The competition is fierce at the SMITE Spring Finals as tomorrow AFK and Team Solo Mid are going to battle it out to see who is going to take home the $60,000 grand prize. I got a chance to speak with Allied from AFK before the final match and get his insights on the Spring Finals and his rise to eSports fame. 

Allied has an interesting past which is covered in the below video, but he joined competitive eSports through Super Smash Bros. tournaments and has been a huge favorite in SMITE since well forever ago. He was originally part of Cognitive Red, starting as support and moving to ADC / hunter. After worlds, he joined the newly formed AFK Gaming team (sponsered by the AFK Gaming Lounge) which just won the 2015 Spring Finals. 

TenTonHammer: What's your gaming history? How did you get started in gaming? 

Allied: I think the first time I realized I was into competitive gaming was when I was 16. I went to a Super Smash Brothers tournament in college and I won $2,000. It was fun and then I looked up stuff online and next thing I know I was going to worlds! 

TenTonHammer: How long ago was that now? 

Allied: Five or six years ago. 

TTH: What do you do outside of gaming? 

Allied: Generally, gaming is the only thing I do because it helps me progress in life right now. I just moved to Georgia, so for the most part I think that I do that and you know normal people stuff, hanging out, buying groceries, all that. 

TTH: What got you into SMITE? 

Allied: DM brandon actually did, what happened was I just broke up with my ex-girlfriend and I just came out of the hospital, so I was down and a bit depressed, and DM brandon got me into SMITE in 2012 and I stuck with it since then. 

TTH: What is your dreams and aspirations in regards to eSports? 

Allied: Just to be the best hunter of season 2 for now. Win everything, be undisputed best, and just go out there and win.  

TTH: What are your thoughts on the matches you just had? 

Allied: I felt like that they just had one strategy. We watched beforehand, their SPL games and they just had a one track mind, you know pick this and it works for them. We have so many strategies and so many ways of playing that we just banned out what we knew would be our biggest problems with them and just proceeded to beat them. 

TTH: What do you think so far of season 2? 

Allied: I like it, I think hunters are a bit OP right now and there are a few balance issues, like Thor being really good at jungle. 

TTH: How do you feel about eSports as a career? 

Allied: Well there wasn't a lot out that that motivates me in life and that was one direction I could go in, because I grew up very poor. For me being able to look at something like playing video games with friends and the competitive aspect of it and making a life out of it, I think it's great. 

TTH: Do you see yourself doing this 10 years from now, something that could be a lifelong career? 

Allied: Absolutely, as eSports has grown in just the last five years alone, I mean just when I first got into it, it wasn't even a thing. Now it's out of control. I probably won't be competingin in 10, 20, or 30 years, but I'd love to be part of it. 

TTH: Like a caster or a consultant? 

Allied: Yeah, caster, maybe just helping out other companies. 

TTH: Do you think in the future that eSports consulting would be a viable business, where you, you know, at a certain age your hands can't compete at this certain level anymore apparently, you reach that, do you feel like you could advise other teams on how to play and strategize, etc. 

Allied: Absolutely, as the mind and body gets older, it gets harder along with other real life things. What's interesting is that health, you know exercising and running and all that, its really important too as you're getting older and you're a professional gamer. If you don't exercise your hands, you know, the reason I don't play Starcraft II and Smash Brothers at a high level is arthritis. My hands just aren't the same anymore and with the amount of precision that's needed, you can break your hand. It comes down to healthy exercise, which a lot of professional gamers neglect. Something down the line will be there to help, but we'll see. 

TTH: So you think eSports has longevity, it's going to be around for awhile? 

Allied: Absolutely, at least 50  years. 

We'd like to thank Allied for his time doing the interview and congratulate him and his team on winning the Spring Finals 2015.