Imagine this: a $15,000 tournament for a game that has yet to launch publicly. Sounds crazy, right? Well, that happened to Deadlock recently. The best Deadlock players had a chance to fight for a whopping $15,000 prize pool.
Despite being in a closed playtest, the new Valve game shocked fans that its esports scene is already growing. Many old and new content creators have also popped up for the game. Check out our article on the best Deadlock streamers to know who they are.
There have been several tournaments held online since its inception. The latest tournament boasted a $15,000 prize pool.
FISSURE Underworld has the highest prize pool to date. Before FISSURE broke the record, two previous tournaments featured a prize pool of approximately $10,000. BetBoom DEADLOCK CUP #2 and Aurora Deadlock Masters were the first show matches with a prize pool.
However, FISSURE Underworld is not a show match. It is a full tournament with Group Stage and Playoffs. The best Deadlock players battled in GLS Group Stage format and Single Elimination bracket in Playoffs for a chunk of the $15,000 prize pool. Pojilaya Skumbriya came out on top and bagged home the Grand Champion title and $7,500 from the prize pot.
Top Deadlock players in the pro scene are from different game titles before competing in Deadlock. Most of these players are from Overwatch. Here are some of the names gaining popularity in the fresh esports scene of Deadlock.
Best Deadlock Players in the Pro Scene
Danila “Sunset” Solovio
Sunset is one of the most decorated pro players in Deadlock’s esports scene. He won BetBoom DEADLUCK CUP #2 and FISSURE Underworld. After the recent title, he now has the highest approximate total winnings in the Deadlock pro scene.
He is a former pro player in Apex Legends for Gambit Esports, ZETA Division, and Aurora Gaming. In 2020, he transitioned to VALORANT and played under Gambit Esports. The four-month stint ended with no success. He returned to Apex Legends in 2021 but failed to make the cut in major tournaments.
He retired in 2023 and moved on to Deadlock. After showcasing that he is one of the best Deadlock players, this might be his long-awaited big break.
Konstantin “Hardecki” Kozlov
After winning the FISSURE Underworld with Sunset, Hardecki proved to be one of the top Deadlock players. He played alongside Litz, together, Tas, and Xaniya and finished the Grand Finals with a clean 2-0 sweep.
Hardecki is also a former Apex Legends pro player who last played for Aurora Gaming. In 2020, Hardecki joined Gambit Esports as Sunset was benched to play for their VALORANT team. Hardecki and Sunset both played for Gaimin Gladiators and Aurora Gaming.
On September 5, 2024, he announced his official retirement from Apex Legends to pursue a career in Deadlock’s pro scene.
Carson “Zerggy” Leung
Zerggy is a former Overwatch pro player who transitioned to Deadlock. He now plays for Buff Enjoyers. The team won Aurora Deadlock Masters, gdolphn IQON Cup, and Deadlock Fight Night #1 Europe. His team also placed third at FISSURE Underworld.
Zerggy did not see a lot of success during his time in Overwatch. However, his impressive mechanical skill has enabled him to be one of the top Deadlock players.
Normunds “sharyk” Faterins
Sharyk currently plays under the banner of Buff Enjoyers. He plays together with Zerggy and they bagged three titles together. They fell short at FISSURE Underworld after Pojilaya Skumbriya eliminated their team in the Semi-finals.
Sharyk is a former Overwatch pro player. He started his career in 2015 and last played for Toronto Defiant in 2019. He moved to VALORANT and played for GMT Esports and 5MOKES until 2022.
João “Hydration” Goes Telles
Hydration played under different teams. In his entire Deadlock pro career, he has played for three different teams namely The Cabal, Mahjong and Krill, and Hydra Nation.
Hydration has an impressive track record in terms of tournament results. His team placed first in five different Deadlock tournaments. The lowest rank he placed in a tournament is 3rd-4th during gdolphn IQON Cup.
He is also well known for his versatility during his time in Los Angeles Gladiators and Houston Outlaws as an Overwatch pro player.
Despite being in a closed playtest, Deadlock player count has an all-time peak of 171,490. The emerging pro players for Deadlock are growing.
Nouns Esports, who have Dota 2 and Counter-Strike teams, already announced its Deadlock roster. Some fans might find it too early to announce an official Dota 2 roster when the game is not even live yet. Some fans saw it as Nouns Esports being at the forefront of Deadlock esports.
When huge esports organizations start signing pro players, there will be a significant interest in pursuing Deadlock as a career. Retired pro players, transitioning pro players, and aspiring pro players will gather in different tournaments.
If you are an aspiring pro player, this is the best time to practice. Customize your sensitivity to the one that best suits your playstyle. Personalize and win fights with the best Deadlock crosshairs. Keep on grinding!
