This is not a competitive environment, so the score hardly matters. But his attitude about it underscores some Peebles family truisms: Blake is so dedicated to gaming that his parents let him quit school so he can better concentrate on it.

They pay for home tutors instead. Mom and Dad do this, even though there are very few people in this country who make their living playing competitive video games.

Bad Dad? Parents Let Son Drop Out to Pursue Gaming Career, 19 August 2008, Wired.com

It would be easy to rewrite that first paragraph in snarkier fashion, putting “parents” or “career” in scare quotes, or adding a throwaway line questioning their sanity. The story isn’t that simple, though. Blake seems like a bright kid, and his parents didn’t just let him drop out. He’s being tutored at home, gets high marks and has acquired, according to his parents, a remarkably improved disposition since the change.

…

Mike Peebles says his son laid out a careful plan for his video-gaming career. Hunter points out that when Blake’s older brother wanted to focus on football, they got him a trainer and the help he needed along that path, so why not give Blake the same chance? Their decision seems like a considered one, and both point out that even if Blake fails in this attempt, he’ll take valuable lessons away from the experience. Blake, in fairness, says he doesn’t see this as a lifelong mission, just a stepping stone to another career, perhaps in video game design (unsurprisingly).