Cybersports has experienced explosive growth in recent years, becoming not just a popular pastime, but a serious professional discipline with millions of dollars in prize money and massive viewership worldwide. Below are three of the most recognizable and successful cybersports teams.
Team Liquid
- Founded in 2000 in the Netherlands.
- Disciplines: Dota 2, StarCraft II, CS:GO, Fortnite and others.
- Achievements: Winning The International 2017 in Dota 2 with a prize pool of over $10 million.
Team Liquid is one of the most versatile teams in the world of eSports, competing at a high level in a multitude of disciplines.
Natus Vincere (NaVi)
- Founded in 2009 in Ukraine.
- Disciplines: CS:GO, Dota 2, FIFA.
- Achievements: Winners of The International 2011 in Dota 2, several times won major CS:GO tournaments, including ESL One Cologne 2016.
NaVi, or “Born to Win”, is one of the most popular teams in Eastern Europe, with a huge fanbase and outstanding achievements in various games.
Evil Geniuses (EG)
- Founded in 1999 in the USA.
- Disciplines: Dota 2, CS:GO, Rainbow Six Siege and others.
- Achievements: Winners of The International 2015 in Dota 2, many victories in major tournaments in various disciplines.
Evil Geniuses are known for their commitment to excellence and innovation in their approach to training and game strategies.
The top three cyber sports players are
Johan “N0tail” Sundstein
- Discipline: Dota 2
- Team: OG
- Achievements: Four-time major winner and two-time winner of The International (2018, 2019).
N0tail has established himself as one of the most successful and talented players in Dota 2 history.
Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok
- Discipline: League of Legends
- Team: T1
- Achievements: Three times World Championship winner (2013, 2015, 2016).
Faker is considered the best player in League of Legends history, renowned for his incredible skills and understanding of the game.
S1mple (Aleksandr Kostyliev)
- Discipline: CS:GO
- Team: Natus Vincere
- Achievements: Numerous wins at international tournaments, including IEM Katowice 2020. He is considered one of the best CS:GO players in the world.
S1mple is known for his versatility and ability to dominate the game even in the most difficult situations.
In a world of cybersport traditionally perceived as male dominated, female cyber athletes are making a significant breakthrough with impressive achievements and skills. Their participation and success in professional tournaments around the world is making an important contribution to the cybersport industry, promoting equality and diversity in this fast-growing sport.
Girls in eSports
Women in cybersports are gradually breaking gender stereotypes by displaying high levels of competition and skill. Some of them have become icons in their disciplines, winning international championships and bringing attention to women’s cybersport.
Examples of outstanding female cyber athletes include
- “Scarlett” (Sasha Hostin) is a professional StarCraft II player. Sasha Hostin, better known as “Scarlett”, is considered one of the best StarCraft II players in the world. She has won numerous tournaments, including IEM PyeongChang, where she beat a number of top male players.
- “Mystik” (Katherine Goon) is a professional Counter-Strike and Halo player. Kathryn was one of the first women to break through to the top of cybersports, winning the CPL Championship in Counter-Strike.
- “Ricki Ortiz” – Known for her appearances in Street Fighter tournaments. Ricki Ortiz has established herself as one of the top fighting game players, regularly competing and performing well in international competitions.
Contribution to the industry
The presence and success of women in cybersports not only reaffirms that gender should not determine a person’s ability in any field, including highly competitive sports, but also helps to expand the audience for cybersports. Female cyber athletes serve as an inspiration to millions of women and girls around the world, showing that they have a place and opportunity for success in the cyber sports arena.
