In an electrifying world of esports, it is no surprise that female players have arrived to rewrite the rules and put status quo on notice. These fabulous ladies do not just come to compete but to dominate against a male-dominated landscape proving, once and for all, that talent knows no gender. Now, as we celebrate five of the greatest female esports players in history, we celebrate not only their achievements but also their relentless pursuit of equality and representation in this ever-evolving field.
Sasha “Scarlett” Hostyn
The Canadian pro player Sasha Hostyn, who plays under the handle Scarlett, is very well known in the StarCraft II scene and has already achieved huge success as a female gamer.
Scarlett’s career is filled with many honors, which make her one of the greatest female players at StarCraft II, regardless of gender. In 2018, Scarlett made history by taking it to new heights by becoming the first woman to win a major international tournament at StarCraft II after emerging victorious at IEM PyeongChang.
Ksenia “vilga” Klyuenkova
Known by the handle “vilga,” Ksenia Klyuenkova is one of Russia’s professional Counter-Strike: Global Offensive gamers and has placed a strong mark on the competitive scene. For more than a decade, she has been an example of elegance in CS:GO all over the world.
For a long time in her career, vilga has been part of most of the international competitions. She has competed with various teams who presented challenges to her. The very high-stakes competitions have shaped her skills and enabled her to move up the ranks as a player. Among these, some notable achievements are the results of strong performances in events like the World Electronic Sports Games.
Kat “Mystik” Gunn
Katherine Gunn is quite popularly known to gamers worldwide as Mystik. She had an interest in playing video games since an early age and preferred competitive gaming. It was then that she reached a new height of her career when she emerged as the winner of WCG Ultimate Gamer’s second season back in 2010 by trying her skills at playing numerous games. This win not only made her a multitalented player but also put her on the top of the list of female gamers.
Mystik’s career is interesting, apart from the line of significant milestones marked in it. Moreover, she was one of the members of the Championship Gaming Series and participated in Dead or Alive 4 in the Carolina Core team. After all her competitive success, the name was made in Guinness World Records as one of the highest-earning female gamers since 2007, with total earnings crossing more than $160,000.
Julia “juliano” Kiran
Julia Kiran, or “juliano” in the gaming arena, is a Swedish CS:GO player who has been influential in the female world of esports. With her numerous years in the gaming industry, she has proven herself not only as an excellent player but also as an influential leader and women’s advocate in esports.
She has participated in many high-profile tournaments and competitions throughout her career and led her teams to several wins. She is generally a regular feature at major events such as the Intel Challenge Katowice and DreamHack tournaments, finishing often in top rankings. Apart from this, juliano has also helped guide young emerging talent in the female CS:GO. As a team captain, she has mentored many young players, and given them guidance to develop their skills and navigate the competitive gaming landscape.
Zainab “zAAz” Turkie
Zainab Turkie, commonly known as “zAAz,” is a Lebanese-born Swedish CS:GO player who has been, for years now, ranked among the greatest female CS:GO players worldwide for most of her nearly decade-long playing career. She is undoubtedly a household name within the competitive CS:GO scene, one true icon for women in esports.
zAAz has participated in many more prominent tournaments during her career. Some of them are various versions of Intel Challenge Katowice. At times, her performances in such events proved to be stellar and rewarded multiple victories and podiums for her teams.
Conclusion
In the world of esports where competition is cutthroat and stakes are sky-high, only a few have proven their skills to reach great heights and break all expectations against that glass ceiling. The five women featured here have reached fantastic heights in their respective games as well as being role models for future generations of gamers. Their stories, as told, bear witness to strength in perseverance, relevance through representation, and the promise that is always found within the esports community. As the gaming industry continues growing and thriving, so will these women.
