OG is a professional esports organisation best known for its record-setting Dota 2 teams and The International championships.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
OG is a professional esports organisation established in 2015 in Europe. It emerged from a Dota 2 squad originally known as (monkey) Business, formed by former Team Secret players Johan “N0tail” Sundstein and Tal “Fly” Aizik together with David “MoonMeander” Tan, Fritz “Frtz” DG and Andreas “Cr1t-” Nielsen. After adopting the OG name, the team rapidly became one of the most successful organisations in competitive Dota 2, winning the Frankfurt Major in 2015, the Manila Major in 2016, the Boston Major in 2016 and the Kiev Major in 2017. The organisation’s defining achievement came at The International 2018. Following major roster departures and an unsuccessful route through the normal qualification system, OG rebuilt around Topias “Topson” Taavitsainen, returning player Anathan “ana” Pham and former coach Sébastien “Ceb” Debs, alongside N0tail and JerAx. The reformed lineup qualified through the European open qualifiers and won the tournament after a close grand final against PSG.LGD. OG repeated the feat at The International 2019, defeating Team Liquid and becoming the first organisation to win The International twice and the first to win it in consecutive years. OG has expanded beyond Dota 2. It entered Super Smash Bros. in 2018, Counter-Strike in 2019, Valorant in 2021 and Rocket League in 2024. Its Counter-Strike operation transitioned from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive to Counter-Strike 2 and underwent several roster rebuilds. The Valorant division also partnered with LDN UTD for the 2022 EMEA competition cycle, but the combined roster was later disbanded after failing to secure a place in the partnered league. The Dota 2 division has continued to experience cycles of rebuilding and veteran involvement. A new generation led by players including Yuragi, bzm, ATF, Taiga and Misha won the ESL One Stockholm Major in 2022, giving OG its fifth Dota 2 Major title. The organisation also won ESL One Malaysia later that year. In 2024, OG participated in the 1win Series Dota 2 Fall tournament and was included in the Esports World Cup Foundation Club Support Program. In 2025, OG relocated its competitive region from Europe to Southeast Asia after acquiring the roster of Team Aureus, creating an all-Filipino Southeast Asian lineup for its participation in PGL Wallachia Season 6. The same year, Chiliz Group announced the acquisition of a majority stake, adding a new ownership and fan-engagement dimension through the Socios.com ecosystem.
History
OG began in August 2015 as (monkey) Business, a Dota 2 team formed by Johan “N0tail” Sundstein and Tal “Fly” Aizik with MoonMeander, Frtz and Cr1t-. The roster had previously been associated with Team Secret players and quickly established itself in the European competitive circuit. After a strong run through the European qualifiers for the Frankfurt Major, the team adopted the OG name and won the tournament in November 2015. The organisation’s early period was marked by rapid competitive success and frequent roster adjustments. OG underperformed at the Shanghai Major in March 2016 but recovered by winning the Manila Major in June. That victory made OG the first team to win two Valve-sponsored Dota 2 Majors. After an unexpectedly early elimination at The International 2016, MoonMeander, Miracle- and Cr1t- departed. Their replacements—s4, ana and JerAx—helped OG win the Boston Major in December 2016 and the Kiev Major in 2017. The Kiev event also brought the organisation wider documentary exposure through Valve’s True Sight series. The most consequential restructuring occurred in 2018. Fly and s4 left for Evil Geniuses, while other roster changes left OG without direct or regional qualification eligibility for The International. OG added Topson, brought Ceb up from his coaching role and welcomed ana back from a competitive break. The new lineup qualified through the European open qualifiers and then won The International 2018, defeating PSG.LGD in a five-game final. The victory was widely viewed as an underdog achievement because OG had entered through the open path and had rebuilt shortly before the event. OG maintained its core and returned to The International 2019 with a direct invitation after a strong Dota Pro Circuit season. It dominated the group stage and upper bracket before beating Team Liquid in the final. The result made OG the first two-time International champion and the first to win the event in consecutive years. During this period, ana took breaks from competition, the organisation played an exhibition series against OpenAI Five, and coaching responsibilities changed. From 2020 onward, OG underwent repeated cycles of retirement, leave and roster renewal. JerAx retired, Ceb moved away from the active lineup, and Sumail, MidOne and Saksa joined during the 2020 restructuring. Ana later returned briefly before retiring, while Sumail rejoined. OG qualified for The International 2021 through regional competition but was eliminated by eventual champion Team Spirit. At the end of 2021, several members of the championship-era roster stepped away, and OG introduced a younger lineup built around Yuragi, bzm, ATF, Taiga and Misha. That younger team won the ESL One Stockholm Major in 2022, with Ceb and N0tail serving as stand-ins during the tournament, and later won ESL One Malaysia. OG also broadened its portfolio. It entered Super Smash Bros. in 2018, formed a Counter-Strike division in 2019, created a Valorant division in 2021 and partnered with LDN UTD for the 2022 EMEA Valorant cycle. The Valorant project ended after the combined roster failed to reach the partnered league. Counter-Strike rosters were rebuilt several times and continued into Counter-Strike 2. In 2024 OG added Rocket League and remained active in Dota 2 events, including the 1win Series Dota 2 Fall tournament. Its business model also increasingly intersected with sponsorship and fan-engagement programs. OG was part of the Esports World Cup Foundation Club Support Program in 2024, while the program drew criticism from observers who characterized it as a Saudi sportswashing vehicle. In September 2025, Chiliz Group announced a 51% majority acquisition. Later in 2025, OG shifted its competitive region to Southeast Asia after acquiring Team Aureus’s roster, marking a new phase focused on an all-Filipino lineup and Southeast Asian representation.
- 2025
Chiliz Group majority acquisition announced
[1]Chiliz Group announced a 51% majority stake in OG.
- 2025
Southeast Asia regional relocation
[1]OG acquired Team Aureus’s roster and moved its competitive region to Southeast Asia.
- 2024
Rocket League expansion
[1]OG announced its first Rocket League team in North America.
- 2022
ESL One Stockholm Major victory
[1]The rebuilt Dota 2 roster won OG’s fifth Major title.
- 2021
BMW partnership announced
[1]OG announced a commercial partnership with BMW.
- 2019
The International 2019 championship
[1]OG defeated Team Liquid and became the first repeat International champion.
- 2019
Counter-Strike division established
[1]OG entered Counter-Strike with a newly assembled professional roster.
- 2018
The International 2018 championship
[1]OG qualified through the open qualifiers and won The International against PSG.LGD.
- 2017
Kiev Major victory
[1]OG won its fourth Dota 2 Major and appeared in Valve’s True Sight documentary series.
- 2016
Manila Major victory
[1]OG became the first team to win two Valve-sponsored Dota 2 Majors.
Products and positioning
A championship-oriented, multi-game esports organisation whose identity is anchored in elite Dota 2 competition, roster continuity, player development and highly visible tournament storytelling.
Professional esports team · 2015
OG Dota 2
OG’s foundational and most decorated competitive division. It won four Dota 2 Majors between 2015 and 2017, The International in 2018 and 2019, and the ESL One Stockholm Major in 2022. The division has repeatedly combined established veterans with emerging players and has gone through several major roster rebuilds.
Professional esports team · 2019
OG Counter-Strike 2
OG entered Counter-Strike: Global Offensive in 2019 with a roster of experienced international players. Following multiple roster changes, the project transitioned into Counter-Strike 2 and continued competing with developing and veteran talent.
Professional esports team · 2024
OG Rocket League
OG’s first Rocket League roster was announced in January 2024. The team competed in the North American region, extending OG’s multi-game strategy beyond its traditional Dota 2 and first-person-shooter activities.
Professional esports team · 2021
OG Valorant
OG formed a Valorant division in 2021 and later partnered with LDN UTD for the 2022 EMEA Champions Tour Stage 2 cycle. The roster was disbanded in 2022 after OG LDN UTD did not secure a place in the EMEA partnered league.
Professional esports team · 2018
OG Super Smash Bros.
OG entered the professional Super Smash Bros. scene in 2018 by signing James “Swedish Delight” Liu. The move represented one of the organisation’s first expansions outside team-based Dota 2 competition.
Controversies
2024
Criticism of Esports World Cup support program
OG’s participation in the Esports World Cup Foundation Club Support Program was discussed within broader criticism that Saudi-backed esports initiatives can function as sportswashing and divert attention from the country’s human-rights record.
2020
Counter-Strike coaching bug sanctions
OG coach Casper “ruggah” Due was implicated in the Counter-Strike coaching bug scandal. The Esports Integrity Commission and Valve imposed a ban that prevented him from participating in one Valve-sponsored Major Championship.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024Esports World Cup Foundation Club Support Program
International
OG participated in the club-support program associated with the Esports World Cup and received program backing.
Outcome. The program generated exposure and financial support but also attracted sportswashing criticism because of its Saudi backing.
- 2021BMW esports partnership
International
OG joined BMW’s esports partnership portfolio, connecting its competitive brand with a global automotive sponsor.
Outcome. The partnership expanded OG’s commercial visibility beyond tournament competition.
- 2019The International 2019 title defense
Global esports audience
OG returned with a championship-caliber Dota 2 roster and pursued a second consecutive International title.
Outcome. The organisation won the tournament and became the first repeat champion.
- 2018The International 2018 underdog run
Global esports audience
OG used its unexpected open-qualifier route and newly rebuilt roster as the foundation for a high-profile competitive narrative, ultimately winning The International 2018.
Outcome. OG became world champion and established one of esports’ most prominent underdog stories.
Brand decisions
2025
Chiliz Group majority acquisitionM&ABackground
OG expanded its ownership and fan-engagement structure while maintaining a presence across competitive esports titles.
Action taken
Chiliz Group announced the acquisition of a 51% majority stake in OG.
Aftermath
OG became more closely connected to Chiliz’s blockchain and Socios.com fan-token ecosystem.
2025
Relocation to Southeast AsiaStrategyBackground
OG pursued a new regional identity after operating primarily as a European organisation.
Action taken
It acquired Team Aureus’s qualified roster and moved its competitive region to Southeast Asia.
Aftermath
The change gave OG an all-Filipino lineup and marked its Southeast Asian competitive debut at PGL Wallachia Season 6.
2021
Formation of a new Dota 2 generationStrategyBackground
Several members of the two-time International-winning lineup stepped away from active competition in late 2021.
Action taken
OG introduced a younger roster built around Yuragi, bzm, ATF, Taiga and Misha.
Aftermath
The new lineup won the ESL One Stockholm Major and ESL One Malaysia in 2022.
2019
Expansion into Counter-StrikeStrategyBackground
OG sought to develop a broader multi-game esports portfolio beyond its established Dota 2 identity.
Action taken
The organisation formed a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive division with an international roster.
Aftermath
The project continued through roster changes and later transitioned to Counter-Strike 2.
2018
Rebuild through open qualifiers for The InternationalStrategyBackground
Departures by Fly and s4 and other roster changes left OG without a direct invitation or normal regional-qualifier route for The International 2018.
Action taken
OG signed Topson, brought Ceb into the active lineup and returned ana before winning the European open qualifiers.
Aftermath
The rebuilt team won The International 2018 and became one of the event’s defining underdog champions.
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Hao Open Foods sues OG over forced early exit from Taste Orchard[2]
Hao Open Foods, owned by Hao Mart chairman Tan Kim Yong, filed a lawsuit against OG for forcing it to vacate Taste Orchard premises early despite valid tenancy agreements. The claim alleges OG knew and approved sub-tenancies but later claimed they were unauthorised, and seeks damages for misrepresentation, negligence, wrongful interference with trade and induced breaches of contract.
Reported
FUN88 partners with OG's Dota 2 roster[3]
FUN88 partnered with esports organization OG under a multi-year contract as official partner of OG's Dota 2 roster.
Sources3 sources
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