Extremely skilled esports play requires dedicated practice, self-regulation, and sacrifice, which by some measures is hard to distinguish from problem gaming or internet gaming disorder. In this study, we profile players ranked within the Top 100 of an international esports community (Super Smash Bros Melee and Super Smash Bros Ultimate) to understand how cognitive emotion regulation, stress physiology, coping strategies, and social experiences influence player mental health and competitive success. We will synthesize information collected by surveys, semi-structured interviews, and salivary cortisol sampling across a competitive tournament weekend to describe the typical profile of a Top 100 player, and how this profile may be similar to or different from the typical experience of a person suffering from internet gaming disorder.
