The Esports Awards had to ditch the tuxedos and slightly tipsy acceptance speeches last year for its pandemic-proof online ceremony. However, this year’s event is back in person at the Esports Stadium in Texas, and the first batch of finalists have been revealed.
The five categories that have been announced are the community awards, and feature swathes of big name streamers, content creators, and organisations. The list sees plenty of past winners of awards return to scoop some more silverware, as well as some first-time finalists that have really made a name for themselves since last year’s show.
In the Streamer of the Year category, Spanish Twitch star Ibai ‘Ibai’ Llanos makes the cut to try and win the same award he scooped last year. He’s joined by streaming stalwarts such as Michael ‘shroud’ Grzesiek and Guy ‘Dr Disrespect’ Beahm, the planet’s biggest female streamer Rachell ‘Valkyrae’ Hofstetter, and two chaps who have obliterated records since the last Esports Awards: Ludwig ‘Ludwig’ Ahgren (most Twitch subs) and David ‘TheGrefg’ Canovas (highest ever peak audience).
Content Creator of the Year is also stacked, with the likes of OpTic Gaming owner Hector ‘HECZ’ Rodriguez and League of Legends’ tier list king Nick ‘LS’ DeCesare both being named finalists.
An aspect of esports that’s growing increasingly important is having great merch – so this year sees the Esports Apparel of the Year category bursting at the seams with top orgs and independent gaming gear designers such as 100 Thieves, Team Liquid, and FaZe Clan.
Also announced are the finalists for one of the most prestigious awards of the entire event: Esports Personality of the Year. G2 founder and CEO Carlos ‘ocelote’ Rodriguez scooped the award last year, and the Spaniard is back to try and win it again. Also making the final shortlist are fellow org owners HECZ and Matthew ‘Nadeshot’ Haag, as well as some iconic players such as Cloud9’s LoL star Luka ‘Perkz’ Perkovic and CS:GO legend Gabriel ‘FalleN’ Toledo.
Finally, Mobile Game of the Year sees the likes of Free Fire, PUBG Mobile, and League of Legends: Wild Rift nominated.
All the finalists announced in this first batch can be found below.
While this marks the start of the Esports Awards hype train for this year, you’ll have to wait until November 20 to see who goes home with the trophies.
Streamer of The Year
- Valkyrae
- XqC
- MortaL
- Ludwig
- NICKMERCS
- TheGrefg
- LOUD Coringa
- Summit1G
- Dr Disrespect
- Ibai
- shroud
- CouRage
Esports Content Creator of The Year
- HECZ
- LS
- Ashley Kang
- Thorin
- Macie Jay
- UpUpDownDown
- BananaSlamJamma (BSJ)
- Musty
- Sunless Khan
- iFerg
- Coconut Brah
- NadeKing
Esports Apparel of The Year
- 100 Thieves
- Team Liquid
- G2 Esports
- Cloud9
- FaZe Clan
- Ateyo
- Fnatic
- Spacestation Gaming
- Fallen Store
- Team Vitality
Esports Personality of the Year
- HECZ
- Ocelote
- Sjokz
- Nobru
- Nadeshot
- FalleN
- Interro
- Perkz
- Goldenboy
- Baiano
- JohnnyBoi_i
Esports Mobile Game of the Year Presented by Verizon
- PUBG Mobile
- Free Fire
- Brawl Stars
- Clash Royale
- League of Legends: Wild Rift
- Call of Duty Mobile
- Arena of Valor
- Mobile Legends
