On the rise: The esports industry’s rising stars to watch

The esports world has gone through plenty of games, and many standout players have come and gone. Every year, some promising players break out and make a difference in the esports circuits, which makes for an exciting crop of talent to follow.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Rising stars will continue being a big part of esports as they stand out and make the games more entertaining to watch.
• Young players dare to make big plays that make them the most promising names in the games.
• The best players must step up when the team is under pressure to succeed.

Top-level esports games always have star players who dominate the game and show why they are at the elite level. Some are already established, but some players are still working their way to the top. Have a look at the requirements for these players to be classified as the most promising.

What makes for a star player in esports?

Like most sports and competitive circuits, some players stand out in esports. They typically dominate the games because of their high skill level. Stars are always the most impactful players on the team, as they have the skill set and the attitude that stamps their status as the best. 

Here are the best characteristics to expect from esports’ top players: 

• Top-level performance under pressure - Constantly performing well under pressure should lead to strong results for the team. They also stand out in high-pressure situations, as they will pull off audacious plays to help the team win on pure instinct and skill.
• Impeccable game sense - During games, star players often look a level above the players on the server. They have a natural talent to change the game and make the best play possible due to their natural outlook in matches.
• Confidence is apparent - Every time a star player is on the server, everyone can tell they are the most impactful. They exude confidence with every move they make in the game, allowing them to show their personality and superstar qualities in their performances. 

At the same time, they also have an elite mentality with confidence, making them brave to make those moves. This combines high-level play, leadership, and mental toughness that helps them become superstars.

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Who are the best rising esports players?

You probably know the most established names in esports, like Oleksandr ‘s1mple’ Kostyliev from Counter-Strike or Lee ‘Faker’ Sang-hyeok in League of Legends. They are often billed as their games’ best-ever players, but were not in their positions instantly. They had to climb the leaderboard and develop their games’ supreme talents.

The current stars are already well-established, but some players can be the cream of the crop of the newer contenders. Here are the rising esports players you must know about:

Joseph ‘jojopyun’ Joon Pyun (League of Legends)

As a big personality who played in the midlane for Movistar KOI, Joseph ‘jojopyun’ Joon Pyun has become a big name in the League of Legends pro scene. He burst onto the scene in North America’s League of Legends Championship Series (LCS), where he became one of the most talented players due to his raw mechanical skill. 

That already made him a fan favourite, but he got even better as he progressed, which led him to move to Europe to compete in the League of Legends EMEA Championship (LEC). It is a more competitive region in pro LoL, so jojopyun standing out there cements his place among the current-day greats worldwide. 

He has always been a flashy player with his solo kills and how he creatively outplays his opponents. Now he is playing in Europe, he has become a more refined player with his map awareness and synergy with his teammates. European players are more often controlled with their style, but jojopyun combines the NA aggression with the EU control. 

His strong personality and evolution as a player make jojopyun worthy of being a rising star in League of Legends and esports, which bodes well for his career in pro League.

Mathieu ‘ZyWoO’ Herbaut (Counter-Strike)

Counter-Strike esports fans should already be familiar with Mathieu ‘ZyWoO’ Herbaut. He has already been a top player for a while but continues to be popular in the scene. This might be the time he is fully taking charge of getting that distinction. 

Viewed as the successor to s1mple due to his raw numbers, ZyWoO is seen as the superstar at Team Vitality, ZyWoO performs well under pressure, as evidenced by his accolades, including MVP awards at big tournaments. That dates back to his Global Offensive days, but the new top game, Counter-Strike 2, has also been kind to him.

ZyWoO’s raw aim sets him apart from the rest as he has all the talent to stand out. This includes turning unwinnable rounds into dominant displays for himself, making him an unbelievable talent. He is already one of the best Counter-Strike has to offer, but he continues to improve and tap into his potential.

If he keeps evolving, the debate between him and s1mple might become even louder. However, fans still mention s1mple as the game’s greatest-ever player, which makes his rivalry with ZyWoO so appealing.

Danil ‘donk’ Kryshkovets (Counter-Strike)

Arguably the most terrifying prospect in Counter-Strike history, Danil ‘donk’ Kryshovets is only 18, but he is already on the same level as many seasoned legends. He might even be better than they were, as he knows his limits and all about the CS2 maps to stand out.

The aim and instant reflexes are some of his biggest strengths, but you rarely see donk have a bad game. He always performs, making him even scarier as it shows he has the mental fortitude required from a superstar. 

He is quite versatile with his role in games, as he primarily uses the AWP, but he also loves doing entry frags. The 18-year-old can drop back and be the primary clutch player. He does it all without any issues, making him such a dangerous and versatile star to go against.

Throughout his CS2 career, donk has been an AWPer, but that does not make him a bad rifler. He is one of the scariest players to go against as he can beat anyone with any weapon in the game. ZyWoO has another rival for being known as the best Counter-Strike player in the world.

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Ava ‘florescent’ Eugene (Valorant)

Initially seen as the superstar in Valorant’s Game Changers circuit, where women and marginalised genders compete, Ava ‘florescent’ Eugene has defied all the odds. She quickly rose to the top of GC, catching everyone’s attention in the Valorant Champions Tour. 

She started as a rising star when she was 14 and was signed to a team by 15. Now that she is 18, florescent already has experience across many teams. She last played for Apeks, but took a break for the rest of 2025. Despite that, many fans still look for her in matches. 

Flor often topped the scoreboard with her aggressive play, which helped her get a ton of kills. Despite her flashy numbers, her decision-making has always been the best part of her game. 

Her composure under pressure is what made her a top player, as she always knows how to adapt to the situation, whether that’s a new team, a new agent, or even a new meta. She is breaking down barriers no player has done before, and she is doing it as one of the most promising players in the VCT.

Stanislav ‘Malr1ne’ Potorak (Dota 2)

Dota 2 gets many talented players every day, but Stanislav ‘Malr1ne’ Potorak has been stellar since he burst on the scene. He was once part of the famed Creepwave stack, but he did not get the big break he was looking for. He left the team and worked hard on the ranked leaderboard, which helped him get noticed by teams, including Team Falcons.

He is a mid-laner who is one of the most brutal matchups in the world. Malr1ne is efficient with his lane management and farming, which limits opponents from the first seconds of a game. He also loves to make early moves, which puts pressure on the other two lanes with his rotations. 

Elite Dota players are always aware of the map, but having a tempo controller like Malr1ne has been invaluable. He has found a home in the top tier of Dota 2 as he is always unpredictable, giving his team an advantage in a key matchup and a vital area of the map in the mid-lane.

He has become the breakout player in Dota 2 and will continue to be a staple for the scene for a long time. Falcons is also a strong team, so Malr1ne becoming a household name for Dota 2 esports fans is expected. He has everything you would want in a mid-laner; flashiness, skill, and team fight ability.

How to gamble on esports at Gamdom

Bet on esports events by signing in at Gamdom. Here are the steps you must follow to start betting:

1. Register and sign in to your Gamdom account.
    

   

2. Hit the sidebar in the upper-left corner to find the ‘eSports’ button to go to the esports betting page.

3. There, you can find the available esports to choose from.
    

   

4. Browse and find the markets you want to bet on. Confirm your wager on the Bet Slip in the lower-right corner.
5. Browse and find the markets that best fit your preferences. The bet you make shows up on the Bet Slip in the lower-right corner. Click the ‘Place Bet’ and confirm your prediction.

Tips to remember when betting on esports with rising stars

Now that you know more about the rising stars in the esports scene, you must know tips to make informed bets. Here are tips to get you started:

• Always look into the stats - You must know what kind of metrics teams and players have ahead of your bet. These help you to be objective about esports as they show the numbers to prove the team and player standings.
• Research the rising talent - You must also know about the new rising talents coming up now and then. Doing this gives you a head start and possibly makes high-value bets that others might not see.
• Watch the public leaderboards - Leaderboards show the best players, allowing you to see the rising players who most people are not familiar with. Some of these high-ranking players are also being observed by top esports organizations. Look out for transfer news and check the new names being added in the roster since they can affect team dynamics in upcoming matches.
• Observe the less-popular teams - Some less-popular teams have players who have all the talent but have not received the same attention as others. You must look into these lesser-known players who could be impactful in matches. 

Follow the stars: Bet on esports at Gamdom

Esports continues to grow alongside the best players from various teams. However, esports is an ever-evolving industry, so new players will arrive and rise to the top. Gamdom offers you a wide selection of betting markets for your League of Legends betting, including future matches, live bets, and outright bets. 

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