Team Esports Storici: The Teams Who Made History

Exports share numerous competitive dynamics with traditional sports. Within this ever-expanding sector, some international teams have been able to conquer the heart of millions of fans. In this guide we will explore the history, goals and evolution of the historical e-sport teams that have shaped and continue to dominate the competitive video industry.

T #

The Team SoloMid, universally known with the acronym TSM, represents a real institution in the competitive gaming scene of the United States. His genesis is closely linked to the community of Legends League, one of the top titles of the entire industry. Founded in 2009 by former professional player Andy “Reginald” Dinh, the project was initially born as a web portal of guides and strategic resources for players, called Solomid.

After a two-year commitment to managing the web portal and some competitive experiences in other formations, Reginald took the initiative to form its own team. This group, made up of community veterans, has achieved great success by placing third place at the League of Legends World Championships. The strong dedication led Reginald to create one of the very first “gaming house” in the West, consolidating TSM as the best team in North America.

In 2013, Reginald chose to abandon the role of video gamer to devote himself full time to the administration of the company, leaving Bjergsen, a young Danish talent quickly became the new face of the team. With a leadership focusing exclusively on the corporate side, TSM achieved new and important goals: in 2014 major sponsorship agreements were signed and the competitive division extended to titles such as Hearthstone, Super Smash Bros and, in 2015, to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO).

2015 was a turning year for the brand, marked by the first international triumph at the prestigious IEM (Intel Extreme Masters) tournaments. Meanwhile, the division of CS:GO dominated the scene, winning numerous prestigious events. In the following years, TSM continued to expand its roster. However, in 2017, the team faced a complex moment due to the abandonment of historical players such as Dyrus and Doublelift, temporarily testing fan loyalty.

This transition influenced competitive performance and media visibility. In 2020, Bjergsen became Head Coach, facing a swinging season for the League of Legends division. Despite the difficulties in the field, the management has demonstrated strong entrepreneurial acumen by establishing ICON, an internal talent scouting agency dedicated to the management of the most followed North American influencers, connecting them with international brands and sponsors.

In 2021, the organization temporarily changed its name to TSM FTX, celebrating a clamorous $210 million sponsorship agreement in 10 years with the eponymous exchange of cryptocurrencies. This partnership has broken every record in the e-sports scene, placing itself at the same level as the contracts stipulated in the traditional sports championships.

While crossing phases of reconstruction, TSM remains a real giant in the North American digital entertainment industry, constantly working to return to the top of global rankings.

FaZe Clan #

Since 2014, FaZe Clan has begun to structure itself as a real company. Thomas “Temperrr” Oliveira assumed the role of CEO, alongside Richard “Banks” Bengston as COO. Thanks to their vision, the team’s first gaming facility was inaugurated, a place where members did not just play, but showed their entire lifestyle. FaZe’s gaming house quickly turned into a reality show spread on social media, bringing the audience to the daily life of streamers and pro-players.

In the following years, FaZe has imposed himself in the high-level championships of CS:GO and Call of Duty. However, the organization’s trademark has remained the pioneering use of its athletes as real influencers. In 2017, the foundation of the YouTube House allowed the team’s talents to collaborate assiduously on creating vlogs and entertainment format, establishing a communicative standard that many media agencies would then try to replicate.

In 2018, Greg Selkoe became president of FaZe, starting an impressive fundraising campaign. The Clan has attracted strategic investments from celebrities like DJ Paul, Pitbull, and NBA stars like Ben Simmons. Within two years, the company has raised funding for over $40 million, finally joining the pop culture in the gaming world.

2020 marked the official expansion in the world of traditional entertainment with the foundation of FaZe Studios, a division responsible for producing independent films, series and musical content. The culmination of this corporate growth came in 2021, when FaZe Clan, following a merger with B. Riley Principal, became the first e-sport company to be listed on the NASDAQ, with an initial market rating of $1 billion.

Today, formally operating as FaZe Holdings Incorporated, the organization maintains intact its status as a giant of entertainment and a predominant voice in contemporary youth culture.

Fnatic #

Founded in 2004 by Sam and Anne Mathews, Fnatic represents one of the oldest and most prestigious Western organizations. Over the years it has been consecrated as the most titular society in Europe. The first steps in the competitive world were moved on Counter-Strike and Warcraft III, pioneering titles in the early 2000s. These initial victories allowed Fnatic to build a solid base fan from the competitive web.

Unlike reality exploded in the social era, the development of Fnatic was a progressive consolidation path. Already before the great media boom of 2010, the organization had understood the importance of diversification, investing on Dota teams and World of Warcraft competitions.

The real turning point came in 2011, when Fnatic won the first ever League of Legends World Championship. In the following years, the Swedish Martin “Rekkles” Larsson becomes the undisputed flag and symbol of the team. Rekkkles joined the main team in 2014, led the Fnatics through numerous triumphal seasons in Europe, until his famous and discussed transfer in 2020.

Fnatic has always distinguished itself for a very strict and professional business approach. This solid reliability has attracted more than $55 million in funding between 2017 and 2021, also ensuring multi-year contracts with international giants like Hisense and BMW, strengthening the brand’s presence in European and Asian key markets.

Although they have never focused on the media clamor of reality shows, the constancy of the results, the historicity of the brand and the incredible palmarès assure Fnatic a place of absolute relief in the Olympus of e-sports.

G2 #

G2 Esports is the other pillar of European e-sport, characterized by a profoundly different and rebellious identity compared to Fnatic rivals. Founded in 2014 as Gamers2 by former pro-player Carlos “Ocelote” Rodríguez Santiago along with Jens Hilgers, the organization immediately became known in Spain. In 2016, the company obtained the qualification at the LEC (League of Legends EMEA Championship), the company made a complete rebranding adopting the iconic name G2, and began to dominate the European rankings, lighting one of the most compelling sports rivalries ever against the Fnatics.

Under the ambitious leadership of its founder, G2 soon became the training to beat in Europe, distinguishing itself for breathtaking international victories even against the historical and fearful Chinese and Korean battleships.

In addition to the successes on MOBA, G2 has quickly expanded its horizons by forming high-level teams on titles such as Rainbow Six Siege, CS:GO, and more recently Valorant and Apex Legends, ensuring a visibility of three hundred and sixty degrees.

The real ace in the G2 sleeve was the communication approach: Ocelote made irony, “mememe” and friendly provocation the true trademark of the team. Being always on the front line in social videos, Ocelote has built an image as an eccentric CEO, ensuring the brand an organic and incredibly affectionate media resonance.

The direct link with the community has led G2 to innovate even under the technological aspect, for example launching in 2021 a loyalty club based on blockchain technology Solana. Thanks to this formidable digital identity, G2 has secured top sponsorship by leading companies such as BMW, Red Bull, Pringles and Adidas.

T #

It is impossible to talk about competitive gaming history without honoring South Korea and its most glorious exponent: T1. Born in 2012 by the most important Asian telecommunications company named SK Telecom T1 (SKT1), the company started an ambitious project creating two distinct League of Legends rosters. In early 2013, the so-called “Team B” saw the debut of a young promise destined to forever upset the panorama of video games: Lee “Faker” Sang-Hyeok, today unanimously recognized as the greatest e-sport player of all time.

Success was absolute and immediate. SKT1 won the World Championships in 2013, and then completely dominated the scene by repeating the company consecutively in 2015 and 2016. Faker’s mechanical skill and the ruthless tactical efficiency of the team have elevated the organization to the rank of legend, attracting fans in every corner of the globe, agilely overcoming any linguistic barrier.

Until 2019, the organization focused its energies exclusively on League of Legends. The global business breakthrough came with the investment of Comcast Spectacor, the US entertainment giant, which led to official rebranding in today’s T1. Thanks to the merger, T1 expanded its divisions including teams in Fortnite, Apex Legends, Overwatch and Valorant. As evidence of his indissoluble link with the shirt, Faker renewed the contract not only as a player, but becoming a shareholder and co-owner of the company.

In 2020, T1 joined forces with the famous K-pop BTS group in a special television event, joining the two largest Korean cultural exports. Moreover, in 2021, he inaugurated the T1 Esports Academy, a structure of excellence for the formation of amateur players and future promises of professionalism.

If SKT1 had already written the story establishing records considered unsurpassable, modern T1 is confirming itself as a giant of global entertainment, exporting Korean perfectionism worldwide.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Esports Teams #

What are the most famous e-sport teams in the world? #

The most famous global organizations include historical giants such as T1 in South Korea, the European powers Fnatic and G2 Esports, and the North American giants such as TSM and FaZe Clan. Their popularity comes not only from the world trophies won, but also from their incredible ability to create vast ecosystems linked to entertainment, streaming and merchandising.

How do e-sport teams earn? #

E-sports companies generate their profits through multiple and diverse channels: firstly, the sponsorships made with international brands (technological, automotive or clothing), followed by the sale of merchandising, television rights and streaming transmission, and, to a variable extent, by the jackpots (prize pool) won during the tournaments. Some teams, such as the FaZe Clan, have further climbed the industry becoming real public companies listed in the stock exchange.

Who is the most iconic professional video player ever? #

Although the competitive panorama of countless champions in every discipline, South Korean Lee “Faker” Sang-Hyeok is universally recognized by fans and professionals as the biggest and influential player in the history of esports, mainly thanks to his masterful games and his many world titles won on League of Legends under the colors of the T1 organization.