OG Esports has joined forces with Chiliz in a 51% takeover. With Xavier Oswald back as CEO and Socios.com powering the $OG Fan Token, fans and players could see OG aim for glory once again.
OG Esports has been acquired by blockchain giant Chiliz Group, which now owns a 51% controlling stake in the two-time Dota 2 International champions.
Chiliz, best known for creating Socios.com and its Fan Token ecosystem, plans to invest in OG’s teams, expand operations, and strengthen fan engagement through the $OG Fan Token. Fan Tokens remain a new frontier for esports organizations, offering innovative ways to connect with fans and diversify revenue beyond traditional sponsorships.
While it was originally focused on traditional sports such as soccer - via partnerships with FC Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain - Chiliz has expanded into esports with OG. The Chiliz Group currently has over 100 sports organizations partnered with their Socios app.
Leadership shake-up at OG Esports
As part of leadership changes in light of the Chiliz OG Esports acquisition, former OG co-founder Xavier Oswald returns to the organization to become the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Meanwhile, fellow co-founders and Dota 2 International two-time winners Johan “n0tail” Sundstein and Sébastien “Ceb” Debs will lead "a new strategic project to strengthen OG’s competitive foundation".
Xavier Oswald was OG's Chief Revenue Officer from 2018 to 2020, and was responsible for brand and media deals, including sponsorships with Red Bull, Steelseries and BMW.
Oswald was also a key part of OG's shift into the crypto and NFT through a partnership with Socios, setting up the framework for the launch of the Fan Token known as $OG Fan Token. The $OG Fan Token will have its 5-year anniversary in December 2025.
Socios.com takes over $OG Fan Token
As part of the new acquisition, Socios.com will become the exclusive platform for the $OG Fan Token. The $OG Fan Token can be obtained by purchasing the Chiliz cryptocurrency $CHZ via the Socios.com app.
“OG has always been about community and innovation, and since 2020 it has demonstrated that Fan Tokens can create genuine economic value and meaningful engagement,” said Alex Dreyfus, CEO and Founder of Chiliz.
“With a $100 million fan token economy already established, OG represents the perfect case study for what’s truly possible when we place Fan Tokens at the centre of the fan economy. This acquisition allows us to showcase the next evolution – Fan Tokens 2.0.”
According to Chiliz, OG became the first esports Fan Token to surpass a $100 million market capitalization, "driven by surging global demand for digital fan assets".
The $OG Fan Token offers fans exclusive voting rights, for example on new merchandise designs, as well as VIP experiences and direct access to OG's Esports teams.
“With Chiliz, we share a common vision based on strong values: passion, transparency, and the power of communities.” said Johan “N0tail” Sundstein, co-founder and historic figure of OG Esports.
“From winning back-to-back Internationals to competing against OpenAI Five in a world-first showcase of human-AI collaboration, OG has always been about pushing boundaries. This alliance will allow us to stay true to our identity while continuing to grow.”
OG’s legacy in esports
Outside of the $OG Fan Token, the Chiliz OG Esports acquisition should lead to growth in terms of OG's ability to compete on the international stage. In his official quote, co-founder Sébastien “Ceb” Debs said the agreement "marks the beginning of a new competitive cycle".
“We want to once again become a major force on the international stage and inspire a new generation of players and fans. With the support of Chiliz, we now have the means to build an ambitious and sustainable project.”
Founded in 2015, OG Esports was built off the back of the success of the Dota 2 team, which featured both co-founders N0tail and Ceb. The pair led OG to four Dota 2 Majors between 2016 and 2017, before going on to win The International back-to-back in 2018 and 2019, the first-ever team to do so. OG competed solely in Dota 2 until 2021.
After 2021, OG Esports began to expand and explore other esports titles starting with VALORANT.
OG Esports currently competes in six esports titles; Dota 2, Counter-Strike, EA FC, Marvel Rivals, Honor of Kings and MLBB.
OG Esports’ push to expand
Overall, while the OG brand holds a special place in the hearts of Dota 2 fans for the glory years, it has yet to become a household name in the wider esports scene. OG's Counter-Strike 2 team is currently ranked #30 in the VRS Global Rankings, but is historically their second strongest division.
Roster | Earnings | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| CS:GO (OG Academy) | $7,000.00 | 0.02% |
| CS:GO / CS2 | $1,328,489 | 3.43% |
| Dota 2 | $37,306,545 | 96.22% |
| Dota 2 (OG Seed) | $52,600 | 0.14% |
| Rocket League | $58,900 | 0.15% |
| Super Smash Bros | $6,847 | 0.02% |
| VALORANT | $2,861 | 0.01% |
| VALORANT (OG LDN UTD) | $10,570 | 0.03% |
To put it into perspective, in terms of prize money, the Dota 2 and Counter-Strike 2 divisions of OG are responsible for 99.8% of all prize money the organization has ever won.
If the Chiliz OG Esports acquisition truly marks the beginning of a "new competitive cycle", OG fans may be on the verge of witnessing a resurgence. One that could define the next era of the organization’s legacy.
