Evil Geniuses debut new logo as part of big esports expansion

Evil Geniuses has undergone a remarkable brand transformation in recent months, culminating in a comprehensive visual identity overhaul that aligns with CEO Nicole Lapointe Jameson’s ambitious strategic vision for the organization.

Over the past four months, the esports community witnessed Evil Geniuses strategically expand into two of the most prominent competitive gaming titles worldwide. The December 12 logo reveal represents the final piece of this calculated rebranding initiative.

After two decades of operation, the organization launched a complete brand redesign across its official social media channels and digital platforms. This new visual identity represents a significant departure from the original design aesthetic while more effectively capturing the essence of the “Evil Geniuses” name that had remained relatively unchanged throughout its history.

Established in 1999, Evil Geniuses stands as one of the pioneering organizations in esports history. Following their initial foray into Counter-Strike during the early 2000s, EG participated across numerous competitive titles before gradually narrowing their focus primarily to Dota 2. This specialization strategy positioned their Dota 2 squad as the organization’s flagship competitive team.

On September 16, the organization announced substantial changes to their Dota 2 lineup, including the strategic benching of veteran mid lanerSyed “SumaiL” Hassan and the release of Gustav “s4” Magnusson. These moves represented calculated decisions aimed at revitalizing the team’s competitive performance.

To fill these crucial positions, EG recruited mid laner Abed Azel “Abed” L. Yusop and former Virtus.pro standout Roman “RAMZES666” Kushnarev for the offlane role. Many Dota 2 enthusiasts anticipated these roster adjustments, particularly following EG’s disappointing fifth-place finish at The International 2019 after achieving third place at TI8.

Professional esports organizations frequently face the challenge of balancing veteran experience with emerging talent. The decision to bench SumaiL, despite his legendary status, demonstrates EG’s commitment to performance optimization over brand recognition alone.

Evil Geniuses logo comes after new CSGO and League of Legends teams

September 26 delivered simultaneous surprises to two major esports communities asEvil Geniuses announced concurrent expansions into both Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and League of Legends. This strategic timing maximized media impact and brand visibility.

That morning, the squad previously known as NRG Esports appeared at ESL One New York wearing jerseys featuring the classic Evil Geniuses emblem. The organization had acquired the complete NRG CS:GO lineup, and their unexpected debut at ESL One NY culminated in a championship victory.

This marked Evil Geniuses’ inaugural Counter-Strike tournament appearance in nearly a decade, securing their first CS victory since the Beat It! 2010 Grand Finals on September 9, 2010. The nine-year hiatus made this comeback particularly significant within the esports landscape.

The competitive roster combines seasoned professionals like Tarik “tarik” Celek and Peter “stanislaw” Jarguz with three emerging talents: Cvetelin “CeRq” Dimitrov, Ethan “Ethan” Arnold, and Vincent “Brehze” Cayonte. Following EG’s acquisition, the team achieved its first-ever world number one ranking and currently maintains a strong position at number three globally.

EG’s revitalized CS:GO team continued their success by winning StarSeries i-League Season 8 subsequent to their ESL One NY performance. After an absence exceeding seven years from professional Counter-Strike, EG had unequivocally reestablished their presence in the competitive scene.

Successful esports acquisitions require careful evaluation of both immediate competitive potential and long-term development opportunities. EG’s strategic purchase of the NRG roster demonstrates effective talent identification and acquisition strategy execution.

EG CEO pushes esports expansion, “leans in” to Evil Geniuses brand

While Evil Geniuses’ public resurgence became evident in September, the transformation process initiated with Nicole Lapointe Jameson’s appointment as CEO in May 2019. This leadership change marked the beginning of EG’s comprehensive organizational transformation.

Since assuming leadership, Jameson—recognized in Forbes’ “30 Under 30” list—has spearheaded EG’s initiative to restore the world’s oldest operational esports organization to premier competitive status.Under her strategic guidance, Evil Geniuses has accelerated expansion across multiple gaming titles and competitive scenes.

Jameson’s behind-the-scenes strategic initiatives have yielded significant results. The CEO has successfully reintegrated the brand into mainstream esports consciousness with substantial impact.

“[Evil Geniuses is] returning with formidable strength. We’re enthusiastic about reclaiming our position as the competitive powerhouse that fans previously recognized,” Jameson stated during aninterviewwith Travis Gafford. This statement reflects the organization’s renewed competitive ambition and strategic positioning.

Effective esports leadership requires balancing competitive excellence with sustainable business growth. Jameson’s approach demonstrates understanding of both the competitive and commercial aspects required for modern esports success.

EG takes Echo Fox’s League of Legends franchise slot

On September 26, coinciding with EG’s CS:GO squad debut at ESL One New York, the organization announced they would assume the available League of Legends LCS position vacated by Echo Fox’s abrupt departure. Riot Games approved EG’s franchise application, enabling immediate operational commencement.

For the 2020 LCS Spring Split, Evil Geniuses’ inaugural League of Legends team will feature an impressive lineup including Dennis “Svenskeren” Johnsen, Tristan “Zeyzal” Stidam, Colin “Kumo” Zhao, Bae “Bang” Jun-sik, and Daniele “Jiizuke” di Mauro. This roster combines established talent with promising newcomers.

“We’re tremendously excited because we believe our LCS entry signifies the resurgence of everyone’s favorite antagonist. We’re positioned to challenge Team Liquid, and we’re committed to embracing our brand identity and leaning into the villain persona. We anticipate fans will respond positively to the content and brand differentiation we’re strategically implementing,” Jameson emphasized.

Entering established competitive ecosystems like the LCS requires careful market positioning and audience engagement strategies. EG’s approach emphasizes brand authenticity while maintaining competitive aspirations.

Evil Geniuses additionally revamped their Rainbow Six Siege competitive roster in September, incorporating multiple new players into the tactical shooter division. In November, EG secured Fortnite professional Justin “FearItSelf” Kats as their exclusive contracted Fortnite competitor. FearItSelf maintains significant recognition within the Fortnite community and has accumulated $153,270 in tournament earnings throughout his career.

Considering all other strategic initiatives Jameson and Evil Geniuses have accomplished within a condensed four-month timeframe, the December 12 logo unveiling symbolizes the conclusion of the traditional Evil Geniuses era and the commencement of their contemporary iteration.

Modern esports organizations must balance portfolio diversification with competitive focus. EG’s calculated expansion across multiple titles while maintaining elite performance standards demonstrates sophisticated organizational strategy.

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