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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eSports
Mastercard Extends Partnership with Esports World Cup 2025

The collaboration will introduce a range of immersive on-ground activations, Priceless Experiences and seamless payment solutions to enhance the fan journey
The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) announced the return of Mastercard as an official event supplier for the 2025 Esports World Cup, the world’s largest esports event, set to take place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, from July 7 to August 24. The renewed partnership underscores Mastercard’s continued commitment to elevating digital experiences, championing youth engagement, and supporting the Kingdom’s rapidly growing gaming ecosystem.
Through the collaboration with the Esports World Cup, Mastercard will introduce a range of immersive on-ground activations and seamless payment solutions designed to enhance the overall fan journey. This will include creating a bespoke version of the Mastercard Gamer Academy, where Mastercard, in collaboration with G2 Esports and Esports World Cup, designed a one-of-a-kind experience that will provide 10 successful applicants with the opportunity to be mentored by professionals on how they could pursue a career in esports. Further, fans can collect Priceless Points by interacting with the games and activities available at the Mastercard booth for the chance to win ultimate gaming gear that will be rewarded to the top scoring players. Further, there will be live appearances by G2 Esports players to be hosted as fireside chats to talk about areas like pro esports. The brand’s presence will emphasize the intersection of technology, gaming, and culture, anchored by initiatives that highlight and support local Saudi talent.
“Mastercard’s return as a partner reflects the Esports World Cup’s evolution from a tournament into a global cultural platform,” said Mohammed Al Nimer, Chief Commercial Officer, Esports World Cup Foundation. “Together, we’re creating impactful experiences that go beyond gameplay, uniting youth empowerment, digital inclusion, and immersive fan engagement. Mastercard’s focus on Priceless experiences and innovation makes them an ideal partner to help us inspire the next generation of gamers and connect with fans in meaningful and memorable ways.”
Saud Swar, Country Manager, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Jordan and other Levant, Mastercard added, “We are proud to deepen our partnership with the Esports World Cup Foundation as we continue to unlock the potential of gaming in the Kingdom. In line with Saudi Vision 2030, Mastercard is committed to connecting people to their passions, driving innovation, and inspiring the next generation. Our priceless experiences help empower youth, promote digital inclusion, and celebrate Saudi Arabia’s vibrant esports culture.”
This partnership builds on Mastercard’s long-standing global support for the gaming and esports industry, including its strategic sponsorship of Riot Games’ League of Legends and VALORANT. It reinforces Mastercard’s leadership in digital payments and its role in shaping future-facing experiences through youth engagement and innovation.
The 2025 Esports World Cup will host 25 tournaments across 24 game titles, bringing together over 2,000 elite players and 200 Clubs from more than 100 countries. With a record-breaking prize pool of over $70 million, the event will offer fans a comprehensive entertainment experience, from high-stakes competition and live music to anime cafés, retro arcades, cosplay showcases, and more, cementing Riyadh’s position as a global esports and entertainment hub.
The post Mastercard Extends Partnership with Esports World Cup 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
MSI Joins Forces with Red Bull Expanding the Scale of MSI MGA, Empowering a New Era for Premier Esports Tournaments

MSI (Micro-Star International), a world-leading brand in AI, high-performance computing, and gaming, announced a strategic partnership between its renowned MGA (MSI Gaming Arena) platform and Red Bull.
This collaboration is poised to not only solidify MSI’s leadership position within the esports sector but also to significantly broaden the MGA’s reach to a wider gaming community. Furthermore, the partnership will enhance MGA’s global visibility and introduce the experience of MSI’s cutting-edge esports hardware to more diverse and dynamic event settings.
This collaboration will encompass three of Red Bull’s flagship annual esports tournaments: Red Bull Home Ground with its European events, Red Bull Team5 and another event that will be announced soon. As part of this partnership, MSI will equip these events with its top-tier gaming laptops and desktops, comprehensively upgrading the competition hardware and enhancing the on-site experience to deliver more thrilling and technologically advanced esports spectacles for global audiences.
MSI’s participation extends beyond mere hardware provision; it signifies an amplified investment in its MGA initiative. Now celebrating its 15th year, MGA has been steadfast in its mission to cultivate esports culture and offer a global platform for players to demonstrate their prowess. Through this alliance, MSI will infuse the MGA spirit into these larger-scale Red Bull tournaments, collaborating with Red Bull to champion the worldwide advancement of esports.
Sam Chern, Vice President of Marketing at MSI, said: “By sponsoring Red Bull’s premier esports tournaments, we are honored to further champion the spirit that MGA represents—leveraging world-class performance and innovative technology to unleash player potential, ignite competitive passion, and forge countless unforgettable highlight moments.”
The post MSI Joins Forces with Red Bull Expanding the Scale of MSI MGA, Empowering a New Era for Premier Esports Tournaments appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
eSports
Esports World Cup 2025 Press Conference Kicks Off in Riyadh

The Esports World Cup Foundation (EWCF) has launched the opening press conference for the 2025 Esports World Cup (EWC) in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, officially marking the start of the world’s largest esports and gaming festival. Running until August 24, the event features more than 2000 elite players, 25 tournaments across 24 leading titles and a record-breaking prize pool of over $70 million, cementing its status as the biggest and most significant esports event ever.
EWC 2025 brings together the world’s top 200 Clubs to compete in a first-of-its-kind cross-title format. At the heart of the competition is the Club Championship, where teams accumulate points across multiple games to become the EWC Club Champion, claim a $7 million grand prize and hoist the coveted EWC Club Championship trophy. The $70+ million prize pool also includes $38+ million for individual Game Championships, $5 million in global qualifier rewards and $450,000 in MVP bonuses.
Speaking at the opening press conference, HRH Prince Faisal bin Bandar bin Sultan, Chairman, Saudi Esports Federation, said: “Guided by the ambitious vision and leadership of His Royal Highness Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz AlSaud, Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, the Kingdom is cementing its position as a global leader in gaming and esports. The Esports World Cup is a clear reflection of that progress. We are immensely proud to welcome back the world in Riyadh for the Esports World Cup. This event stands as a global milestone for esports by showcasing the scale, ambition, and future of competitive gaming. It is a moment that will shape the direction of the industry for years to come.”
He continued: “Hosting this event reflects our deep commitment to building a world-class, sustainable esports ecosystem. It demonstrates the Kingdom’s belief in the power of gaming to connect, inspire, and create meaningful opportunities for future generations. It also supports our broader ambition to diversify the economy and position the Kingdom as a global hub for sports, gaming, and entertainment in line with Vision 2030 and the National Gaming and Esports Strategy. Esports is no longer niche. It is a global sport, a cultural movement, and the Esports World Cup is its most powerful and unifying stage. We are honoured to lead this transformation and shape the future of the industry from here in Saudi Arabia.”
“EWC 2025 is about bringing the gaming world together – iconic games, elite players, and millions of fans around a shared celebration. Through new ways of global broadcasts, original shows, and documentary storytelling, we’re opening doors, creating opportunities, and sharing esports in new and exciting ways. With record-breaking competition, this summer is special—not just for gamers, but for everyone who joins us,” said Ralf Reichert, CEO of the Esports World Cup Foundation.
Faisal bin Homran, Chief Product Officer at Esports World Cup Foundation, added: “The Esports World Cup is redefining what’s possible in esports. It brings together the world’s top teams to compete in the most iconic and advanced arenas, delivering a level of excitement that is unmatched across the industry. Through EWC, the world has witnessed inspiring stories of triumph, heartbreak and glory, for players, teams and communities across the world.”
He continued: “The event is also a powerful platform for leading publishers, brands and creators to connect with global audiences and shape the future of esports. As we look ahead to EWC 2025, we invite the world to be part of what comes next. Together, we are setting new standards, creating new opportunities and driving the industry forward.”
The post Esports World Cup 2025 Press Conference Kicks Off in Riyadh appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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