A player in the United States named Jay “sinatraa” Won, who was born on March 18, 2000, is currently a streamer for the Sentinels. Previously, he played Overwatch with the San Francisco Shock, who won the Overwatch League (OWL) 2019 title. He also represented the United States in the Overwatch World Cup in 2017, 2018, and 2019, winning the 2019 edition over Team China.
During the second season of the OWL, Jay “sinatraa” Won was the best player, winning the MVP award and leading the San Francisco Shock to victory. A few months after this achievement, he transitioned to playing Valorant professionally.
Even though the esports scene for Valorant is still relatively new, Sinatraa is already making a significant income, comparable to what he earned in the OWL.
In Valorant, Sinatraa mentioned that while the base salary might be lower, it is offset by the lucrative sponsorship deals he secures, which were not available to him in the OWL due to league rules.
Sinatraa did not disclose specific numbers but referred to publicly available OWL data to illustrate his earnings. According to a blog post by Matt “Mr X” Morello, an OWL host, the average OWL player earned $114,000 in 2019, including a $97,000 base salary, $16,000 in prize pool winnings, and a $1,000 signing bonus. For comparison, football players in similar leagues earned an average salary of $80,000, with a minimum yearly salary of $50,000 plus benefits.
As one of the top players in the OWL, Sinatraa earned substantial amounts. His decision to switch to Valorant was not financially motivated; instead, it was driven by a lack of passion for Overwatch. “It’s kind of like I lost my passion. My heart is with Valorant right now, and I want to be with them,” Sinatraa said. He acknowledged the option to return to OWL but expressed a desire to explore his potential in Valorant.
Many teams sought to sign Sinatraa after his switch, but he chose Sentinels, a Valorant team he felt was the right fit, despite not being as prominent as Cloud9 or G2. “Sentinels was just the best organization,” said Sinatraa, citing their efficiency and transparency. He felt a strong connection with Sentinels, despite interest from other teams.
The switch from Overwatch to Valorant was questioned by many, mainly due to uncertainties surrounding the Valorant pro scene. However, Sinatraa believed in Valorant’s potential to become a major esport. “When Valorant does things right, I think they can become one of the biggest e-sports,” he said, expressing hope for a well-established league in the future.
As of 2024, Sinatraa remains a key figure in the Valorant community, contributing to its growth and success. His move to Valorant seems to be paying off, with the game’s esports scene continuing to expand.
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