Team Liquid
Multi-regional esports organization founded in 2000, home to championship teams across multiple games.
Team Liquid is a multi-regional professional esports organization based in the Netherlands that was founded in 2000. They signed their first professional players with the release of StarCraft II: Wings of Liberty.
- Organization Type
- Global Esports Organization
- Primary Region
- North America (with global divisions)
- Key Rivalry Context
- Competitors in LCS and VALORANT Champions Tour
- Notable Legacy
- Multiple international titles across multiple game titles
- Status
- Active Major Competitor
Verified Timeline
Lore & Background
In 2012, Team Liquid acquired a North American Dota 2 team, marking their first venture into multi-genre management. In January 2015, Team Liquid officially merged with Team Curse under the Liquid banner, bringing on Steve Arhancet, his supporting staff, and former Curse League of Legends, Street Fighter, and Super Smash Bros. teams. Their European Dota 2 squad won The International 2017. Team Liquid's League of Legends team has won five LCS titles, and their Counter-Strike Global Offensive team was awarded the Intel Grand Slam prize in 2019. Team Liquid also has Rainbow Six Siege, Free Fire and female Valorant teams in Brazil, Mobile Legends: Bang Bang rosters in Indonesia and the Philippines, and chess grandmasters Fabiano Caruana, Magnus Carlsen and R Praggnanandhaa representing the organization.
In Their Own Story
The arena lights dimmed, casting a cool blue hue over the stage that seemed to mirror Team Liquid's iconic crest. On the opposing side, the white and black of 100 Thieves stood ready, their players leaning forward with intense focus. The air hummed with the collective breath of thousands of fans. As the first pick phase began, the weight of history settled on the room; this was not just a match for points, but a battle for legacy between the old guard and the rising stars.
Reader's Guide
The website was released on May 1, 2001, by Victor 'Nazgul' Goossens and Joy 'Meat' Hoogeveen under the domain teamliquid.cjb.net. On September 22, 2002, the website was moved to teamliquid.net. On April 5, 2019, it was announced that the website would be moving to tl.net. On August 30, 2012, Team Liquid expanded to covering Dota 2 news. On December 8, 2012, Liquid expanded into multiple games with the recruitment of a North American Dota 2 team. On January 6, 2015, Steven 'LiQuiD112' Arhancet joined Victor Goossens as co-owner. On September 27, 2016, Team Liquid sold its controlling interest to aXiomatic Gaming. On December 16, 2017, Team Liquid disbanded their Halo roster. In 2020, the organization introduced Blue, an anthropomorphic horse, as its mascot. In December 2021, five players became co-owners: Aerial Powers, Asa 'Stimpy' Butterfield, Jonathan 'EliGE' Jablonowski, Juan 'Hungrybox' DeBiedma, and Lex Veldhuis. In January 2022, Team Liquid signed the World of Warcraft guild Limit, making its guild leader Max 'Maximum' Smith a co-owner. In May 2024, Team Liquid was announced as a member of the Esports World Cup Foundation Club Support Program. Later that month, they signed two Mobile Legends: Bang Bang rosters after acquiring STUN.GG. On May 9, 2025, Team Liquid acquired EA Sports FC organization Team Gullit.
Did You Know?
- Team Liquid's website tl.net is the largest StarCraft community on the internet, with over 220,000 active members and over twenty four million total posts.
- Team Liquid's Counter-Strike Global Offensive team won the Intel Grand Slam prize in 2019 after winning four tournaments in just 63 days.
- The organization's mascot Blue, an anthropomorphic horse, was introduced in 2020.
- Team Liquid's European Dota 2 squad won The International 2017, which had one of the largest prize pools for any esports tournament in history.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Team Liquid?
Team Liquid is a premier global esports organization that began as a Dutch collective before expanding into a dominant force within the American competitive scene. They maintain active rosters across major titles like League of Legends and Valorant, consistently challenging for top-tier championships.
What defines Team Liquid's role in North American esports?
In the regional ecosystem, they serve as a benchmark for international success and tactical precision against domestic teams. Their competitive strength lies in their deep-rooted organizational history and ability to recruit elite talent from around the world.
Is there an ending to Team Liquid's story?
Unlike a narrative with a fixed conclusion, Team Liquid remains an active major competitor with no plans to disband their professional divisions. Their ongoing legacy continues to evolve as they pursue new titles alongside established rivals like 100 Thieves.
Why is Team Liquid important to the rivalry?
They hold significant importance due to their multiple international titles and status as one of the most storied organizations in esports history. For 100 Thieves fans, Liquid represents the ultimate test of American ambition against established global pedigree.
What creates the tension between 100 Thieves and Team Liquid?
The rivalry is defined by a distinct clash of styles, pitting 100 Thieves' aggressive, high-risk playstyle against Liquid's disciplined, tactical approach. Matches between the two often highlight the contrast between homegrown American talent and Liquid's international experience.
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