from your use, support, and commitment to a certain third party sponsor. Those teams and players are professional players because they've managed to secure a steady income by playing their chosen game. Are they skillful? Yes, they usually are, as that's how the sponsorship world works. But even if they weren't very skilled at the game, if they managed to secure a sponsorship deal with a third party, they would become pro gamers all the same.

So, I don't see how or why getting paid through YouTube to play TF2, doesn't make you a pro gamer. If you're being paid to create TF2 content, to entertain a TF2 audience, you've turned TF2 into your profession, making you a professional TF2 player.

This question seems very subjective, and thus a trap.
edit: just so I don't puss out on adding my two cents, b4nny has won more 1st place esea seasons/lans than anyone in the history of tf2.

http://www.esportsearnings.com/games/335-team-fortress-2

He's in first place by a decent margin. He might not be "technically pro" but he's the closest thing we've got. if you can't say he's living the dream, I doubt anyone ever will.

ftfy

unless u pay bills based off of money u get from beating other people at a videogame ur not a pro gamer stop arguing semantics

seagull is a pro ow player
timthetatman is not

they both make a lot of their income from streaming ow

hope that makes sense

Simply put:

Streamers are usually paid entertainers

Pro gamers earn their money through competition.

How about I rephrase the question, are there any top tf2 invites who make enough money to sustain a life style by doing competitive tf2 related stuff (streaming matches)

How about I paraphrase everyone else, no

I mostly agree with you, but I think that most players we consider to be "pro" actually get quite a lot of money through streaming.

Tf2 players? For other games their stream isn't what makes them pro it just makes them side money

"Sustain a lifestyle" is a very vague term. I guess if you live by yourself it can pay your rent, and some other disposable income

"Make a decent living"? Not relative to a regular job. Not enough top invite players stream consistently and also there aren't enough viewers normally the justify it.

I wouldn't say you need to make a living off of it, but I'd say you have to get paid to play the game.
Still means there's not TF2 players who's really a pro gamer, since afaik none of them get's payed for simply competing in tournaments and they only make any money if they win.

Professional implies it's their profession so it makes them a living

no one has ever been able to 100% support themselves off of esea winnings alone, so there is no professional tf2 player

having a successful twitch stream with a focus on tf2 just means you can potentially earn a living by entertaining people with tf2 gameplay

entertainment via gameplay =/= professional

Just a note on the esportsearning page:

A lot of data is missing from it. Notably CEVO (the couple of seasons they ran in 2014 plus I think they ran a few season way back in 2009 but I'm not sure on that), several insomnia lans and several seasons of ESEA.

That said b4nny is definitely first place.