The oldest esports organizations in the world

The competitive gaming landscape has transformed dramatically since its early days, witnessing countless organizations rise and fall. While many teams vanished within months of formation, a select few demonstrated remarkable resilience, evolving from humble beginnings into global esports institutions. This exploration focuses on the pioneering clubs established during the formative years of professional gaming—the late 1990s and early 2000s—that not only survived but continue to compete at the highest levels.

Established in 1997 by dedicated Quake competitors, SK Gaming (originally Schroet Kommando) represents one of esports’ true foundational pillars. Throughout its extensive history, the organization has fielded competitive squads across twelve distinct gaming titles, including premier esports like League of Legends, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, World of Warcraft, and Dota 2.

Today, SK Gaming maintains competitive presence through seven professional teams competing in four active disciplines: League of Legends, VALORANT, Brawl Stars, and Clash Royale. This strategic focus demonstrates how veteran organizations must continually adapt their roster strategies to remain relevant in evolving markets.

The organization’s trophy cabinet includes landmark victories across multiple gaming eras, most notably their ESL One Cologne 2016 CS:GO championship and earlier Counter-Strike 1.6 triumphs at ESWC, CPL, and ESL events. SK also claimed world championship titles in both Quake and Warcraft franchises. With participation in over 800 professional tournaments since inception, the German powerhouse has accumulated $8.4 million in competitive earnings, establishing their financial sustainability across gaming generations.

While recent management struggles have somewhat tarnished Evil Geniuses’ reputation within the Counter-Strike community, few recognize the organization’s deep historical roots. Founded in Seattle, USA during 1999, EG initially competed across both mainstream and niche competitive titles including CS, Dota 2, League of Legends, Valorant, and StarCraft II.

The organization faced significant operational challenges in recent years, primarily stemming from financial mismanagement that forced strategic restructuring. This led to their controversial decision in early 2024 to withdraw from all competitive scenes except Valorant—a particularly surprising move given their recent championship victory at Valorant Champions 2023. Despite this foundation, their 2024 competitive results have fallen short of expectations, highlighting the difficulty of maintaining elite performance during organizational transitions.

Evil Geniuses secured their place in esports history through their Valorant Champions 2023 win under coach Christine Potter Chi, who became the first woman to guide a male roster to S-Tier tournament victory—a groundbreaking achievement for gender diversity in competitive gaming leadership.

The organization’s most celebrated achievements include The International 2015 in Dota 2, their aforementioned 2023 Valorant world championship, and the 2018 Call of Duty Championship (Call of Duty: WWII). Across more than 1,000 tournament appearances, Evil Geniuses has earned $28.5 million total, with Dota 2 contributing the overwhelming majority at $22.1 million alone, demonstrating how single-title success can dramatically shape an organization’s financial trajectory.

Originating in the Netherlands in 2000, Team Liquid began as a StarCraft: Brood War clan before transitioning to professional operations in 2010 with their first contracted StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty player—marking the transition from community-driven team to corporate entity.

The organization embarked on aggressive expansion starting in 2012, beginning with Dota 2 and eventually fielding teams across twenty-six different gaming titles. Their current competitive footprint spans fifteen active disciplines with operational bases strategically located across the United States, Brazil, the Netherlands, and Asian markets, creating truly global competitive presence.

Liquid’s competitive resume includes landmark victories across multiple gaming landscapes: The International 2017 and 2024 in Dota 2, Intel Grand Slam Season 2 in CS:GO, five LCS championship splits in League of Legends, and the Esports World Cup 2024 in StarCraft II, among countless other tournament triumphs.

Team Liquid stands alone as the only organization surpassing $50 million in competitive earnings, having collected $53,310,833 across more than 2,800 professional tournaments—a testament to both their competitive consistency and business acumen across multiple gaming generations.

The iconic Swedish organization Ninjas in Pyjamas emerged in 2000 as a Counter-Strike clan that would dominate early competitive scenes. Their legacy includes consistent excellence across multiple CS iterations, with their crowning achievement being the ESL One: Cologne 2014 CS:GO Major championship—a victory that cemented their status among esports royalty.

The organization experienced significant structural changes throughout its history, including operating under SK Gaming’s banner as SK Scandinavia and SK Sweden between 2003-2005 before regaining independence. Following a competitive hiatus from 2007-2012, NIP successfully relaunched alongside CS:GO’s competitive debut.

Currently, Ninjas in Pyjamas maintains three distinct CS2 squads alongside teams competing in League of Legends, Apex Legends, Rainbow Six Siege, FC25, Fortnite, and fighting game specialists. With 518 tournament appearances and $8.7 million in earnings, NIP demonstrates how brand legacy can sustain organizations through competitive transitions.

While less recognized in Western markets, South Korea’s KT Rolster represents one of competitive gaming’s true pioneers. Founded in 1999, the organization built its foundation through StarCraft dominance, capturing numerous premier tournament championships during esports’ formative years.

The organization began diversifying its competitive portfolio in 2012, expanding beyond its StarCraft roots. In a surprising strategic shift, KT Rolster exited StarCraft competition in 2016—the very discipline that established their legacy—to concentrate resources on League of Legends, Wild Rift, and EA SPORTS FC—demonstrating the difficult decisions organizations must make when prioritizing resource allocation.

Across 256 tournament appearances since 1999, KT Rolster has earned $3.9 million in prize winnings, highlighting the financial realities of regionally-focused operations versus global expansion strategies.

Beyond the globally recognized franchises, numerous lesser-known organizations maintain strong regional presence and community impact. These clubs exemplify how sustainable esports operations can thrive without requiring international scale.

Notable regional organizations include Black Dragons (1997), K1ck Esports (1998), Karma Clan (1999), Team LEISURE (1999), and Team Redline (2000). While these teams primarily compete in local and regional tournaments, their community engagement and specialized focus create alternative pathways to esports sustainability.

Team Redline deserves special recognition for their innovative specialization in virtual racing competitions across Assetto Corsa, iRacing, and Rennsport. The organization gained additional prominence when three-time Formula 1 World Champion Max Verstappen competed with them during his leisure time—bridging traditional motorsports with competitive gaming in unprecedented fashion.

The longevity of these organizations reveals critical insights about esports business sustainability. Successful transition from single-game specialization to multi-title operations appears essential for enduring relevance, as demonstrated by Team Liquid’s expansion across 26 disciplines. Organizations that failed to diversify beyond their founding game typically struggled to maintain competitive and financial viability.

Financial performance varies dramatically, with earnings spanning from $3.9 million to over $53 million, indicating that brand legacy alone cannot guarantee financial success without strategic adaptation to market shifts.

Understanding these veteran organizations provides valuable context for newer teams entering the competitive landscape. For comprehensive guidance on building successful esports operations, check out our Complete Guide to competitive gaming infrastructure and management best practices.

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