Gaming peripherals and hardware brand Razer has signed VALORANT player Zachary ‘zekken’ Patrone to its roster of esports athletes.
As a result of the partnership, the current Sentinels player will assist with testing and developing new Razer products.
In addition to helping Razer test and provide feedback to products in development, zekken will also receive a range of the brand’s esports-focused peripherals including keyboards, mice and headsets.
Zekken began competing in VALORANT in 2020. At the age of 16, he joined North American esports organisation XSET where the team secured a top six placement at the 2022 VALORANT Champions taking home $60,000 (~£47,311) in prize money. In May 2023, zekken joined Sentinels and won VCT 2024: Americas Kickoff earlier this month, earning him and his team a spot at Masters Madrid.
Razer is one of the most recognisable brands in the esports industry. Alongside its peripherals, the brand also focuses on industry growth. In August 2023, it partnered with Abu Dhabi-based initiative AD Gaming to help grow the country’s game development industry.
Zekken joins an extensive number of players and esports organisations on Razer’s commercial roster, such as four-time League of Legends World Champion, Lee ‘Faker’ Sang-hyeok and German esports organisation Mouz. The brand has also partnered with the likes of CGN Esports and Ninjas in Pyjamas.
Jeff Chau, Director of Global Esports at Razer, spoke on the deal: “zekken’s passion, dedication, and exceptional skills embody Razer’s core values.
“Starting from Silver in VALORANT, his journey to becoming one of the world’s top duelists is an inspiration to aspiring gamers around the globe. We are confident his dedication and positive attitude will resonate deeply with our Razer community.”
