From early 2010, esports has been gaining more popularity each day. New gaming teams have been formed while others have collapsed and phased out of the market. However, even with the popularity, sports pundits will tell you that the market is not yet at its peak. That is to say that, the industry will continue to grow at a high rate. Back in 2016, Forbes envisioned that the esports industry would reach the $30 billion mark in net worth, and by the look of things, the industry is perhaps above that mark by now.
Like traditional sports, esports attract audiences and players across the continents. However, only strong teams can survive the stiff competition in the market and emerge winners in various competitions in the industry. And did I tell you that esports are being features in some popular sports TV networks? Well, now you know, and you can interpret what that means. Even more important is the fact that some esports games have found their way to online game sites. People are following esports teams in North America and other parts of the world. However, the industry is laden with inconsistent competitions and leagues, and you may need to keep your eyes open a bit longer.
Do Esports Teams Play for Fun?
In this industry, there are generally two types of players. First, some casual players usually join online leagues and competitions to have fun and perhaps pass a few hours. We can also call them hobby players. The second type of player is organized in teams and usually plays in live competitions to win money. There are usually high amounts of money associated with these competitions, and teams are always reorganizing seeking to beat their opponents. For this article, we will consider the second type of player who can be termed, professional esports players/groups. You can read more about esports team organization on the esports observer.
Choosing Esports teams to follow
Experienced esports gamers already have a list of favorite teams and their scorecards. However, new players may find it difficult to tell the most successful teams. For that reason, we have prepared a list of popular esports teams that you will likely find in online game sites. Note that there is no discrete way to determine the best teams. For this reason, we have selected the teams, in the same manner, you would choose a game in an all slots casino Canada. Check the list below.
1. Team Liquid
Team Liquid is an international professional esports group based in the Netherlands. The group has made major acquisitions over the years, including that pf Team curse and the famous Dota 2 squad that later won the 2017 international competition.
The group has participated in close to 2000 tournaments taking home a cumulative prize-winning of more than 35 million dollars. Team Liquid is revered by many in the industry and is believed to be the best overall team.
2. OG
OG is a professional team of players managed by the Dota 2 Company and mainly operates in Europe. In 2015, the group won the inaugural Dota 2 competition in France, taking home a record one million dollars. They are also the winners of the 2018 and 2019 international. Being part of the Dota 2 family, the team has evolved over the years and successfully enrolled new players on their roster.
They have participated in about 90 tournaments and walked away with over 33 million dollars in prize winnings. Some people would perhaps consider the OG to be among the most profitable esports outfits owing to their low tournament participation as compared to earnings.
3. Fnatic
Fnatic is yet another winning machine. Having participated in about 900 tournaments, they have managed to walk away with prizes of above fourteen million dollars. The group has players from across the world participating in various teams. They have been known to participate in popular games, including PUBG Mobile, League of Legends, and Heroes of the Storm, among others. Fnatic was the first-ever team to win the League of Legends championship that was held in 2011. Since then, they have risen to become record holders, winning 7 out of the 15 championships they participated in until May 2020.
4. Team Vitality
Team Vitality traced its roots to 2013 when veteran players Nicolas Maurer and Fabien Devide joined hands to create the platform. The group has expanded its reach with representative teams for popular games such as F1, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and FIFA.
From the inception, Team Vitality has participated in 204 major championships and won over 3 million dollars in profit. This is quite a huge amount of earnings for the considerably low number of tourneys they played. Their team is being revamped every season, keeping them on top of the game, and more winnings are perhaps on the way.
5. Evil Geniuses
The Evil Geniuses have been operating long enough to master the tricks of the industry. In 2015, their Dota 2 squad won the international championships and received a record high payout. Other than the Dota 2 squad, they also have representations in other popular games. They have remained a profitable brand from 2015, and in 2018, the Call of Duty team took home the ultimate Call of Duty championship prize. These two instances are enough evidence that Evil Geniuses are evil at winning, and you shouldn’t overthink about their winning. They have made 24 million dollars in their 848 tournament appearances.
The Bottom Line
While we have only listed five teams that are currently performing well in the esports industry, we cannot guarantee that they will maintain high performances. However, from past experiences, it is safe to say that these teams are loved by veteran esports gamers and new market entrants. You must know that these teams (groups) enter competitions to make money like in other sports.
Finally, there is no better way to thank you than to wish you well as you look to up your game on esports. Good luck!
