TSM (esports)
American esports organization founded by the Dinh brothers in 2009.
TSM, short for Team SoloMid, is a U.S.-based professional esports organization founded in September 2009 by brothers Andy "Reginald" Dinh and Dan Dinh. The organization currently competes in Apex Legends, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, Fortnite, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Rocket League, Guilty Gear Strive, Halo Infinite, and The Finals. Its League of Legends team has claimed seven out of numerous North American LCS splits.
The Dinh brothers started by running a League of Legends guide blog called SoloMid.net while in college. Both had been part of the beta-era clan All or Nothing, which later became SoloMid. The original TSM team, formed in January 2011, drew from the SoloMid.net community and included SaintVicious, Chaox, TheOddOne, Locodoco, and Reginald. By the time Riot Games launched the first LCS season, SaintVicious and Locodoco had left, replaced by TheRainMan and Xpecial. Jack Etienne joined as general manager in 2012. Reginald stepped away from playing in 2013 to manage the business full time.
TSM expanded into Hearthstone in 2014 by signing MaSsan, Trump, and Kripparrian. In 2015, it picked up Team Dignitas’s Counter-Strike: Global Offensive roster and its first Super Smash Bros. player, Leffen. That year, the League of Legends team won the Intel Extreme Masters World Championship, and the CS:GO squad took multiple international titles, though the CS:GO division was dropped by year’s end. In March 2016, TSM entered Vainglory by acquiring Alliance. Later that July, it signed an Overwatch team but dropped it two weeks later after cheating allegations surfaced against some players. In September 2016, TSM helped found the Professional Esports Association, a CS:GO league, alongside six other North American organizations. A PUBG division was added in May 2017.
On June 16, 2019, TSM acquired the Rainbow Six: Siege Pro League roster of Excelerate Gaming, along with streamer Jason "Beaulo" Doty, and began competing in Season 10 that same day. By July 2020, TSM fielded teams across ten games, with two rosters in Fortnite, Apex Legends, and PUBG—one tournament-focused and one for streaming content. On May 22, 2020, TSM launched a Valorant roster featuring Hazed, Drone, Wardell, Cutler, and Subroza, most of whom transitioned easily from CS:GO. On August 27, 2020, the organization signed chess Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, only the second chess
- founded
- September 2009
- founders
- Andy "Reginald" Dinh and Dan Dinh
- based_in
- United States
- field
- Professional esports organization
- known_for
- League of Legends success, early expansion into multiple esports, and a 10-year $210 million naming rights deal with FTX
- worth
- $410 million (December 2020)
- revenue
- $45 million (December 2020)
Lore & Background
Before entering esports, the origin of Team SoloMid traces back to September 2009, when Andy "Reginald" Dinh and his brother Dan Dinh created a blog, SoloMid.net, providing written guides for League of Legends. The Dinh brothers were both part of a League of Legends clan called All or Nothing during the game's beta testing, which later rebranded to SoloMid. A small group of players representing the SoloMid.net community became the original TSM team: SaintVicious, Chaox, TheOddOne, Locodoco, and Reginald. Team SoloMid was officially created in January 2011. Later that year, Riot Games launched the first season of what would become the League Championship Series. By then, both SaintVicious and Locodoco had left the team, and TheRainMan and Xpecial replaced them. In 2013, Reginald left the team to run the TSM business full time.
Reader's Guide
TSM's significance lies in its longevity and adaptability within the rapidly evolving esports industry. Starting as a League of Legends guide blog, the organization grew into a multi-title powerhouse, fielding teams in games such as Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Hearthstone, Super Smash Bros., and Dota 2. TSM's League of Legends team dominated the LCS, winning seven of sixteen splits. The organization also pioneered sponsorship deals, notably a 10-year $210 million naming rights agreement with FTX in 2021, though that partnership ended early after FTX declared bankruptcy. TSM faced controversy in late 2021 when employees and players accused Reginald of workplace bullying; Riot Games fined TSM $75,000 and ordered Dinh to complete sensitivity training. Despite this, TSM continued to expand, joining the Esports World Cup Foundation Club Support Program in 2024. Its legacy includes being one of the first esports organizations to sponsor a chess grandmaster and its role in establishing the Professional Esports Association.
Did You Know?
- TSM was originally a blog called SoloMid.net created by the Dinh brothers during their college years.
- In 2015, TSM signed Super Smash Bros. Melee player Leffen as their first fighting game player.
- On August 27, 2020, TSM signed chess Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura, the second chess player sponsored by an esports organization.
- In late 2021, Riot Games determined that Reginald had engaged in a pattern of disparaging and bullying behavior, leading to a $75,000 fine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is TSM (esports)?
TSM, short for Team SoloMid, is a U.S.-based professional esports organization that launched in September 2009. It grew out of a college-era League of Legends strategy blog and expanded into a multi-title competitive brand.
Who founded TSM and how did it begin?
Brothers Andy 'Reginald' Dinh and Dan Dinh started the company while still in school, initially running a LoL guide site called SoloMid.net. Both had also competed in the beta-era clan All or Nothing, which later evolved into a Solomid-affiliated team.
What is TSM most known for in esports history?
Their League of Legends roster captured seven North American LCS split titles, cementing the org as a dominant force in that scene. They also signed a ten-year, $210 million naming-rights deal with FTX, one of the largest sponsorship contracts in competitive gaming.
How much is TSM worth?
The organization was valued at roughly $410 million as of December 2020. That figure reflected their broad competitive footprint and high-profile corporate partnerships at the time.
What games does TSM currently field teams in?
Beyond their legacy LoL roster, TSM competes in Apex Legends, Counter-Strike 2, Dota 2, Fortnite, PUBG: Battlegrounds, Rocket League, Guilty Gear Strive, Halo Infinite, and The Finals.
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