Watch: Mobile phone gamer hopes to turn pro

A Maltese mobile phone gamer is hoping to go pro as he travels to the ‘World Cup’ of a popular strategy game this weekend.  Spending hours glued to your mobile phone, crushing ‘candy’ or catapulting ‘angry birds’ might seem like a bad habit for most, but not for 18-year-old Angelo Vella who is hoping to make a name for himself on mobile gaming phenomenon Clash Royale. His index finger and thumb gliding over his phone’s screen, Mr Vella told the Times of Malta how he spends around five hours a day transfixed to the strategy game that sees players engage in one-on-one face-offs using decks of digital playing cards. After coming up on top at the Malta qualifiers last year, the gamer will this weekend be representing the country in a worldwide showdown in Germany with a €50,000 prize pool at stake. But his hopes are not limited to bringing home the prize money. Mr Vella says he wants to get noticed. “There are professional teams and you can play this game professionally – if you are good enough. That is something I am hoping for. It won’t be easy, but I’m going to try,” he said, from the dining area of his family’s Qawra hotel.    Mr Vella already forms part of a team of gamers...