A 1997 Red Annihilation Quake tournament victory earned Dennis Fong a Ferrari 328, marking a peak in his career as a professional gamer. Recognized by Guinness World Records as the first professional gamer, he leveraged his competitive background to transition into a series of successful entrepreneurial ventures within the technology and gaming industries.
Professional Gaming Origins
Born on March 11, 1977, in Hong Kong, Fong moved to the United States at age 11, eventually settling in Los Altos, California. He began playing Doom in 1993, adopting the alias Thresh. His early competitive success included winning the 1995 Judgment Day tournament in Seattle. He became known for his tactical control of vital map items and his role in popularizing the WASD key configuration, which remains a standard in PC gaming.
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Fong retired from professional competition in 1997 to focus on his business career. He co-founded GX Media with his brother Lyle, serving as CEO. The company operated sites including Gamers.com and FiringSquad, raising over $11 million from CMGI in 1999 before Ziff-Davis acquired Gamers.com in 2001. During this period, he also served as editor-in-chief of FiringSquad and co-authored an official Quake II strategy guide.
Scale and Acquisitions
Fong continued to build and sell tech platforms. He co-founded Xfire, a specialized instant messaging client for gamers, which Viacom purchased for $102 million in April 2006. He also helped create Lithium Technologies, a Social CRM platform backed by venture firms including Benchmark Capital. In 2007, he founded Raptr. His later activities include an investment in Bright Star Studios for the game Ember Sword and advisory roles for companies like WeGame.com.
Fast facts
- Born: 11 March 1977, Hong Kong
- Alias: Thresh
- Professional debut: Doom, 1993
- 1997 Red Annihilation tournament prize: Ferrari 328
- Xfire acquisition: $102 million, April 2006
- Inducted into ESL Hall of Fame: 27 July 2016
- Known for: Popularizing WASD key configuration
- Residence: San Francisco Bay Area
Questions readers ask
Why is Dennis Fong considered the first professional gamer?
He is recognized by Guinness World Records for this title due to his pioneering success in competitive first-person shooter tournaments during the mid-1990s.
What companies did Dennis Fong co-found?
His ventures include GX Media, Lithium Technologies, Xfire, and Raptr.