How a 60-Year-Old Mom Became a Professional Gaming Star

Zhong Juanjuan, better known as "Auntie Juan," is proof that it's never too late to pick up a controller. She went from being a mom who used to drag her son out of internet cafes to becoming a celebrated gaming star .

A curious start during the pandemic

Years ago, Zhong saw video games as a distraction from her son's studies. She would often pull him away from gaming cafes in Meizhou. However, when the pandemic hit in 2020, they were stuck at home together. Instead of scolding him, she got curious about his hobby. She asked him to teach her how to play, and that simple request started an unexpected journey .

Mastering the digital battlefield

Learning to play wasn't easy. At first, Zhong struggled with the basic controls and moving around in the game. But with her son teaching her tactics and positioning, she put in the work. She dedicated thousands of hours to practice, eventually logging over 8,000 hours in Counter-Strike by early 2026 . Her skills were so impressive that some people didn't believe it was her playing, so her son installed multiple cameras to prove it was really her behind the screen .

Taking down the pros

Her big break came in 2024 when she successfully eliminated professional Counter-Strike star Danil "donk" Kryshkovets during an exhibition match. By 2026, she had gained over 500,000 followers, and her son is now her full-time agent. For Zhong, gaming is more than just a hobby. It keeps her mind sharp and proves that women of her generation can do much more than just household chores .