The Esports Awards is an annual international awards ceremony that recognizes achievements across the competitive gaming industry. Established in 2016 as the eSports Industry Awards, the event was rebranded to the Esports Awards in 2018.
The ceremony features a broad range of competitive gaming as well as creative categories, combines public voting with panel-selected judging, and is broadcast live across digital and social media platforms.
Over the years, the Esports Awards has grown into one of the most recognized events in the gaming industry, with ceremonies held in London, Arlington, and Riyadh, among other global locations. The event has partnered with several brands over the years, including Lexus, Verizon, Razer, and Secretlab.
History
Origins (2016–2018) The Esports Awards began in 2016 under the name eSports Industry Awards, with its inaugural ceremony held in London, United Kingdom.The inaugural ceremony featured 18 categories covering esports players, teams, organizations, and media figures in the competitive gaming scene.
In 2017, the organisers officially registered the shorter title Esports Awards, marking the first steps toward a rebrand. However, the complete transition to the new name was done in 2018, by which time the "Industry" label had been fully removed from the official logo and other brand materials.
Expansion in the US market (2019–2021) Following several UK editions, the awards expanded geographically and commercially. In 2019 the organisation staged a ceremony at Esports Stadium Arlington in Texas, marking a strategic move into the United States market.
In 2021, the Esports Awards announced a complete rebrand ahead of that year's ceremony in Arlington, Texas. The updated logo featured a silhouette of the new trophy design.
Recent developments (2022–present) From 2021 onward, the Esports Awards increased its production scale, commercial partnerships and global footprint. The 2021 ceremony at Esports Stadium Arlington reported large viewership, attracting over 20 million global viewers. In 2022, they relocated to Resorts World Las Vegas, marking its debut in Nevada, and returned to the same venue in 2023.
In 2023, Esports Awards and Xfinity set the Guinness World Record for the largest digital videogame display. The record-breaking installation consisted of 3,552 LED panels covering approximately 7,673 m2.
In June 2024, the Esports Awards announced a multi-year partnership with the Esports World Cup Foundation. The agreement covers a three-year collaboration beginning with the 2024 Esports World Cup, which took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
In 2025, marking the tenth anniversary of the Esports Awards, organisers introduced the inaugural Esports Decade Awards. This standalone series of honours recognised players, teams, organisations, games and events that made the most significant impact over the past decade. Meanwhile, the standard yearly Esports Awards ceremony for 2025 is also scheduled to take place later the same year.
Categories
Over the years, Esports Awards has featured a broad and evolving slate of honours. Some categories are introduced, retired, or merged depending on industry trends. Meanwhile, here are a few core categories that have persisted since the beginning.
Esports Team of the Year Esports Game of the Year Esports Publisher of the Year Esports Organisation of the Year Esports PC Player of the Year Esports Console/Controller Player of the Year Esports Breakthrough Player of the Year Esports Streamer of the Year Esports Coach of the Year Esports Host of the Year Esports Commercial Partner of the Year
Winners
2016 CategoryWinnerUK Esports Player of the YearCallum “Swanny” SwanEsports Console Player of the YearSeth “Scump” AbnerEsports PC Player of the YearMarcelo “coldzera” DavidEsports Rookie of the YearAmer “Miracle” al-BarkawiEsports Coverage Website of the YeartheScore EsportsEsports Team of the YearTeam EnVyUsEsports Personality of the YearGabriel “FalleN” ToledoStreamer of the YearMichael “Imaqtpie” SantanaStreaming Platform of the YearTwitchEsports Journalist of the YearRichard LewisEsports Game of the YearCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveNew Esports Game of the YearOverwatchEsports Publisher of the YearValve CorporationEsports Photographer of the YearRobert PaulEsports Commercial Partner of the YearMonster EnergyHardware Provider of the YearSCUFEsports Broadcaster of the YearAuguste “Semmler” MassonnatEsports Live Event of the YearThe International 2016
2017 CategoryWinnerUK Esports Player of the YearSpencer "Gorilla" Ealing Esports Console Player of the YearMatthew "FormaL" PiperEsports PC Player of the YearAmer "Miracle-" Al-Barqawi Esports Rookie of the Year (Console)Victor "Punk" WoodleyEsports Rookie of the Year (PC)Abay "HObbit" Khassenov Esports Personality of the YearEefje '"Sjokz" DepoortereEsports Play of the YearMatthew "FormaL" PiperEsports Unsung Hero of the Year Megan "RheingoldRiver" CutrofelloEsports Game of the YearCounter-Strike: Global OffensiveEsports Team of the YearOpTic GamingStreamer of the YearDr DisrespectStreaming Platform of the YearTwitchEsports Coverage Website of the YearESPNEsports Breakthrough Game of the YearPUBGEsports Publisher of the YearRiot GamesEsports Commercial Partner of the YearG FuelEsports Hardware Provider of the YearIntelEsports Live Event of the Year 2017 League of Legends World ChampionshipEsports Photographer of the YearJoe BradyEsports Videographer of the YearDavis "OpTic Hitch" Edwards Esports Journalist of the YearDuncan "Thorin" Shields Esports Broadcaster of the YearAlex "Machine" Richardson
2018 CategoryWinnerUK Esports Player of the YearSpencer "Gorilla" Ealing Esports Console Player of the YearMossad "MSdossary" AldossaryEsports PC Player of the YearOleksandr "s1mple" KostylievEsports Rookie of the Year (Console)Kenny WilliamsEsports Rookie of the Year (PC)Gabriel "Bwipo" RauEsports Personality of the YearTyler "Ninja" BlevinsEsports Play of the YearMatthew "FormaL" PiperEsports Unsung Hero of the Year Milos "Faceit Mikey" NedeljkovicEsports Game of the YearOverwatchEsports Team of the YearAstralis (CS:GO)Esports Organisation of the YearCloud9Esports Breakthrough Game of the YearFortniteEsports Live Event of the Year 2018 Overwatch League Grand FinalsEsports Publisher of the YearBlizzard EntertainmentStreamer of the YearTyler "Ninja" BlevinsStreaming Platform of the YearTwitchEsports Supporting Agency of the YearEvolved Talent AgencyEsports Coverage Website of the YearESPNEsports Commercial Partner of the YearIntelEsports Hardware Provider of the YearNvidiaEsports Photographer of the YearHelena KristianssonEsports Videographer of the YearDavis "OpTic Hitch" Edwards Esports Journalist of the YearJacob WolfEsports Broadcaster of the YearClint "Maven" Evans
2019 CategoryWinnerEsports Console Player of the YearDominique "SonicFox" McLeanEsports PC Player of the YearKyle "Bugha" GiersdorfEsports Rookie of the Year (Console)Chris "Simp" LehrEsports Rookie of the Year (PC)Kyle "Bugha" GiersdorfEsports Personality of the YearMatthew "Nadeshot" HaagEsports Play of the YearThiago "S3xyCake" ReisEsports Cosplayer of the YearLittlejamEsports Panel's Choice AwardRyan Thompson Esports Coach of the Year Danny "zonic" SørensenEsports Game of the Yearleague of LegendsEsports Team of the YearG2 Esports (League of Legends)Esports Organisation of the YearTeam LiquidEsports Breakthrough Game of the YearSuper Smash Bros. UltimateEsports Live Event of the Year 2019 League of Legends World ChampionshipEsports Publisher of the YearRiot GamesStreamer of the YearDr DisrespectEsports Supporting Agency of the YearLoadedEsports Coverage Website of the YearDexertoEsports Commercial Partner of the YearHyperXEsports Hardware Provider of the YearIntelEsports Photographer of the YearStephani LindgrenEsports Videographer of the YearLogan Dodson Esports Journalist of the YearRichard LewisEsports Caster of the YearHenry "HenryG" GreerEsports Host of the YearAlex "Goldenboy" Mendez
2020 CategoryWinnerEsports Console Player of the YearAnthony "Shotzzy" Cuevas-CastroEsports PC Player of the YearMichał "Nisha" JankowskiEsports Mobile Player of the YearMade Bagas "Zuxxy" PramuditaEsports Rookie of the Year (Console)Anthony "Shotzzy" Cuevas-CastroEsports Rookie of the Year (PC)Ryu "Keria" Min-seokEsports Personality of the YearCarlos "ocelote" RodríguezEsports Coach of the Year Lee "Heen" Seung-GonEsports Play of the Yearİsmailcan "XANTARES" DörtkardeşEsports Cosplayer of the YearGlory LamotheEsports Panel's Choice AwardMichal Slowinski & Steve Dudenhoefer Esports Content Creator of the YearUpUpDownDownEsports Game of the YearLeague of LegendsEsports Mobile Game of the YearFree FireEsports Organisation of the YearG2 EsportsEsports Team of the YearTeam Secret (Dota 2)Esports Content Team of the YearLeague of Legends European ChampionshipEsports Creative Team of the YearPaper CrownsEsports Creative Piece of the YearLeague of Legends Warriors Season OpeningEsports Content Series of the YearEavesdrop PodcastEsports Publisher of the YearRiot GamesStreamer of the YearIbai LlanosEsports Supporting Agency of the YearCharacter Select AgencyEsports Coverage Website of the YearThe Esports ObserverEsports Commercial Partner of the YearLogitechEsports Hardware Provider of the YearElgatoEsports Photographer of the YearRich LockEsports Videographer of the YearLogan Dodson Esports Journalist of the YearEmily RandEsports Analyst of the YearChad "SPUNJ" BurchillEsports Host of the YearEefje "Sjokz" DepoortereEsports Colour Caster of the YearMichael "KiXSTAr" StockleyEsports Play by Play Caster of the YearClayton "CaptainFlowers" RainesEsports Collegiate AwardTyrelle Appleton
Lifetime Achievement 2020 recipients Source:
Daigo Umehara Craig “Torbull” Levine Richard Lewis Michael Sepso Lim “Boxer” Yo-hwan Johnathan “Fatal1ty” Wendel
2021 CategoryWinnerEsports Controller Player of the YearChris "Simp" LehrEsports PC Player of the YearOleksandr "s1mple" KostylievEsports Mobile Player of the YearZhu "paraboy" BochengEsports Rookie of the Year (Controller)Evan "M0nkey M00n" RogezEsports Rookie of the Year (PC)Valerii "b1t" VakhovskyiEsports Personality of the YearBruno "Nobru" GoesEsports Coach of the Year Moon "Moon" Byung-chulEsports Play of the YearJake "Virtue" GrannanEsports Cosplayer of the YearPeyton CosplayEsports Panel's Choice AwardJas "Fizzi" Laferriere Esports Content Creator of the YearAshley KangEsports Game of the YearValorantEsports Mobile Game of the YearFree FireEsports Organisation of the Year100 ThievesEsports Team of the YearAtlanta FaZe (Call of Duty League)Esports Creative Team of the YearAlex ProductionsEsports Creative of the YearThorsten DenkEsports Creative Piece of the YearNo Clue | Adidas Partners with G2 EsportsEsports Creative Series of the YearMetagame DocumentaryEsports Broadcast/Production Team of the YearRiot GamesEsports Video Production Team of the YearG2 Esports Esports Apparel of the Year100 ThievesEsports Publisher of the YearRiot GamesStreamer of the YearIbai LlanosEsports Supporting Service of the YearDiscordEsports Coverage Platform of the YearThe Esports ObserverEsports Commercial Partner of the YearIntelEsports Hardware Provider of the YearCorsairEsports Photo of the YearEric AnanmalayEsports Journalist of the YearKevin HittEsports Analyst of the YearMarc Robert " Caedrel" LamontEsports Host of the YearEefje "Sjokz" DepoortereEsports Colour Caster of the YearChad "SPUNJ" BurchillEsports Play by Play Caster of the YearMiles RossEsports Collegiate Program of the YearMaryville UniversityEsports Collegiate Ambassador of the YearDr. Chris "Doc" Haskell
Lifetime Achievement 2021 recipients Sources:
Amber Dalton Amy Brady Adam Apicella Michal "Carmac" Blicharz Stephanie "MISSHARVEY" Harvey Justin Wong Dave "Walshy" Walsh
2022