eSports

10 Most Watched Twitch Streamers of 2020 So Far as Ninja and Others Eye Return

Published

6 years ago

June 29, 2020

George Miller

Reading Time: 3 minutes

– 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

1000 Dreams Fund

Riot Games and 1000 Dreams Fund Expand Talent Pipeline in Esports Broadcasting, Accepting Two New Cadets to their Specialized 2026 Program

Published

42 minutes ago

January 16, 2026

GamingAmericas.com

riot-games-and-1000-dreams-fund-expand-talent-pipeline-in-esports-broadcasting,-accepting-two-new-cadets-to-their-specialized-2026-program

1000 Dreams Fund (1DF), a nonprofit that empowers talented women and students in need with scholarships, mentorship and other critical resources to help them reach their dream careers, has announced that two new cadets have been selected to its 2026 Riot Games Esports Broadcasting Cadetship at Riot Games’ Remote Broadcast Center (RBC) powered by AWS in Seattle.

The cadets selected for the three-month, paid cadetship position are:

• Marissa M. – Indiana University Bloomington

• Kevin D. – University of North Florida

The cadetship program runs in partnership with Riot Games—a leading video game developer, publisher and esports tournament organizer—and their global partner, AWS. Together with 1DF, the partners are committed to expanding access and creating pathways for individuals aspiring toward a career in esports broadcasting and production.

“We’re excited to host the Esports Broadcasting Cadetship in our Seattle Remote Broadcast Center for the first time. This facility has revolutionized how we produce esports at scale, and the Esports Broadcasting Cadetship brings that innovation to life by connecting emerging talent directly to the future of the industry. Through our partnership with 1000 Dreams Fund, we’re not only investing in today’s talent but also building a pipeline of leaders equipped to shape what comes next in global esports production,” said Allyson Gormley, Global Operations Director, Esports Broadcast & Production for Riot Games.

As Gen Z and early-career professionals increasingly rethink traditional career tracks, demand continues to grow for hands-on, skills-driven roles that offer clear pathways into competitive industries. In response, innovative workforce programs are materializing to bridge the gap between aspiration and opportunity, prioritizing real-world experience over linear career models.

The Riot Games Esports Broadcasting Cadetship exemplifies this new model of workforce development in emerging fields. Launched in 2023 as part of 1000 Dreams Fund’s broader commitment to workforce access and equity, the program was built to meet this moment — long before non-traditional career pathways became a mainstream conversation. By placing early-career students inside a global esports operation, the Cadetship provides a proven pathway, offering the training, mentorship and live production experience needed to launch careers in esports broadcasting.

“This year marks 10 years of 1000 Dreams Fund building programs that create real access to opportunity for students and early-career talent. The Riot Games Esports Broadcasting Cadetship reflects the kind of long-term, impact-driven work we’ve been committed to since day one, and in a time of deep transition in the workforce, these programs are more important than ever. We’re proud to continue expanding pathways, especially within emerging industries, that help students turn ambition into lasting careers,” said Christie Garton, founder and CEO of 1000 Dreams Fund.

For the selected cadets, this investment creates immediate momentum and removes common barriers to entry while positioning participants for long-term growth in a highly competitive field.

The post Riot Games and 1000 Dreams Fund Expand Talent Pipeline in Esports Broadcasting, Accepting Two New Cadets to their Specialized 2026 Program appeared first on Americas iGaming & Sports Betting News.

Berlin Gaming Industry

Tom Achsel Joins FACTORY-C to Spearhead “Home of Indies” Communications

Published

1 week ago

January 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

tom-achsel-joins-factory-c-to-spearhead-“home-of-indies”-communications

FACTORY-C, the Berlin-based communications powerhouse specializing in gaming and esports, has announced the appointment of Tom Achsel as Event Communications Manager. Achsel will join the “Home of Indies” team alongside project initiator Christiane Gehrke, focusing on the platform’s global expansion and upcoming presence at Gamescom 2026.

With over a decade of experience in the tech and gaming sectors, Achsel brings a massive professional network and deep operational expertise to the agency.

A Veteran of the Berlin Gaming Scene

Tom Achsel is a well-known figure in the German development community. His career highlights include:

Games Academy: Served as Head of Marketing & Events at one of Europe’s oldest game development institutions.
Games Ground Berlin: Co-founded and led communications for the Berlin Gaming Festival, curating impactful B2B programs and speaker lineups.
IGDA Berlin: Serves as Vice-Chairman, strengthening ties between local developers and the global gaming ecosystem.

Christiane Gehrke, Senior Event Communication & Sales Manager at Factory-C

“Tom knows the indie scene from multiple perspectives and has a sharp understanding of the needs of indie developers,” said Christiane Gehrke, Senior Event Communication & Sales Manager at FACTORY-C. “He brings everything needed to support the continued development of Home of Indies.”

Scaling the “Home of Indies” Platform

Since its debut in 2022, Home of Indies has grown into a central pillar of the Gamescom Indie Area. The platform provides a shared booth for independent developers, lowering the barrier to entry for international studios.

2025 Growth: The booth expanded to 440 square meters, featuring over 50 games from a dozen countries.
New Features: The project recently added a dedicated Spotlight Stage, streaming booths, and professional networking areas via MeetToMatch.

As Event Communications Manager, Achsel will lead the outreach strategy for Gamescom 2026, ensuring that the creative diversity of the global indie scene receives maximum visibility among press, influencers, and players.

The post Tom Achsel Joins FACTORY-C to Spearhead “Home of Indies” Communications appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.

BlueBottle

BlueBottle Launches “League Broadcast” SaaS for Streamlined Esports Production

Published

1 week ago

January 7, 2026

Wladimir P.

bluebottle-launches-“league-broadcast”-saas-for-streamlined-esports-production

BlueBottle, the Munich-based esports technology innovator, has officially launched League Broadcast, its professional-grade production software, via a new Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) subscription model.

Announced on January 7, 2026, this B2C release moves the platform from selective partner deployments and its long-standing beta phase into a publicly accessible tool for leagues, tournament organizers, and individual content creators worldwide.

Professional Broadcast Tools for All Tiers

League Broadcast is designed to automate and elevate the visual storytelling of competitive gaming, specifically targeting the League of Legends ecosystem. The software bypasses traditional API limitations by using low-level game data collection to provide real-time, high-fidelity visualizations.

At launch, BlueBottle has introduced a tiered pricing structure to suit different operational scales:

Tier	Status	Key Features	Target Audience
Free	Available	Core overlays, essential team/player data, basic game stats.	Grassroots creators & amateur streamers.
Basic	Available	Commercial usage rights, customizable pre-game elements, professional draft tools.	Semi-pro leagues & small event organizers.
Pro	Coming Soon	Advanced analytics, event-driven automation, premium production tools.	Professional leagues & high-scale live operations.

Supported by Creative Europe Media

The transition to a scalable SaaS model was significantly bolstered by funding from Creative Europe Media, the European Union’s flagship program for the audiovisual and creative sectors. This backing allowed BlueBottle to invest in:

Enhanced Stability: Hardening the software for 24/7 live environments.
Improved Infrastructure: Faster development cycles and dedicated customer support.
Accessibility: Lowering the barrier for European creators to produce “broadcast-quality” content that competes with high-budget international productions.

“This launch represents more than a new pricing model — it’s the moment League Broadcast becomes accessible to the wider esports community,” said Lars Eble, CTO at BlueBottle. “We were able to invest in long-term product quality… ensuring that our B2C customers receive the same level of reliability previously reserved for large partners.”

Strengthening the European Esports Ecosystem

By providing affordable, automated tools for real-time data visualization—such as dynamic gold graphs, inhibitor timers, and 3D in-world branding—BlueBottle is positioning itself as a core infrastructure provider for the digital media age. The platform allows smaller organizations to monetize their formats more effectively through professional-looking sponsor placements and deeper viewer engagement.

The post BlueBottle Launches “League Broadcast” SaaS for Streamlined Esports Production appeared first on Eastern European Gaming | Global iGaming & Tech Intelligence Hub.