As the go-to platform for gamers and esports enthusiasts, Twitch reigns supreme as a platform for esports streamers. But why? It’s simple: Twitch is the stomping ground for the world’s most popular streamers! However, you may be wondering who you should start watching. To help you find your footing, we’ve curated a list of the top 9 esports streamers in 2023!
But before we begin, it’s important to note that these rankings reflect the most-watched Twitch channels during Q1/Q2 2023. This means that our list is subject to change. Further, the list focuses solely on individual channels with a history of competing in or streaming esports titles.
1. Félix “xQc” Lengyel
Riding high on Twitch fame is xQc, a streaming titan with 11.8M followers and nearly 70K active subs. This ex-Overwatch League pro’s rise to stardom remains a topic of discussion. However, his variety of games, funny personality, and regular fan (“juicer”) interactions likely play a role.
The Canadian multi-game streamer has cast more than 900 games, with Overwatch, Grand Theft Auto V (GTA V), and Minecraft comprising roughly half his all-time stream time. xQc was nominated for Streamer of the Year at The Streamer Awards 2023, where he took home the award for Best Variety Streamer.
2. Alexandre “Gaules” Chiqueta
Gaules is a retired Brazilian Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) player and coach but is widely known for being a Portuguese analyst and commentator. Some of his notable appearances include IEM Rio Major 2022, PGL Major Antwerp 2022, and PGL Major Stockholm 2021.
Since gaining recognition as a full-time streamer in late 2018, Gaules has racked up 3.9M total followers and 77.5K subs. His highest recorded number of concurrent viewers is a staggering 707.7K, which he earned by streaming a match between Cloud 9 and Imperial Esports at the 2022 CS:GO Major.
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3. Tarık “tarik“ Çelik
Turkish-American former CS:GO pro Tarik places third on the list of top esports streamers. He shifted to live-streaming after multiple triumphs during his career, including ELEAGUE Major Boston 2018, StarSeries & i-League Season 8, and BLAST Premier: Spring 2020 Finals.
Primarily streaming Valorant and CS:GO gameplay, Tarik boasts an impressive Twitch follower count of 2.7M and 17.6K active subs. More impressively, the ex-CS:GO pro’s viewership skyrocketed in 2023; he acquired more than 289K new followers within the first quarter.
4. Ibai “Ibai” Garatea
Ibai is a popular League of Legends (LoL) streamer and esports caster. Formerly a content creator for G2 Esports, the Spanish titan now co-owns a team with Gerard Piqué called KOI, which is competing in the League of Legends European Championship (LEC) 2023 season.
Regarding his live-streaming career, Ibai holds the title for the all-time highest concurrent viewers on Twitch: a mind-boggling 3.4M. This stride is matched by the Spanish colossus having the fourth-highest follower count on the streaming platform: 13.1M.
5. Victor “loud_coringa“ Augusto
Brazilian GTA 5 and Valorant streamer loud_coringa places fifth in our 2023 esports streamer rankings. Broadcasting gameplay content predominantly to the Portuguese Twitch audience, he boasts a very respectable 4.3M follower count and an all-time peak concurrent viewership of 307.5K.
Beyond his recognition on Twitch, loud_coringa also has an impressive social media presence, with more than 11.2M followers on Instagram and more than 6.4M subscribers across his two YouTube channels.
6. Chikara “fps_shaka“ Kawakami
Japanese variety streamer and PUBG caster fps_shaka has the sixth-most popular channel on Twitch in 2023, averaging more than 20K viewers per livestream this year. In the first quarter of the year, fps_shaka has broadcast LoL, Rust, and Valorant to his 1.1M followers.
7. Jaryd “summit1g” Lazar
Summit1g is a popular variety streamer and former CS:GO pro who plays a wide range of video games. Since his career started in 2016, the American Twitch star has experienced rapid growth, overtaking Riot Games’ channel on Twitch in 2018 and becoming the most-followed channel at the time.
Today, summit1g boasts a total of 6.2M followers and 22.5K active subs. The Twitch star has enjoyed streaming his gameplay in titles like DayZ, CS:GO, World of Warcraft, Escape from Tarkov, and Hogwarts Legacy.
8. Aleksandr “Nix” Levin
Nix is a former esports player for the Dota 2 team HellRaisers. After retiring in 2021, the 26-year-old pursued a full-time career in live-streaming and boasts more than 550K followers. In addition, Nix has racked up more than 4.3K total streaming hours and an all-time concurrent viewer count of 205K.
9. Tyler “Tyler1” Steinkamp
Tyler Steinkamp is among the most popular LoL streamers, amassing more than 5.5M followers on Twitch. Despite being branded the “most toxic player in North America” by Polygon and earning several Twitch bans, Tyler1 maintains his status as a highly entertaining streamer on the platform.
The LoL titan secured the coveted Best League of Legends Streamer at The Streamer Awards in 2022 and 2023. His live-streaming achievements are equally impressive, earning a record-breaking concurrent viewership by an individual streamer of nearly 370K in 2017.
Honorable Mentions
In addition to the Twitch streamers listed above, here are a few honorable mentions of popular influencers in other esports titles, some of whom also have many followers and subscribers on other streaming platforms.
- Michael Grzesiek (Shroud): Valorant and CS:GO
- Timothy Betar (TimTheTatMan): Call of Duty: Warzone
- Tyler Blevins (Ninja): Fortnite Battle Royale
- Ali Kabbani (TSM Myth): Fortnite Battle Royale and Valorant
Conclusion
Although we have reached the end of our list, this ranking of the top esports streamers is certainly not exhaustive. In particular, we neglected to mention a few names popular beyond the realm of esports who have long cemented their position in the pantheon of streaming entertainment.
This includes legends like Auronplay, Tfue, TheGrefg, and Pokimane, who have earned their rightful place in the hearts of millions, and rising stars like KaiCenat, all of whom captivate their audiences with their unique styles and charismatic personalities.
But what do you think of these rankings? Better yet, who is your favorite esports streamer? Let us know by sharing your comments with us on the Thunderpick social media pages.
