ESWC 2005 Grand Final
Fnatic is a professional esports organisation headquartered in London, England, with over 200 championship victories across 30 games.
Fnatic (pronounced "fanatic"; also stylised as fnatic or FNATIC) is a professional esports organisation headquartered in London, England. Founded on 23 July 2004, it has players from around the world competing in several games.
Quick Facts
- Game
- Counter-Strike 1.6
- Winner
- Team 3D (USA)
- Key players
- fisker
- SpawN
- cArn
- archie
- Magix
- Roster correction
- fisker, SpawN, cArn, archie (Magix was not on the roster at this event)
- Location
- Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy, France
Lore & Background
The organisation was founded on 23 July 2004 by Sam Mathews and Anne Mathews. After playing on Fnatic's Counter-Strike team for several years, Patrik "cArn" Sättermon became the chief gaming officer of Fnatic in 2012. Wouter Sleijffers replaced Anne Mathews as CEO in 2015, while Sam Mathews is the board chairman. Between 2008 and 2009, Fnatic was sponsored by MSI and SteelSeries, spurring a temporary name change to FnaticMSI. On 1 June 2011, Fnatic partnered with EIZO to launch their gaming monitors into the market. In 2006, Fnatic acquired a World of Warcraft team, Fnatic. WoW. In 2007, Fnatic acquired a DotA team, Fnatic. DotA. In 2008, Fnatic picked up a new DotA team. In 2010 FnaticMSI.HoN was restructured. In January 2012, Fnatic took on RaidCall as a sponsor. In 2012, Fnatic picked up the former GamersLeague Dota 2 team. In August 2014, Fnatic partnered with Luke Millanta to create a collection of cosmetic Counter Strike: Global Offensive weapon skins. In 2015, Fnatic announced a return to Dota 2, acquiring and sponsoring Team Malaysia. On 1 October 2015 sports betting website Dafabet became a sponsor of Fnatic. On 23 March 2017, Fnatic announced that it would be making a one-off return to Heroes of Newerth with an all-Swedish roster. On 2 April 2017, Fnatic became the champions of HonTour Season 5. On 6 October 2017, Fnatic joined the competitive Rocket League scene after acquiring the former roster of Leftovers. On 12 April 2018, Fnatic joined the competitive Rainbow Six Siege scene after acquiring the former roster of Mindfreak. In April 2019, Fnatic raised $19M in Series A funding round and restructured its leadership. In October 2019, Fnatic acquired Indian PUBG Mobile team Xspark. Fnatic disbanded the team in March 2021. In November 2019, Fnatic announced it had entered into a partnership with Japanese company Sanrio. In October 2020, Fnatic announced a multi-year global partnership with Hisense. The same year Fnatic signed a multi-year partnership with BMW. In March 2021, Fnatic announced a renewal of partnership with LeTou. In November 2022, Fnatic launched its own music label, Fnatic Music. On 6 May 2024, the Esports World Cup Foundation announced the 30 organizations who would make up the Club Support Program, with Fnatic being one of them.
Reader's Guide
Fnatic's League of Legends team competes in the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC) and is one of the most successful organisations in the league. The team won the first League of Legends World Championship in 2011, and it held the record for most LEC titles from 2011 to 2020. Fnatic's Counter-Strike team, which has traditionally been located in Sweden, won the first ever CS:GO Major in 2013 and two more between 2013 and 2015. After a series of poor results dating back to the start of 2021, Fnatic made a move towards an international roster for the first time since 2013. The organisation has claimed more than 200 championship victories across 30 different games since its inception in 2004. According to Forbes, Fnatic is worth $260 million and is among the top 10 most valuable esports companies.
Frequently Asked Questions
What defines the ESWC 2005 Grand Final for Fnatic?
This event marks a pinnacle moment where the British squad secured a major European championship in Counter-Strike 1.6. It demonstrated their ability to perform under pressure against top-tier international competition on a global stage.
When and where did this victory take place?
The tournament concluded on July 30, 2005, inside the Palais Omnisports de Paris-Bercy in France. This location served as the backdrop for one of the most celebrated LAN victories in the team's early history.
Who comprised the Fnatic lineup during this match?
The legendary roster featured Fisker and SpawN leading the charge alongside TaZ, Potti, and Xizt. This specific combination of players is often cited as one of the strongest Counter-Strike lineups ever assembled.
Which opponent did Fnatic defeat to claim the trophy?
Fnatic faced and defeated mousesports in the decisive Grand Final series to win the title. Their precise teamwork and sharp mechanics overwhelmed their rivals throughout the competition.
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