In a highly digital world of online entertainment, content creation, and video games, there are
bound to be new chances for people to earn money and make careers. Younger generations, as
well as early adopters who caught on in the primal days of what is now the wider online gaming industry, have become successful in a number of ways. One area is particularly fascinating because it draws obvious parallels to an already established and long running industry. Esports, electronic sports, or eSports…call them what you will, but they have caught up with traditional sports in every way. From prizes and trophies to celebrities and sponsorships, playing video games as a career is now a legitimate option for people who are the best in the world. In such a climate, certain professional teams (organizations) have eventually set themselves apart. And now, we can talk about the best of all time. If you like to follow esports tournament and enjoy gaming, this is something you have to know about.
Team Liquid
Founded in 2000, Team Liquid is one of the most recognizable and successful esports organizations in the world. They originated as a StarCraft clan, and the team has since expanded into nearly every major esport, mainly League of Legends, Dota 2, Valorant, and Counter Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO). In Dota 2, Team Liquid won The International 2017, one of the largest prize pools in esports history, taking home over $10.8 million. Their League of Legends team has been a dominant force in North America, securing four consecutive LCS titles from 2018 to 2019. Notable players in their ranks include KuroKy in Dota 2, EliGE in
Counter Strike, and CoreJJ in League of Legends.
Fnatic
Fnatic was established in 2004, and over the years, they have become synonymous with excellence in European esports. The organization is best known for its League of Legends team due to its win at the inaugural League of Legends World Championship in 2011. The accomplishment made them one of the oldest champions in the scene. They have consistently been among the top European gaming teams, with several deep runs at Worlds. In Counter Strike, Fnatic dominated the early years of the game and won three Major championships. Their legendary lineup included players like flusha, JW, and olofmeister. Fnatic’s ability to remain competitive across multiple titles over two decades is a rare feat in the industry and showcases an enduring legacy.
T1 (Formerly SK Telecom T1)
When it comes to League of Legends, no team has a legacy as rich as T1. Previously known as SK Telecom T1, the South Korean powerhouse has won the World Championship three times (2013, 2015, 2016), making them the most decorated team in LoL history. The face of T1 is Faker, widely regarded as the greatest League player of all time. Under his leadership, the team became a dynasty that dominated across multiple seasons and regions. Beyond League, T1 has also fielded teams in other major competitive titles like Valorant and StarCraft, but their legacy is most closely tied to their unmatched reign in LoL.
OG
OG stunned the world by rewriting the history books in Dota 2. Founded in 2015, they were a
relatively new team when they started to dominate. This European team achieved the unthinkable by winning The International (TI) twice in a row (2018 and 2019), a feat no other team has managed. Their underdog victory in 2018, followed by a dominant 2019 run, netted them over $26 million in total prize money. OG’s roster, including stars like N0tail, Ceb, and Topson, became legends overnight. OG’s story is not just about winning but doing so with chemistry, creativity, and heart. Their incredible early success, efficiency, and optimal strategy made them one of esports’ most beloved teams among neutral fans.
NAVI (Natus Vincere)
Natus Vincere, or Na Vi, is one of Eastern Europe’s most well known esports organizations. Founded in 2009, they made history in 2010 by becoming the first CS team to win three premier tournaments in one year, including the first CS 1.6 Intel Grand Slam. In Counter Strike: Global Offensive, NAVI has remained a constant threat, a streak that culminated in their dominant PGL Major Stockholm 2021 win. They were led by superstar s1mple, often regarded as the greatest CS: GO player of all time. NAVI has also had successful runs in Dota 2, finishing runner up at TI2 and TI3. More recently, they have also participated in titles like Rainbow Six and PUBG.
Evil Geniuses
As one of the oldest North American esports organizations, Evil Geniuses (EG) was founded in 1999.EG has competed across an array of old school titles, but also newer hits, including StarCraft II, Dota 2, CS: GO, Valorant, and League of Legends. Their crowning achievement came in 2015 when they won The International 5 (TI5) in Dota 2, securing over $6.6 million in prize money. Players like Fear, ppd, and SumaiL became household names. EG’s continued relevance across more than two decades and multiple esports genres is an example of adaptability and staying power in an increasingly volatile industry where teams barely last a few years.
Interesting and Improbable eSports Moments
The famous Dota 2 team pulled off one of the biggest underdog victories in esports history at
TI8. After losing key players and qualifying through open brackets, they stunned the world by
winning the tournament, taking home $11 million. They were so unlikely to win that their coach
left before the qualifiers. Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok, arguably the GOAT of League of Legends, has played his entire career with T1 since 2013. He rejected multi million dollar offers from Chinese and Western teams. During The International 2015, Evil Geniuses (EG) hired a life coach, not just a strategic coach, to help players maintain focus and mental clarity. It worked, since they won the event and became the first North American team to win a Dota 2 TI. In 2015, Fnatic was so dominant in CS: GO that they won six out of ten major tournaments and had a streak of 24 consecutive LAN map wins, which is nearly unmatched. Team Liquid’s Serral, a Finnish StarCraft II player, went on a record breaking win streak of 77 maps in 2018. His domination in tournaments across continents marked a rare era where a non Korean player ruled StarCraft II. Sentinels won Valorant Masters Reykjavík 2021 without dropping a single map, going 9-0. It was the first international Valorant LAN ever held. Overnight, it made TenZ, their star player on loan, a Valorant household name and the most in demand player.
