Evil Geniuses Announces Closure After 27 Years in Esports
Written with artificial intelligence.
Evil Geniuses, a prominent American esports organization founded in 1999, has officially announced its closure due to insurmountable economic difficulties. Players will be allowed to negotiate with other teams, with VALORANT members able to formally join new organizations after the season ends on November 2.
Closure Announcement
After 27 years of competitive presence, Evil Geniuses has decided to cease operations. CEO Chris DeAppolonio announced this decision on Wednesday, citing overwhelming economic challenges. Despite efforts to revitalize the organization in recent years, a lack of sponsorship and rising costs made it untenable to continue.
Impact on Players
With the closure, players are now permitted to engage with other organizations. Specifically, VALORANT team members will have the opportunity to officially transition to new teams after the current season concludes on November 2. The organization has pledged to support players, coaches, and staff affected by this decision.
A Legacy in Esports
Founded in 1999 initially focused on Quake, Evil Geniuses became a cornerstone of North American esports. The organization is known for its historic victory at The International 2015 in Dota 2, marking it as the first North American team to win the prestigious tournament. Additionally, they secured the LCS Spring Split title in 2022 for League of Legends before departing the league at the end of 2023.
Most recently, Evil Geniuses celebrated a significant achievement by winning the VALORANT Champions 2023 against Paper Rex with a score of 3-1 under the leadership of Christine "potter" Chi. However, following a decline in competitive results and exclusion from the VCT Americas partnership for 2027-2028, the announcement of the organization’s closure signifies the end of an era filled with accomplishments and memorable moments in the esports scene.