ShahZaM
{{Short description|American professional esports player}}
{{Infobox video game player
| ID = ShahZaM
| name = Shahzeb Asghar Khan
| name_trans =
| image = Shahzam Cropped.jpg
| caption = Khan in 2017
| upright = 0.9
| status =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1993|10|8}}
| nationality = Pakistani-American
| team = G2 Esports
| role = In-game Leader
| league =
| game = Valorant
| career_games = Counter-Strike
Valorant
| nickname =
| team1 = Counter-Strike: Global Offensive:
| years2 = 2014
| team2 = Denial eSports
| years3 = 2014–2015
| team3 = Cloud9
| years4 = 2015
| team4 = Tempo Storm
| years5 = 2015
| team5 = Sponsorless
| years6 = 2015
| team6 = Conquest
| years7 = 2016
| team7 = OpTic Gaming
| years8 = 2016
| team8 = Echo Fox
| years9 = 2016–2017
| team9 = Team SoloMid
| years10 = 2017–2018
| team10 = Misfits Gaming
| years11 = 2018
| team11 = OpTic Gaming
| years12 = 2018–2019
| team12 = compLexity Gaming
| team13 = Valorant:
| team14 = Sentinels
| years14 = 2020–2022
| team15 = G2 Esports
| years15 = 2022–2023
}}
Shahzeb Asghar Khan (born October 8, 1993),{{Cite web | title=ShahZaM CS:GO Settings, Gear, Config & Crosshair 2025 | url=https://www.prosettings.com/shahzam-csgo/ | access-date=2025-01-05 | website=www.prosettings.com}} better known as ShahZaM, is currently a content creator for G2 Esports.{{Cite web |date=December 12, 2022 |title=ShahZaM and dapr have joined G2 Esports {{!}} ONE Esports |url=https://www.oneesports.gg/valorant/shahzam-dapr-reportedly-join-g2-esports/ |access-date=December 13, 2022 |website=www.oneesports.gg |language=en-US}} He was a former CS:GO professional player before announcing that he would be officially making the switch to Riot Games' Valorant. He would find most of his success in Valorant as he went on to win their first international LAN tournament in Reykjavík, Iceland.
Early life and career history
Khan grew up in Maryland.{{Cite web | title=x.com | url=https://www.twitter.com/shahzamk/status/578965335866548225?s=46 | access-date=2025-01-05 | website=www.twitter.com}} On December 15, 2014, he joined Cloud9.{{cite web|url=https://www.hltv.org/news/13827/cloud9-add-shahzam-hiko-out|title=Cloud9 add ShahZaM; Hiko out|work=HLTV.org|access-date=May 23, 2018}}
Khan was central in uncovering the iBuyPower and NetcodeGuides match fixing scandal, after he issued a statement confirming that the match at issue had been thrown.{{Cite news|url=https://play.esea.net/index.php?s=news&d=comments&id=15040|title=ex-iBP Unbanned from ESEA League; Updated cheating rules developed|work=ESEA|access-date=May 23, 2018|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=https://kotaku.com/pro-teams-implicated-in-huge-counter-strike-match-fixin-1680514379|title=Pro Teams Implicated In Huge Counter-Strike Match Fixing Scandal|last=Grayson|first=Nathan|work=Kotaku|access-date=November 6, 2017|language=en-US}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/valve-suspends-seven-csgo-pro-players-for-match-fixing/|title=Valve bans seven CS:GO pro players from tournament KOS OMAK 3ALA KOS OM OMAR TROLLAT HIDDEN NESWAN HIDDEN play for match fixing|work=pcgamer|access-date=November 6, 2017|language=en}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.pcgamer.com/new-evidence-of-counter-strike-global-offensive-match-fixing/|title=New evidence of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive match fixing|work=pcgamer|access-date=November 6, 2017|language=en}}
On April 13, 2016, he was released from OpTic Gaming.{{cite web|url=https://www.hltv.org/news/17554/optic-bring-in-mixwell-shahzam-out|title=OpTic bring in mixwell, ShahZaM out|work=HLTV.org|access-date=May 23, 2018}}
On May 19, 2016 Echo Fox replaced AWPer Mohamad "m0E" Assad (who was promoted to general manager), picking up ShahZaM as his replacement.{{cite web|url=https://www.echofox.gg/news/shahzam-officially-joins-echo-fox-roster|title=ShahZam Officially Joins Echo Fox Roster|work=Echo Fox|access-date=May 23, 2018}}
On December 15, 2016, ShahZaM and Sgares joined Team SoloMid.{{cite web|url=https://dotesports.com/counter-strike/news/tsm-brings-seangares-and-shahzam-to-the-fold-ahead-of-2017-4104|title=TSM brings seangares and ShahZam to the fold ahead of 2017|work=Dot Esports|date=December 15, 2016|access-date=May 23, 2018}}
On January 17, 2017, ShahZaM and the rest of the Team SoloMid roster were acquired by Misfits Gaming.{{cite web|url=https://dotesports.com/counter-strike/news/misfits-acquires-tsms-former-csgo-roster-4369|title=Misfits acquires TSM's former CS:GO roster|work=Dot Esports|date=January 14, 2017|access-date=May 23, 2018}}
On February 7, 2018, ShahZaM joined OpTic Gaming.{{cite web|url=http://optic.tv/optic-csgo-2018.html|title=OpTic CS:GO 2018|work=OpTic Gaming|access-date=May 23, 2018}}
On April 27, 2018, ShahZaM joined compLexity Gaming as an AWPer.{{cite web|url=http://complexitygaming.com/articles/news/press/4884/complexity-welcomes-stanislaw-and-shahzam|title=compLexity Welcomes Stanislaw and ShahZaM|work=compLexity Gaming|date=April 27, 2018|access-date=May 23, 2018}}
On October 28, 2019, ShahZaM was removed from the active roster of compLexity Gaming. The announcement was made in the wake of Complexity's poor performance during the months prior, including their early elimination from the StarSeries Berlin Major. ShahZaM later communicated on his Twitch stream that the team had struggled in large part due to the relative inexperience of many of the team's members, which included the then 16 year old Owen "oBo" Schlatter. ShahZaM expressed frustration with not being able to focus on his primary role of AWPing due to constantly having to perform in-game duties that on a more experienced roster would have been able to take on.{{cite web|url=https://estnn.com/complexity-release-dephh-shahzam-benched/|title=CSGO: COMPLEXITY RELEASE DEPHH, SHAHZAM BENCHED|work=compLexity Gaming|date=October 28, 2019|access-date=February 18, 2020}}
On November 26, 2019, ShahZaM announced his free-agency via Twitter, bringing an official end to his time with CompLexity Gaming. ShahZaM also mentioned his eagerness to find a new team as quickly as possible.{{cite web|url=https://www.hltv.org/news/28487/shahzam-announces-free-agency|title=SHAHZAM ANNOUNCES FREE AGENCY|access-date=February 18, 2020}}
On April 28, 2020, ShahZaM signed with Sentinels, officially making the switch over to Valorant.{{cite news |last1=Ocal |first1=Arda |title=Sentinels announce four-member VALORANT roster including Sinatraa |url=https://www.espn.com/esports/story/_/id/29110215/sentinels-announce-four-member-valorant-roster-including-sinatraa |access-date=May 2, 2021 |work=ESPN |date=April 28, 2020}}
On October 6, 2022, ShahZaM was informed live on his Twitch stream that he would not be offered a renewed contract with Sentinels when his current contract expires at the end of the year.{{Cite web |title=Valorant star ShahZaM claims he found out Sentinels dropped him through leaks |url=https://www.dexerto.com/valorant/valorant-star-shahzam-claims-he-found-out-sentinels-dropped-him-through-leaks-1950167/ |access-date=October 6, 2022 |website=Dexerto |language=en}}
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;" |
| Year
! Ceremony ! Category ! Result ! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}} |
|---|
| rowspan="1"| 2022
| rowspan="1"| The Streamer Awards | Best Valorant Streamer | {{nom}} | rowspan="1"| {{cite web |last1=Polhamus |first1=Blaine |title=All 2023 Streamer Awards nominees |url=https://dotesports.com/streaming/news/all-2023-streamer-awards-nominees |website=Dot Esports |publisher=Gamurs |date=February 20, 2023}} |