Razer and Esports | What is Esports?

WHAT IS ESPORTS?

Beyond the packed stadiums, flashy buzzwords and million-dollar prizes, lies the real soul of esports. It’s the discipline to train non-stop and develop the strategy and skills to bend your opponent to your will. It’s the camaraderie and bonds made between teammates, fans and countrymen as you experience painful losses and the euphoria of victory. And most of all, it’s the never-ending drive and passion to keep competing—and win.

THIS IS ESPORTS
THIS IS #TEAMRAZER

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THE EARLY YEARS

THE BIRTH OF TEAM RAZER

OUR RISE TO VICTORY

OUR BIGGEST YEAR YET

THE NEXT CHAPTER

Year 2000, the year that started it all. From sponsoring Cyber Athlete Professional League (CPL) with $100,000—an unprecedented amount at the time—to partnering with one of the world’s first pro gamers, Johnathan “Fatal1ty” Wendel, we began to make our mark on the Esports scene.

Warcraft III players Xiao Feng "Sky" Li & Jaeho "Moon" Jang, carrying the Olympic torch at the Beijing 2008 Olympics

Johnathan "Fatal1ty" Wendel, Cyber Athlete Professional League Champion

Razer sponsored teams: Fnatic, Dignitas & MeetYourMakers

Razer Sphex Esports edition mouse mats in 2009

As competitive gaming grew, so did our pool of elite Esports athletes. With teams like Team Liquid and LGD Gaming, and athletes like SlayerS_BoxeR and Method coming on board, we expanded to over 50 teams competing in dominant titles, and just kept on growing. In 2012, we formed a singular banner to spotlight the world’s elite Esports athletes—Team Razer.

Team Liquid, one of the biggest Esports organizations of all time

Counter Logic Gaming, WCG Champions

LGD Gaming, one of China’s largest Esports organizations

Evil Geniuses, one of the most dominant teams at the time

Team Razer started to dominate. In 2013, Team Alliance took home US$1.43 million at The International 3, the biggest Dota 2 competition at the time. Just two years later, SK Telecom T1 secured their 3rd consecutive win in the 2016 League of Legends World Championship, clinching US$2 million in prize money. This cemented their status as the world’s most dominating League of Legends team.

Taipei Assassins, 2012 RIOT League of Legends World Champions

Alliance, TI3 Champions

Home to Lee "Flash" Young Ho, one of the most accomplished Esports athletes of all time

SK Telecom T1, 3-time League of Legends World Champions

In 2017, we hit new milestones and big wins. We grew to 175 top Esports elites from 30 different countries, including SK Gaming, who won both ESL Cologne 2017 and EPICENTER 2017, and MenaRD who emerged champion for Capcom Cup. But nothing got bigger than this—Team Liquid were crowned Champions for The International 7 with $11.8 million in prize money.

SK Gaming, ESL Cologne 2017 & EPICENTER 2017 Champions

Team Razer sponsors Rise Nation, Street Fighter V players MenaRD and Marn, and their championship Call of Duty team

Team Liquid, The International 7 Champions

In 2017, Team Razer athletes score a total of $16 million in prize money

The global phenomenon continues. We launched Razer Invitationals to give the next generation of esports pros a chance to compete at the highest levels. Team Razer continues to grow in mobile esports with Tribe Gaming, and signed Hanwha Life Esports, MAD Lions, and JD Gaming for a stronger presence in League of Legends.