1. Overview
Sasha Hostyn (born December 1993), widely known by her professional username Scarlett, is a highly acclaimed Canadian professional video game player. Primarily celebrated for her exceptional skill in StarCraft II, she holds the distinction of being the first woman to win a major tournament in the game. A transgender woman, Hostyn has consistently maintained that her gender identity is unrelated to her professional performance, striving to make it a non-issue. Her pioneering career has made her an influential figure in esports, breaking barriers for female and transgender individuals in competitive gaming and earning her a place in the Guinness World Records for the highest career earnings for a female competitive video game player.
2. Personal Life
Sasha Hostyn was born in December 1993. She spent her formative years growing up in Kingston, Ontario, Canada. During her school days, Hostyn engaged in gaming as a hobby. Her passion for games eventually led her to participate in tournaments starting around 2011, which marked the genesis of her career as a professional esports player. Hostyn identifies as a transgender woman. She has publicly stated that her gender identity bears "absolutely no relevance" to her performance or how she plays, and that she has "always tried to make it a complete non-issue," emphasizing her desire for her skills and achievements to be judged solely on merit.
3. Professional Gaming Career
Sasha Hostyn's professional gaming career is predominantly defined by her significant achievements and progression in StarCraft II, though she also had a brief period competing in Dota 2.
3.1. Early Career and Breakthrough in StarCraft II
Hostyn embarked on her competitive gaming journey around 2011. She gained significant prominence in the StarCraft II scene in 2012 following an event in Las Vegas, where she successfully defeated several highly ranked professional players, solidifying her presence as a formidable competitor. By 2013, her skills allowed her to climb to a global rank of 21 in the StarCraft II rankings, and she secured a second-place finish at the prestigious NorthCon tournament.
3.2. Notable Achievements and Recognition in StarCraft II
Hostyn's peak performance as a StarCraft II player brought her considerable success and recognition. By mid-2014, she had achieved first place finishes in seven different tournaments, making her the second highest-paid professional female gamer at that time. By the end of 2014, her total earnings from tournaments had surpassed 110.00 K USD.
Throughout her career, Hostyn earned several distinctive nicknames that reflected her dominance and unique playstyle. She was widely known as "the queen of StarCraft II", and her ability to challenge and often defeat top Korean players led to her being dubbed "Korean Kryptonite". She was also referred to as "The Queen of Blades", a reference to a prominent character in the StarCraft lore. The New Yorker magazine recognized her as "the most accomplished woman in e-sports". In 2014, she was the only finalist from a country other than South Korea at the Red Bull Battle Grounds tournament. Furthermore, Polygon included her in their list of "50 admirable gaming people of 2014", highlighting her as "one of the few women succeeding at the top level of the StarCraft II pro scene".
3.3. Transition to Dota 2 and Return to StarCraft II
In February 2015, Hostyn made a temporary transition from StarCraft II to Dota 2. She explained this shift by stating that she had experienced a loss of her "competitive drive" for StarCraft II. Her ambition was to excel in both games, expressing that achieving proficiency in both would be a unique accomplishment. However, her foray into Dota 2 was relatively brief. By June 2015, Hostyn had returned to competitive StarCraft II, joining the Dead Pixels team and resuming her participation in Korean leagues, which are known for their high level of competition.
3.4. Historic Victory at Intel Extreme Masters
A landmark achievement in Hostyn's career occurred in February 2018 when she won the Intel Extreme Masters tournament. This event was particularly significant as it was held in the lead-up to the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Her victory was historic, making her the first woman to win a major StarCraft II tournament. This accomplishment garnered widespread attention and was celebrated as a significant milestone for women in competitive gaming.
3.5. Team Affiliations
Throughout her professional career, Sasha Hostyn has been affiliated with several prominent esports organizations:
- Dead Pixels: Joined in June 2015 upon her return to StarCraft II.
- Team Expert: Joined on August 17, 2016.
- Newbee: Joined in November 2018.
- Shopify Rebellion: Became a member of the newly formed team in February 2021.
4. Awards and Records
Sasha Hostyn's achievements have been formally recognized with notable awards and records. On October 5, 2016, she was officially entered into the Guinness Book of Records under the distinction of "highest career earnings for a female competitive video game player". This record underscores her financial success and sustained performance in the male-dominated esports industry.
5. Legacy and Influence
Sasha Hostyn's career as Scarlett has left a significant and lasting impact on the esports community and beyond. As a prominent female and transgender individual in the highly competitive world of professional gaming, she has become a pioneering figure. Her consistent success at the highest levels of StarCraft II has challenged traditional perceptions and demonstrated that gender identity is not a barrier to achieving excellence in esports. Hostyn's open stance regarding her identity, coupled with her unwavering focus on gameplay, has contributed to fostering a more inclusive environment within the gaming community, inspiring aspiring players from diverse backgrounds and reaffirming the importance of merit in professional competition.