# Gonzalo "ZeRo" Barrios: Mastering The Championship Mindset

Competition is all about preparing for adversity. In order to compete at the highest levels, you must first learn how to cultivate a positive mindset. Join ZeRo in the Dojo as he coaches you through the importance of routine, discipline, and his own personal practice rituals.

## Lesson 1: Practice

### Creating a tournament atmosphere is essential in maintaining comfort levels while competing at a tournament. Quality practice is paramount to performing at your best.

## Lesson 2: Mental Preparation

### Your mindset is your shield on tournament day. The ability to block out cheers, boos, the lights, the stage and other factors will enable you to play your best.

## Lesson 3: “Day of” Routine

### Consistency is key. Keep your routine the same every single day, in order to keep your body and mind comfortable during tournament time.

## Lesson 4: Nutrition

### You are what you eat, and you don’t want to be a greasy, chicken finger on tournament day. Small light meals and snacks will power you through, but make sure you're not under eating.

## Lesson 5: Matches & Breaks

### Tournaments are typically three day long events. You have to be at the top of your game from Friday to Sunday. Remember that it is a marathon, not a sprint.

## Lesson 6: Knowing Your Opponent

### Information is power. The more you know about your opponent, the bigger your advantage over your opponent.

## Lesson 7: Applying Pressure

### Once you gather information on your opponent, you'll learn the optimal way to apply pressure. Once you create a persona for yourself, you'll be able to apply pressure without even picking up the controller.

## Lesson 8: Winning Big/Losing Big Pt 1

### Buying into the hype of a big win or falling into the hole of a big loss are surefire ways to derail your tournament performance. Use your mindset to block out those feelings and remain even keel.

## Lesson 9: Winning Big/Losing Big Pt 2

### Haters will hate. Adversity will be something you will face often on your rise to the top. Brush off the hate and keep moving forward.

## Lesson 10: Sportsmanship

### Be a graceful competitor and use sportsmanship as a way to present yourself positively. eSports is still quite small, so you don't want to carry a bad reputation.