Twitch and HyperX unsurprisingly sponsoring multiple teams?
The top teams in the world are bound to have some support from big business. Here are the hard hitters and what you should know about each of them.
1. SKT Telecom T1
There’s no doubt that SKT is still the top team. Even after a 5 loss streak, they still hold the top spot in the world, albeit a little bit closer than it was before.
Main sponsors:
SK Telecom, Telecommunications company, owns 50.5% share of South Korean wireless market as of 2008
Razer, gaming/computer hardware/software manufacturer
Twitch, streaming service
Noteworthy: ASUS, Fila
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2. Team SoloMid
TSM is a close second to SKT’s top spot, being the top NA team but with a 65% lifetime winrate compared to SKT’s solid 80%. They have been on a hot streak recently, after being on a slump after Rift Rivals.
Main sponsors:
HyperX, gaming/computer hardware/software manufacturer
Twitch, streaming service
CyberPowerPC, computer hardware manufacturer
Noteworthy: GEICO, Logitech G, HTC, Red Bull
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3. KT Rolster
KT is the second Korean team on the list, and for good reason. With a roster of well known players and a great record behind them, they are one of the teams that hold a chance to beat SKT. Then again, they did lose every game to SKT in their split… Oh well.
Main sponsor:
Razer, gaming/computer hardware/software manufacturer
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4. Team World Elite
World Elite was the first ever Chinese eSports club, and they hold that title proudly. They also hold teams in Warcraft 3, Starcraft II and DotA. Before 2013, their record did not look good, but once 2013’s LPL Spring Split came around, they picked up speed and started to dominate the LPL.
Main sponsors:
HyperX, gaming/computer hardware/software manufacturer
GIGABYTE, computer hardware manufacturer
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5. Flash Wolves
FW is a Taiwanese team that most people probably know about from international events, such as Worlds. 2015 was a big year for Flash Wolves, when they were the first team in two years to place over a Korean team in groups. FW made it out of the group stage and lost in the quarterfinals, placing within the top 8 teams.
Main sponsors:
MSI, gaming/computer hardware/software manufacturer
ZOWIE GEAR, “gaming gear” manufacturer
Noteworthy: FamilyMart, WaninBank
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Knowing the top teams and who they represent won’t exactly give you an advantage in fantasy drafting or anything, but it’s certainly interesting information. Hopefully this list enlightened you to the world of big business.
