eSports
10 Most Watched Twitch Streamers of 2020 So Far as Ninja and Others Eye Return
– Summit1g hits top spot with 75million hours watched
– End of Mixer leaves door open to Ninja & Shroud
– No Myth or Pokimane in top 10 list
2020 has been a strange year — but Twitch streamers have had it stranger than most. The global lockdown has driven huge spikes across the streaming world as these entertainers have been a lifeline for millions of fans looking for company and distraction from the safety of their home.
This led to 101% year-on-year viewership growth in April.
The award-winning esports bookmakers at Unikrn have created a list of the top 10 most watched twitch streamers of 2020 so far.
This comes with this week’s news that Microsoft has ditched their own streaming service, Mixer, leaving the door open for some of the biggest streamers on the planet to return to Twitch.
Tyler Blevins, known on Twitch as Ninja, accrued 14 million followers on Twitch before leaving to join Mixer in October last year, but the Fortnite gamer joined other big names such as Michael “Shroud” Grzesiek and Cory “King Gothalion” Michael as free agents with Mixer’s collapse.
So, they too could make this list before the end of the year!
Most Watched Twitch Streamers of 2020
10.
TimTheTatman
Name: Timothy Betar
Games: Fortnite, Overwatch, Call of Duty:
Country: United States
Age: 29
The online personality has recently become an icon.
Now with nearly five million followers on Twitch, you may have seen the 29-year-old in the NFL 100 advert at Superbowl LIV earlier this year.
Followers: 4,947,610
Watch time in 2020: 24,293,873 hours
9.
Lirik
Name: Saqib Zahid
Games: PUBG, GTA V, others
Country: United States
Age: 29
Lirik has become well-known for his walkthroughs and guides as well as his competitive multiplayer gaming.
The 29-year-old is the king of variety, trying new games to give his fans a fair review of new opportunities.
Followers: 2,624,326
Watch time in 2020: 24,647,532 hours
8.
Rubius
Name: Ruben Gundersen
Games: Fortnite, Minecraft and others
Country: Spain
Age: 30
Rubius is rumoured to be one of the highest earners on the platform.
It was reported that he was estimated to be earning around $135,000 per video.
Followers: 5,062,556
Watch time in 2020: 24,934,263 hours
7.
Tyler1
Name: Tyler Steinkamp
Games: League of Legends
Country: United States
Age: 25
In January, Tyler1 set himself the challenge of reaching Challenger playing only Jungle on League of Legends ‘to prove a point’.
Last month, he achieved his goal, declared himself “the GOAT” and surprising many of his followers.
Followers: 3,387,929
Watch time in 2020: 26,644,027 hours
6.
NICKMERCS
Name: Nick Kolchef
Games: Fortnite, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare
Country: United States
Age: 29
NICKMERCS has long been considered one of the best Fortnite streamers out there.
He’s even now got so popular that rapper Drake has publicly given the gamer permission to use his music in his streams.
Followers: 3,671,400
Watch time in 2020: 26,874,307 hours
5.
Tfue
Name: Turner Tenney
Games: Fortnite
Country: United States
Age: 22
Amassing a fanbase of more than 8.5million on Twitch, Tfue now holds the highest number of followers on the platform.
The 22-year-old took a break from Fortnite back in May after calling out the game for being “unfair”.
Followers: 8,537,326
Watch time in 2020: 30,823,402
4.
Anomaly
Name: Ludwig Lagerstedt
Games: CS:GO, Valorant
Country: Sweden
Age: 25
Anomaly’s figures have skyrocketed in the past few months, much because of his decision to re-stream 24/7 Valorant VODs.
There’s nothing wrong with this in terms of how Twitch sees it, though some fans and streamers have taken a disliking.
Followers: 2,631,307
Watch time in 2020: 47,037,756
3.
xQcOW
Name: Félix Lengyel
Games: Overwatch and various other games
Country: Canada
Age: 24
XQC is never too far from the headlines.
The skilled gamer even revealed last year how YouTube wrote to him directly to ask him to never stream with them.
Followers: 3,068,964
Watch time in 2020: 55,745,432 hours
2.
Gaules
Name: Alexandre Borba
Games: CS:GO
Country: Brazil
Age: 36
Gaules has been a sensation on Twitch over the past few months.
The Brazilian broke his own national record of 263,000 simultaneous viewers when he reached a peak of 393,000 viewers hosting the final of the BLAST Premier Spring Finals of North America.
Followers: 1,642,928
Watch time in 2020: 57,671,713 hours
1.
Summit1g
Name: Jaryd Lazar
Games: CS:GO, Sea of Thieves, GTA V and more
Country: United States
Age 33
And 2020’s top streamer so far is Summit1g.
Twitch have even gone out their way to lock their most prized asset down by offering the popular gamer a new contract in recent weeks.
Followers: 5,357,969
Watch time in 2020: 75,839,528 hours
Most Watched Twitch Streamers of 2020
| Channel | Watch time | Stream time | Average viewers | Followers | |
| 1 | summit1g | 75,839,528 | 1,903 | 35,811 | 5,357,969 |
| 2 | Gaules | 57,671,713 | 4,218 | 13,694 | 1,642,928 |
| 3 | xQcOW | 55,745,432 | 1,800 | 28,975 | 3,068,964 |
| 4 | Anomaly | 47,037,756 | 1,148 | 19,808 | 2,631,307 |
| 5 | Tfue | 30,823,402 | 1,071 | 28,012 | 8,537,326 |
| 6 | NICKMERCS | 26,874,307 | 1,146 | 22,386 | 3,671,400 |
| 7 | loltyler1 | 26,644,027 | 985 | 26,468 | 3,387,929 |
| 8 | Rubius | 24,934,263 | 510 | 47,931 | 5,062,556 |
| 9 | LIRIK | 24,647,532 | 1,103 | 21,928 | 2,624,326 |
| 10 | TimTheTatman | 24,293,873 | 865 | 27,126 | 4,947,610 |
*Statistics from Dec 29 2019 – June 26th
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8bit Binks
S8UL Esports Triumphs in VCSA 2026 Split 1: A Grand Final Masterclass
In a heart-pounding display of tactical precision and mental fortitude, S8UL Esports has been crowned the VALORANT Challengers South Asia (VCSA) 2026 Split 1 Champions. The victory came after an intense five-map Grand Final against Revenant Xspark, where S8UL emerged victorious with a 3-2 scoreline, solidifying their dominance in the regional VCT ecosystem.
With this win, S8UL takes home the lion’s share of the prize pool—INR ₹9,00,000—and sets a high benchmark for the remainder of the 2026 season.
The Road to the Trophy
S8UL’s journey through Split 1 was a testament to their growth following the 2025 season. Their path to the podium included:
-
League Phase Dominance: Consistent performance against seven of South Asia’s elite teams.
-
Semifinal Sweep: A commanding 2-0 victory over Asterisk, showcasing a roster peaking at the perfect moment.
-
The 5-Map Thriller: A back-and-forth Grand Final against Revenant Xspark that tested the limits of both skill and composure.
Strategic Growth and Leadership
The victory highlights the successful vision of Mithul “8bit Binks” Nayak, the driving force behind this revamped roster. Under the leadership of veteran captain Ganesh “SkRossi” Gangadhar, the team displayed evolved coordination and the ability to clutch out decisive rounds under immense pressure.
“Winning Split 1 gives us confidence, but we know the season is long,” said SkRossi. “I’m proud of how the team stayed focused in the crucial moments.”
Impact on the VCT Ecosystem
VCSA Split 1 serves as the critical pathway for South Asian teams to climb into the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT). By securing the first title of the year, S8UL not only establishes themselves as the team to beat but also positions themselves favorably for international qualification opportunities in Split 2 and beyond.
Animesh ‘Thug’ Agarwal, Co-Founder and CEO of S8UL, noted: “The team showed incredible composure in a high-pressure final. This result is a testament to the work they’ve been putting in behind the scenes. We’ve always believed in this roster.”
The post S8UL Esports Triumphs in VCSA 2026 Split 1: A Grand Final Masterclass appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
eSports
Esports Awards 2026 Returns for Global Honors
The Esports Awards is set to return in 2026, bringing together the global esports community for its annual celebration of excellence.
Scheduled to take place in North America later this year, the awards will honor the top players, teams, creators, and innovators who defined the past year in competitive gaming. Exact dates and venues will be revealed in the coming months.
Last year marked a major milestone for the Esports Awards, celebrating 10 years of esports achievements at the HyperX Arena in Las Vegas. The ceremony recognized industry icons such as Mathieu “Zywoo” Herbaut, iShowSpeed, and Animesh “Thug” Agarwal, while inducting six new members into the Lifetime Achievement in Esports: Class of 2025. Earlier in 2025, the Esports Awards hosted the one-off Decade Awards, which drew a global audience of 36.25 million live viewers.
For the 2026 edition, fan-favorite categories such as Esports Game of the Year, Esports Personality of the Year, Streamer of the Year, and Esports Team of the Year will return, giving fans a direct voice in recognizing the standout moments and figures in esports over the past year. Winners will be determined through a combination of community voting and input from the Esports Awards Panel, which includes seasoned industry veterans, broadcasters, creators, and professional players, ensuring both credibility and integrity.
In addition to the main ceremony, the Esports Awards Golf Invitational will make a comeback, offering a day of networking and friendly competition for industry leaders, creators, and esports competitors ahead of the awards.
Michael Ashford, CEO of the Esports Awards, said: “The Esports Awards continues to shine a spotlight on the very best in esports and gaming, and we’re pleased to return for 2026. Following the success of the Decade Awards and our 10th anniversary celebrations, we look forward to recognizing the individuals, teams, and moments that defined the past year in esports.”
Fans are encouraged to follow the Esports Awards’ official X account for updates on venues, dates, nominees, and voting.
The post Esports Awards 2026 Returns for Global Honors appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.
eSports
THE ESPORTS AWARDS RETURNS IN 2026 FOR A CELEBRATION OF ESPORTS EXCELLENCE
- The Esports Awards will return later this year for its 2026 edition, taking place in North America and honouring the outstanding players, teams, creators and innovators of the past year in esports
- Last year marked a major milestone for the Esports Awards, celebrating 10 years of excellence at the HyperX Arena, alongside the one-off Decade Awards, which reached 36.25M live views globally
- The Esports Awards Golf Invitational will also return, bringing together industry leaders, creators and competitors for a day of networking and competition ahead of the main ceremony
- Full details on the venue, date, nominees and voting will be revealed in the coming months
The Esports Awards has announced the return of its annual ceremony for 2026. Bringing together the global esports community under one roof, the Esports Awards will once again recognise the players, teams, creators and innovators who have defined the past year. The ceremony will take place in North America later this year, with exact dates and venue to be revealed in the coming months.
Last year’s edition of the Esports Awards marked a significant milestone, celebrating 10 years of esports excellence at the HyperX Arena in Las Vegas. The ceremony honoured some of the industry’s most recognised figures, including Mathieu “Zywoo” Herbaut, iShowSpeed and Animesh “Thug” Agarwal, while welcoming six new inductees into the Lifetime Achievement in Esports: Class of 2025 award. Earlier in the year, the Esports Awards also hosted the one-off Decade Awards in August, presented by Trevor “Quickshot” Henry, Jessica “JessGOAT” Bolden and Barney Banks, reaching 36.25M live views globally.
For the 2026 edition, fan-favourite categories including Esports Game of the Year, Esports Personality of the Year, Streamer of the Year and Esports Team of the Year will return, giving the community a voice in recognising the moments and individuals that shaped the past year in esports.
Winners will be determined through a combination of community voting and input from the Esports Awards Panel, a group of industry veterans, broadcasters, creators and players, ensuring the integrity and credibility of the awards.
In addition to the main ceremony, the Esports Awards Golf Invitational will return, bringing together industry leaders, creators and competitors for a day of networking and competition ahead of the awards.
“The Esports Awards continues to shine a spotlight on the very best in esports and gaming, and we’re pleased to return for 2026” said Michael Ashford, CEO of the Esports Awards. “Following the success of the Decade Awards and our 10th anniversary celebrations, we look forward to recognising the individuals, teams and moments that defined the past year in esports.”
Further updates regarding the venue, date, nominees and voting will be announced in the coming months. Fans are encouraged to follow the Esports Awards’ X account for the latest updates.
The post THE ESPORTS AWARDS RETURNS IN 2026 FOR A CELEBRATION OF ESPORTS EXCELLENCE appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.
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