Fan Favourite JerAx Makes Return as a Streamer

Former Dota 2 legend Jesse “JerAx” Vainikka announced last week that he would be making a return to the world of Esports as a streamer. The 28-year-old revealed that he had been “working on” something, although it would not be centred around Dota 2. So, when JerAx went live to play Valorant, the increasingly popular free-to-play multiplayer tactical first-person shooter from Riot Games.

Fans were finally able to watch the former favourite when he went live on Friday, having previously promised to show off “something new” in a post on social media. The former OG player certainly did that, using a pentab to show off his skills on Valorant, something in which even the most ardent of fans would not have predicted.

Where has JerAx Been Lately?

Streaming for over three hours, JerAx received over 9,000 views in this time, with the two-time The International winner having retired from professional gaming last year after amassing winnings of over $6 million during his career. JerAx’s most recent competitive outing came in a Valorant tournament win in his native Finland, while he has also shown his face on Gorgc’s live stream every now and then, generally when he commentates on matches from the past.

Having previously represented Team Tinker and Team Liquid, it was with OG where JerAx really made a name for himself. Successes at The Boston Major 2016 and The Kiev Major 2017 meant that he was already one of the best in the business, before back to back wins at The International in 2018 and 2019 helped to cement his position at the top of the Dota 2 scene. JerAx won a total of 16 tournaments during his playing career, however it remains to be seen as to whether a permanent move into streaming or Valorant will suffice.

What Does the Future Hold for the Former OG Roamer?

JerAx has over 41,000 subscribers on Twitch, with the fact that his first stream at 6am CT having potentially effected viewing figures. However, the legendary roamer would undoubtedly attract fans in their droves should he continue streaming, even if some were surprised by his decision to move to Valorant, a game which still divides opinion.