When looking at the gaming category, it has been almost impossible to ignore the growth of eSports. The origins of eSports actually started in 1972, but it has risen to further prominence in more recent times, with huge sponsorship deals and viewership steadily growing. In fact, it’s estimated that we could see a staggering 322.5 million viewers watch this competitive area of gaming by the end of the year.
For many fans of eSports, the professionals who make it what it is today are their heroes. From Dota 2 to EA Sports FC 26, there are highly talented players reigning supreme and earning huge sums of money on a weekly basis. While you won’t find leading solitary gaming experiences in the eSports sphere, such as top craps online games like DraftKings Craps and classic mobile titles like Candy Crush, there are some other thriving titles that are ideal for it. For example, multiplayer online battle arena games and first-person shooters are perfect.
Already, we’ve seen a large number of inspirational eSports players rise to the top of rankings in these types of genres, plus a whole host of others. An intriguing area of entertainment, if you’re yet to discover eSports gaming, then you really should. With that in mind, below we highlight some of the biggest professionals around, all of whom are at the top of their game and belong to some of the most respected eSports teams out there.
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Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok
League of Legends is more than suitable for the eSports environment thanks to the epic action and all-around chaos that typically ensues. Arguably the best professional player the game has seen, Lee “Faker” Sang-hyeok clearly enjoys it more than most. After coming out on top in numerous domestic and world competitions, he has reportedly earned around $2 million. For many South Korean gamers, in particular, Faker is an icon.
Jesse “JerAx” Vainikka
As one of the most popular titles in the eSports area, Dota players earn some of the biggest sums of money. One of the most famous faces from this particular category is Jesse “JerAx” Vainikka, a Finnish former professional who decided to hang up his controller after years of competing at the highest level. Now a millionaire with career earnings of around $6 million, JerAx an an inspiration to many aspiring professional gamers.
Johan “N0tail” Sundstein
Despite being on a competitive break since 2021, Johan “N0tail” Sundstein is eSports royalty. The Roger Federer and Michael Jordan of this growing area of entertainment, N0tail has done so much in the eSports arena. A Dota 2 legend, he has over $7 million to his name after reigning supreme in a number of prestigious tournaments, including winning the International championships on two occasions. Overall, diehard eSports fans know exactly who Johan “N0tail” Sundstein is.
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Daigo “The Beast” Umehara
As you can probably imagine, modern-day fighting games almost feel like they’ve been specifically made for the eSports genre. Daigo “The Beast” Umehara is a Street Fighter master who has become an author following his exploits in eSports arenas. The Japanese professional is an immensely skilled player, with a long and highly successful career to his name.
Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf
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For many eSports fanatics, Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf is the finest player they’ve ever witnessed in action. When looking at the most successful Fortnite players, he’s the best there is. Bugha won the Fortnite World Cup in 2019, bringing in huge earnings of $3.73 million. A game the eSports community adores, Kyle “Bugha” Giersdorf has also won a number of other prestigious clashes, cementing himself at the very top of the Fortnite rankings.
