The gaming sector is expanding rapidly on a daily basis. If you ever believed that video games were solely for children, reconsider your perspective. Across the globe, annual video game tournaments take place with the support of major sponsors and offer substantial cash rewards.
In 2023, the worldwide esports industry boasted a market size of $1.1 billion, according to estimates. Furthermore, projections indicate that it will experience a substantial increase of 45% by the year 2024. Titles such as League of Legends and Overwatch are anticipated to experience significant expansion in their direct earnings. The majority of this expansion will come from the sale of tickets, merchandise, partnerships with other brands, and advertising.
In addition, the growth and general popularity of the esports industry have increased the prominence of individuals who are considered to be esports influencers. These gaming industry influencers have amassed a substantial number of followers on social media platforms as a result of their significant expertise and achievements in the gaming business.
Twitch is the place where they go to broadcast their gaming activities, despite the fact that Twitter is their preferred social networking site. Within the scope of this essay, we will investigate the eleven most influential figures in the world of esports in the year 2024. There is no particular order to the list in any way.
Peter Dager
Peter "ppd" Dager is an accomplished Dota 2 player hailing from the United States. He currently holds the position of captain for the esteemed team Ninjas in Pyjamas. He gained widespread recognition for his tenure with Evil Geniuses, leading the team to a triumphant win at The International 2015. In addition, he dedicated a year to serving as the CEO of Evil Geniuses. Ppd mentions that his genuine dedication to video games began after completing high school. He mentions that a companion and his elder sibling were the primary origins of his rivalry in his early years, and his companion outshined him during matches in Heroes of Newerth. After transitioning to Dota 2 alongside his former Heroes of Newerth teammate Zai, PPD swiftly emerged as one of the most influential strategists in the competitive scene. He garnered widespread acclaim for his exceptional talent in consistently outmanoeuvring his adversaries through his draft choices. Known for his candid nature, PD has earned the nickname of the Salt King due to his outspokenness. Even though ppd has earned approximately $2,168,940.76 in prize money as a member of Evil Geniuses, he has gained a reputation for being extremely careful with his earnings. For some time, he chose to reside in a modest condominium with his friends and drove a 1999 Chevy Blazer that had a noticeable dent on the side. Following his victory at TI5, he relocated to the vibrant city of San Francisco, California. Here is an alternative version: After TI6, he transitioned into an administrative position within the Evil Geniuses organisation, eventually rising to the role of CEO. In August 2017, he relinquished his position as CEO of Evil Geniuses.
He boasts an astonishing 162,000 Twitter followers and an additional 36,000 Instagram followers.
Artour Babaev
Artour "Arteezy" Babaev is a member of the Canadian Dota 2 community with Uzbek heritage. Arteezy stands out as a formidable and highly skilled player in the core position within the fiercely competitive world of Dota 2. Allow us to present the tale of Arteezy's journey towards becoming a seasoned professional in the world of esports.
In February 2014, Arteezy joined the EG gaming team. Evil Geniuses quickly established themselves as the top team in their region and a formidable competitor on the global stage. They emerged victorious in multiple competitions, including the inaugural season of The Summit and the HyperX D2L Western Challenge. The team achieved a commendable second position at ESL One Frankfurt 2014. During The International 2014, the team achieved impressive results by securing an admirable third-place finish.
In October 2014, Arteezy emerged victorious in Starladder Star Series Season 10, but unfortunately, the team's performance took a downturn after that. In January 2015, Artour joined Team Secret as a member.
Artour joined EG for the fourth time in September 2016. Since then, he has participated in countless tournaments, showcasing an exceptional level of gaming prowess. He achieved victory at Mars Dota 2 League 2016 Autumn and The Manila Masters 2017, solidifying his status as a champion. In 2017, Artour and EG secured a respectable 3-4 place finish at The Kiev Major. In 2018, he and his team achieved a commendable third-place finish at The International 2018. Arteezy was assigned the 5-6 position in The International 2019. Throughout his professional journey, Artour accumulated a staggering sum of 2,257,000 dollars.
His Twitter account boasts an impressive following of more than 654,000 individuals, which is an exciting fact.
Saahil Arora
Saahil, also known as "Universe" Dota 2 player Arora, hails from Madison, Wisconsin, and is a professional player from the United States. Ninjas in Pyjamas is the team that he is now playing for. Universe is a veteran of DotA who has competed in all of the DotA championship series, with the exception of the first annual DotA championship series, which was called The International. Because of his Dark Seer and Faceless Void, UNiVeRsE has established himself as a prominent figure in the DotA community in North America. He is widely recognized as one of the most brilliant offers the Western region has to offer.
His Twitter account boasts an impressive following of over 155K, while his Instagram account has garnered over 19K loyal followers.
Lasse Aukusti Urpalainen
Lasse "MATUMBAMAN" Urpalainen stands out as a shining example of the Finnish Dota 2 scene. Lasse began his professional journey in 2014, and since then, he has consistently emerged as the victor in numerous prestigious global competitions. MATUMBAMAN is an incredibly skilled and formidable player. Here is a report on his journey as he transforms into a skilled esports competitor.
Since becoming a member of Team Liquid in October 2015, MATUMBAMAN has elevated his game to new heights. Liquid MATUMBAMAN achieved a notable accomplishment by securing the second position at The Shanghai Major 2016 in March 2016. In just three months, he and his team completed their inaugural major championship victory. In May, the team emerged victorious at EPICENTER 2016. One month later, they achieved second place in the Manila Major 2016, earning the silver medal.
In February 2017, Liquid emerged victorious in the StarLadder i-League StarSeries Season 3, and just four months later, they claimed the championship title at EPICENTER 2017. The team entered The International 2017 with a decisive advantage, being widely regarded as the top contender.
In August 2017, MATUMBAMAN emerged victorious in TI7 alongside Liquid, securing their place in the annals of Dota 2 history. Following his triumph as World Champion, his performance experienced a slight decline. However, by December 2017, he and his team secured a commendable second place in DreamLeague Season 8.
He boasts an impressive following of nearly 113K on Twitter and a substantial 48K on Instagram.
Clinton Loomis
Fear, whose real name is Clinton Loomis, is a very skilled Dota 2 player who hails from the United States of America. Within the Dota community, he is often referred to as a veteran.
Fear is primarily acknowledged as the best Dota 2 player to come out of North America over the past ten years. Through his participation in 101 different competitions, he has amassed a total of $2.56 million. In the past, he was the head of Evil Geniuses and a co-owner of the company.
His social media presence is definitely powerful, as seen by his astounding 45 thousand Instagram followers and a gigantic following of over 175 thousand on Twitter.
KuroKy
Kuro "KuroKy" Salehi Tahosami is widely regarded as one of the most iconic figures in the Dota 2 community. KuroKy began his journey in the professional scene well before the inception of Dota 2 and has had the privilege of representing numerous teams throughout his illustrious career. He is widely regarded as one of the most exceptional captains in the annals of history. Allow me to present the captivating tale of KuroKy's evolution as a digital athlete.
KuroKy began his journey in the esports industry well before he joined a competitive team. He became familiar with Dota at a young age, enjoying it in computer clubs.
KuroKy's initial team was the Online Kingdom organization. He was a member of the club from February 2010 to April of the same year. Following his departure from the Online Kingdom, KuroKy transitioned to Dota 2.
Becoming a part of Team Liquid signaled the start of a fresh chapter in his professional journey. The initial notable achievement of the recently established team was their impressive second-place finish at The Shanghai Major 2016. In May of that very year, KuroKy emerged victorious in the EPICENTER 2016 tournament and just a month later secured a commendable second-place finish at The Manila Major. The outcomes noticeably increased, but that was not the extent either.
KuroKy achieved numerous victories and claimed several championships while playing with Team Nigma, including the prestigious WePlay! Tournaments. Bukovel Minor 2020, brought to you by WePlay! Dota Tug of War: Mad Moon and WeSave! Charitable Performance - European Union & Commonwealth of Independent States.
KuroKy has accumulated a staggering sum of more than 5,192,000 dollars throughout his illustrious career. In 2014, he emerged victorious in the "Best Career" category of the JoinDOTA Awards 2014. He was also acknowledged as one of the most exceptional support players in the annals of the game.
His Twitter account boasts an impressive following of over 248 thousand people.
Clement Ivanov
Clement "Puppey" Ivanov is an experienced Dota competitorDota competitor, widely regarded as one of the most skilled and esteemed players in the eSports realm. Presented here are the captivating tales of Puppey's remarkable ascent to establish himself as one of the most illustrious figures in the fiercely competitive world of Dota.
Clement began his journey in the industry well before he joined a professional team. Puppey frequently frequented computer clubs during their peak popularity.
Puppey began his journey in the world of Dota with its initial iteration. He became a member of his inaugural team in 2007. This team was exceptional. After spending a year with the team, he decided to part ways. In 2008, he and KuroKy, his closest companion in the world of esports, formed the team Ks.Int. The team was in existence for a year before it disbanded in 2009. He was a member of the Blight team from the latter part of 2009 until February 2010. Transcending to new levels, they ascended to a state of enlightenment. However, even in that particular situation, the player's tenure was at most a year. In 2010, he joined the NOW team as a player, and in January 2011, he became a member of GosuGamers.
Team Secret was founded by Puppey in August 2014. The inaugural year of the team's establishment displayed rather average outcomes. However, beginning in 2015, Team Secret began to build up steam.
In 2015, they achieved the impressive feat of securing the silver medal at The Frankfurt Major 2015. The team also excels in tournaments of lower stature. In March 2013, Puppey emerged victorious in a significant tournament after a considerable period. The event in question was The Shanghai Major 2016. Next comes a phase of gradual decrease. During The International 2017, the team made a remarkable exit from the championship, finishing in the 9-12th position. Following that, the team successfully recovered and, in December 2017, emerged victorious in DreamLeague Season 8.
In June 2019, they emerged victorious as the champions of ESL One Birmingham. Puppey and his team secured an impressive 4th place at The International 2019.
Following TI9, the team maintains its dominance in the PRO scene. In January, they emerged victorious at DreamLeague Season 13. Ever since the beginning of the Pandemic, the team has emerged victorious in five back-to-back tournaments and even claimed victory in the Gamers Without Borders 2020 charity show match.
Puppey has accumulated a staggering amount of $2,804,000 in prize money throughout their illustrious career. From 2012 to 2015, he received numerous accolades, including being recognized as the Best Support Player and Captain by the GosuAwards Community in 2012.
Johan boasts an impressive following of more than 281K on Twitter and an equally impressive 273K on
Johan Sundstein
Johan Sundstein, also known as N0tail, is a highly regarded professional player in the Dota 2 community and a member of the esports organization OG.
Johan boasts an impressive following of more than 281K on Twitter and an equally impressive 273K on Instagram.
Resolut1on
Roman "Resolut1on" Fominok is widely regarded as one of the most seasoned players in the highly competitive world of Dota 2. Roman has had the opportunity to showcase his skills in multiple regions, where he consistently delivers impressive performances and displays a deep understanding of the game.
After joining Team Empire, Resolut1on began showcasing impressive achievements. As part of the team, he rapidly established himself as a formidable adversary in the CIS region and eventually gained recognition worldwide.
Empire has achieved remarkable success in various tournaments, securing first place in prestigious events such as Dota 2 Champions League Season 3, Game Show Global eSports Cup Season 1, Excellent Moscow Cup, Dota 2 Champions League Season 5, and Excellent Moscow Cup 2. In addition, the team emerged victorious in several competitions that were of a lower ranking.
Despite the impressive performance, Team Empire fell short of achieving significant results at The International. In 2014, Resolution and the team achieved a placement of 13th-14th, followed by a placement of 9th-12th in 2015. Resolut1on departed from Team Empire in February 2016.
Following his exit from Empire, Resolut1on quickly became a highly sought-after player. In February 2016, he relocated to the American region and joined the ranks of Digital Chaos.
Resolut1on showcased impressive performance with DC, giving EG tough competition for the title of the region's top team.
Resolut1on showcased an outstanding performance at The International 2016, marking a significant milestone in his career. He came in second place with his team, narrowly missing out on victory to the formidable Chinese team Wings Gaming in the final match.
Following the conclusion of The International, he achieved a commendable 3rd-4th place at The Boston Major 2016 and emerged victorious with a 1st place finish at ESL One Genting 2017. Although the outcomes were highly gratifying, he and his teammates departed from the organisation in April 2017.
Resolut1on left J.Storm in September 2019 and became a member of Virtus.Pro in the same month.
He successfully secured the top spot in both Parimatch League Season 1 and Parimatch League Season 3 alongside VP. In addition, he secured the second position in Parimatch League Season 2 and emerged as the runner-up in Epic Prime League Season 1. Resolut1on has accumulated over 1.4 million dollars in prize winnings throughout his career.
Jesse Vainikka
He is a famous Finnish Dota 2 player with a massive following on both Twitter and Instagram, totaling 150,7k and 110k, respectively. Having competed in 65 separate esports tournaments, he has earned a staggering USD 6.5 million.
A member of the OG team, he helped bring home the hardware at The International Dota 2 Championships in 2018 and again this year. His social media posts frequently include Red Bull, the corporation that supports him
Sébastien Debs
The Frenchman is not only a renowned member of the OG squad that won two International competitions, but he is also an exceptionally talented Dota 2 player. This solidifies his reputation as a highly sought-after esports influencer.
His successes are clearly demonstrated by his incredible total income of $5.5 million from 63 events and his fantastic Instagram following of 146,000 individuals. He also promotes his team's sponsor, Red Bull, on Instagram.
If you are looking to connect with esports-crazed gamers, here are a few of the most influential names in the business. Playing video games is fun for some, but for others, it's an integral part of their identity as members of the esports community. Notwithstanding this, they all wield considerable sway over their respective shows' viewership.
This exhaustive list should be consulted the next time you are looking for influential people in the gaming or esports sector.