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Shaun Springette is very good at FIFA. That's the only way to look at it. That game you like? The one you're the best at playing among your group of friends? He's better.

Sportsmail knew this when we decided to invite him into the office a day before the FIFA Interactive World Cup. 

Shaun, otherwise known as Shellzz, had come second in the FIFA Ultimate Team Championship back in May, picking up $80,000 (£60,000) in the process.

And Sportsmail also knew how good he was when they challenged him to a couple of games ahead of one of the biggest weeks of the 18-year-old's life, when the burgeoning eSport brings the roadshow to London with £200,000 on the line.

Sportmail's Amitai Winehouse (right) takes on professional FIFA gamer Shaun Springette ahead of the FIFA Interactive World Cup in London 

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Shellzz's Manchester United matched up against my Manchester City. Judging by how much I'm concentrating, it's difficult to remember a time when FIFA has felt like it meant this much. It's not often I've dealt with a video audience watching on.

But for the man on the other side of the table it often means a lot more. Just three months ago he was competing for a six-figure prize in Berlin, only moments away from capturing it before having to settle for second place.

His life has changed immeasurably: 'It's like I'm a little celebrity. Last year I was watching these guys and thinking I wanna be like them, I want to be where they are. 

'Now being here, I still don't really believe it. It's a dream come true. In Berlin, little kids were asking for my photos and I was thinking, "I'm nothing special, I'm just a guy who plays FIFA".

'But in this world you're kind of like a superstar. My life's changed a lot. Earning $80,000 in my first year is just... being able to help my family is a great feeling.'

Springette, from London, has earned thousands from playing FIFA around the world 

What's not great is having to concentrate as Shellzz throws wave after wave of attack at the defence. Stopping him is about all I can manage. It's like being Sutton United against Arsenal.

But I have a few attacks. A cross goes into the box and a leaping Sergio Aguero misses it by inches.

Shellz probably knew there was little danger. He explains that most professional players will check inside when out-wide, making it slightly tougher to defend against me. The reason is that there is more chance of scoring that way, a quirk of the game.

The boy from Kilburn in north-west London is still grounded and well mannered, the money clearly not going to his head.

In fact, when pressed about what he's spent it on, it turns out to be mostly on his family: 'Bills, shopping, if my mum and dad need anything I'll help them out as much as I can.

'It's just simple things like that. It makes the house easier and less stress on them.'

As another question gets fired in his direction, the goal comes. Zlatan Ibrahimovic gets space in the box. Willy Caballero has no chance.

Springette and Sportsmail's Amitai Winehouse played two matches between Manchester United and Manchester City on FIFA 17

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Shellzz had to drop out of school to pursue this path. His teachers said if he wanted to test himself on the international FIFA stage, he wouldn't be able to sit his A-Levels.

'Accounting was gonna be my plan,' he says, 'because I didn't think I was going to end up here. Now I just want to have enough qualifications in case it doesn't go as far as I wanted it to, I have a backup plan.'

He still spends time with people from his time in education but there's been a rule about playing FIFA against them for the last two years.

'I haven't played any of my school friends,' he admits, 'They know they don't want to play me. FIFA, if everyone is at someone's house I'm not allowed to play, I just sit there and watch. They don't want that hassle. I like to sit and watch.'

Sportsmail puts it to him that it's like turning down Lionel Messi for a kickabout.

Shortly after, his second goal goes in.

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I'm flagging. The concentration levels are going and I'm feeling like there is a humiliation on the cards.

Shellzz is taking it all in his stride. As he would. He's been the best player among his friends for at least a decade and is essentially the second-best player in the world. His route to FIFA greatness took in a period playing basketball games instead.

That was tougher. NBA franchises are signing up players but it's tough to be spotted from England when there's so much talent across the pond. 'This will be my game going forward,' he admits.

Springette finished second in the FIFA Ultimate Team Championship, earning £60,000

Then suddenly, I'm going forward. The ball breaks to me outside the area. My pass is loose but it reaches Aguero in the box.

He turns and I panic. I slam the button to shoot but there's a defender blocking it off. The ball bobbles and then lands at Aguero's feet again.

There's on David De Gea to beat. My hands aren't working. Then they are. I hit square, because I am an alternate charlatan. And then I score.

I score against the second best player in the world. For an instant, I feel like Aguero must have felt against QPR.

2-1

This week is special for Shellzz. He's a London boy and the tournament he cares about most is heading to his home town.

'At the start of this year, when I saw the final would be in London that gave me a big boost. This is like playing in a World Cup at home for England. This is the dream. Having that home support is going to be a massive boost.

'I've got a lot of friends that are going to come down and watch. I told them not to come too early in case it doesn't go well!'

Buoyed by the goal, I go forward. It's not a good idea. Shellzz exploits the space and seconds later he's hacked down in the area. Accidentally. Not me guv, honest.

But Caballero gives Ibrahimovic the eyes and gets down low to save it. Maybe I have a chance! Maybe I can beat and then be one of the best FIFA players in the world, maybe…

Springette, whose on-screen name is Shellzz, is a picture of concentration as he plays 

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My joy subsides. He works it well and slams it home just in-game minutes later. It's all over.

It's easy to see why, when he turns on the style, he's one of the best and why he has a chance of winning it all this week.

But he's humble: 'I dream of winning it. I have ever since I left Berlin. I'm happy with where I am for my first year. Anything else is just a bonus. If I'm playing well and doing good I can win it, but so can anyone playing.' 

And then the second game comes.

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This time I'll show him. This time…

After hours and hours of practice, Springette has mastered every part of the FIFA game

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Before there's even a chance to blink he's ahead. This is the sort of talent that answers the question of how his parents must feel about their son committing his life to eSports, to evenings and long days spent in front of two monitors on a desk in his bedroom.

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The first game was a lie. He was like a pool shark, luring me in before sensing the blood. He was always going to beat me.

This is, after all, a man who wakes up early in the morning when the new edition of FIFA comes out just to get in tune with the changes made to the game. He calls it a hobby but it's also a job.

3-0

There's no stopping Shellzz at this point. It's no longer like being in the first-team for Sutton against Arsenal. I'm Wayne Shaw sat on the bench with a pie in my hand and a betting charge looming over me.

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The world's second best player marks his victory at Sportsmail's headquarters this week

'I told my parents not to come. Because it's eSports my parents don't really understand.'

Does anyone above a certain age really get what Shellzz does? There are, as he says, kids who view him as a celebrity but for most his chosen career is an oddity.

This is the way it is going. Earlier this month the BBC broadcast a series of competitions from a dramatic studio in London. 

BT Sport and Sky Sports have both bought television rights from the catchy-titled EA Sports Competitive Gaming Division.

What Shellzz is doing now is arguably closer to those involved in the first days of professional football than anything else. This is a sport for the future, whatever your view of the 'E' part of it all.

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The absence in London is not to say that Shellzz will not have support from his family: 'They're going to Sweden. But my mum will watch the streams from there.'

Full time. No more goals. No more pain. There's an apology to write, if FIFA still works like it does when I was at University.

I have taken on the Cristiano Ronaldo of this world and emerged relatively unscathed.

For Shellzz it was no test. That is still to come.

P.S. Our social editor lost 7-0 against Shellzz.

Sportsmail's Winehouse was beaten 3-1 and 5-0 by Springette in their two friendly matches