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Sentinels VALORANT Captain ShahZam Disappointed With Champions 2021 Prize Pool


Sentinels VALORANT in-game leader Shahzeb 'ShahZaM' Khan has criticized the prize pool of VALORANT Champions 2021 with only just $1 million at stake.

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The biggest VALORANT esports LAN event of the year just kicked off on December 3, with sixteen of the best teams from all over the world competing for the championship title and the $1 million prize pool in this two-week-long tournament. It's a record prize pool for the game - $300,000 more than the prize pool at the previous international LAN event, VALORANT Masters Berlin.

However, ShahZam recently criticized the prize pool that pales in comparison to prizes that are at stake in other esports games, noting that streamers hosting the watch parties for the tournament will be earning more money than the actual competitors.

“When you look at other esports for the world tournament, it’s still disappointing because it’s pretty similar to Masters,” the VALORANT captain said on stream. “Do you know that the streamers who are hosting the watch parties for the stream are making more than the players competing?

“We’re coming here, we’re training every day, sweating, we’re quarantining, we travel across the world and we’re playing. I could just sit at home and host a watch party and I’d make more than the prize money.

“One thing is your passion, but your financial future is another thing.”

You can watch the clip from ShahZaM's stream below:

Sentinels is one of the three North American teams competing at VALORANT Champions 2021, and the competition is expected to be fierce. However, the 28-year-old Sentinels captain has hinted that this could be his "last run" and that he might focus on streaming.

“Becoming a coach? Absolutely not,” ShahZaM said. “If I retire it’s not going to be because I can’t compete. I still feel like I’m one of the best players, at least within the region.

Related: Team Liquid’s Nivera Tests Positive For COVID at VALORANT Champions, But He'll Still Play

“If I stop competing, it’s because I want to pursue streaming more. “Who knows? This might be the last run," he added.

Today, the Sentinels is competing in the Group Stage against the Brazilian VALORANT team, Furia.

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