Evil Geniuses

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The story began in 1999 when EG formed as a Quake clan at the Underground Onramp, featuring original roster members Dakine, MikeJ, Killboy, Zakath, Muppetman, and Jello. While early tournaments like the 1997 Red Annihilation helped shape the nascent pro circuit, EG's roster warmed up alongside contestants including Thresh, the world's first pro gamer. As broadband replaced dial-up, most of the Canadian roster moved into game development, while the American roster flourished in Seattle. By 2004, Philadelphia native Alex Garfield joined as a manager/coach, later becoming CEO. The organization expanded aggressively: acquiring HukHukHukHukHuk for World of Warcraft Arena in 2007, signing Justin Wong and Martin "Marn" Phan for fighting games in 2010, and recruiting Geoff "iNcontroL" Robinson for StarCraft II. A pivotal moment arrived on December 16, 2016, when EG became a player-owned organization with Peter "ppd" Dager named CEO.

In Their Own Story

On May 31, 2015, the Dota 2 team etched their names in history by winning The International 2015, securing over $6.6 million—the largest prize payout in esports at that time. Their competitive journey was marked by dramatic shifts and roster evolutions. In late 2014, EG launched its first Halo squad featuring twins Jason "Lunchbox" Brown and Justin "Roy" Brown, alongside Eric "Snip3down" Wrona, who is reckoned among the best slayers in the world. The organization faced controversy when acquiring Loaded's brand in October 2010, a deal that only included sponsors and the Heroes of Newerth squad. In September 2019, EG shocked the Counter-Strike scene by winning ESL One New York 2019 with the former NRG roster. Their Valorant team achieved a historic peak by winning the 2023 Valorant Champions, cementing their status across generations of competitive gaming.

Reader's Guide

Evil Geniuses currently competes as a multi-title powerhouse with specific divisions established through strategic acquisitions and organic growth. The organization entered the Fighting Game Community in 1997 and expanded significantly by signing legends like Justin Wong, Ricki Ortiz, and Yusuke Momochi between 2010 and 2014; Momochi notably won the 2014 Capcom Cup and Evolution 2015. Their StarCraft II division launched in 2010 with Gregory "IdrA" Fields and Nick "Tasteless" Plott, while their League of Legends expansion in January 2013 involved signing the former Counter Logic Gaming European division before disbanding due to poor results. In the modern era, EG entered Valorant on January 27, 2021, with a roster including Temperature and aleksandar, later becoming an Americas League partner in September 2022 with Alexander "jawgemo" Mor and Corbin "C0M" Lee. The organization maintains active partnerships with POINT3 (March 2021), Coinbase (April 2021), and Thunderpick (May 23, 2023).

Did You Know?

• The original EG clan operated from the Underground Onramp cyber cafe in Victoria, British Columbia, enjoying T1 internet access while most of the world was still on dial-up.
• In December 2016, Evil Geniuses became a player-owned organization with Peter "ppd" Dager appointed as CEO.
• Yusuke Momochi won the 2014 Capcom Cup and Evolution 2015, where he overcame hardware failure with his Razer arcade stick during a controversial Grand Finals set.
• The Dota 2 team's victory at The International 2015 yielded more than $6.6 million, setting a record for the largest prize payout in esports history at the time.
• In October 2010, EG acquired the brand of Loaded organization, but the deal only constituted sponsors, the team owner, and their Heroes of Newerth squad.