Wherever he goes, they will follow: How zekken rose to esports fame with the support of his parents

A young Zachary “zekken” Patrone could often be found with a Wii remote tightly gripped in his hand, assuming the position as if the controller were a bowling ball. He was trying to beat his father in a game of Wii Sports bowling, and the majority of the time, he lost. Sometimes he would get frustrated or cry, but his parents were always there to make sure he was OK.

As he grew older, his parents, Paul and Zaida Patrone, became more than just “Player Two” in a Wii Sports bowling match. What they didn’t know in those days of virtual bowling and mock tennis was that they were building zekken’s competitive drive and what would be the skills he needed for an entrance into professional esports.