The Rise of Streaming Esports Players
Esports competitors aren’t just limited to tournaments and qualifiers anymore. Many of them have transitioned into streaming their favorite games, attracting a dedicated fan base. While we know who the best players are, the popularity of streaming esports players may actually exceed that of traditional esports.
According to EsportsCharts, the top streaming esports player from June 27 to Sept. 26 this year was Michael “k3soju” Zhang, a player of the game TFT. He amassed just shy of 14 million hours watched on his Twitch streams. Other notable names on the list include NoWay, s0m, and TenZ. The top ten list features six different esports, with LoL and VALORANT each having three players in the ranking.
Why Are Streamers so Popular?
This ranking, however, may be skewed towards popular streamers who also happen to be players. Streamers like s0m and TenZ, if they were substitutes primarily focused on content creation, would likely gain a significant following from esports fans while having more time to stream. This is why a TFT streamer like k3soju takes the top spot. They don’t have to worry about teammates, have plenty of practice time, and cater to a more casual fanbase compared to games like LoL and VALORANT.
Other big names in the ranking include recently retired CS:GO and VALORANT pro Óscar “mixwell” Cañellas and popular fighting game player Daigo Umehara. The list features a mix of American players and streamers as well as players from Japan, Spain, and Poland.
The Surprising Top VALORANT Streamer
One interesting observation is that s0m has taken the top spot as the most-watched VALORANT streamer, surpassing the prodigy TenZ in popularity.
The Popularity of k3soju and TFT
k3soju’s almost double the amount of hours watched compared to NoWay, the second-place player, highlights the popularity of both him and the game TFT. TFT, being a mobile game and an extension of LoL, is gaining traction in the esports scene. Streamers like k3soju play a significant role in the game’s growth, as fans appreciate their insights as top players. It seems like k3soju will hold the top position for the foreseeable future, as no one else shows signs of overtaking him.