How does an industry know when it’s ‘made it’? Forbes’ lists have to be one factor, and if we’re going by that then by jove esports has only gone and done it. 
The 2017 30 under 30 Forbes in Gaming list featured no less than ten esports people. Of these, Andy ‘Reginald’ Dinh, Team SoloMid Founder (who’s 24), was selected for a video interview in which he explains what TSM do and his personal journey of how he came to found the team from playing League to launching a site and the rest.
The judging panel consisted of Riot Games Brandon Beck, alongside Jade Raymond, Founder of Motive Studios and Bonnie Ross, Founder of 343 Industries.
Dinh was not alone in the team owner circuit with Immortals’ Noah Whinston in the list and Tempo Storm’s Andrey ‘Reynad’ Yanyuk. Only Dinh though made it into Forbes’ even more exclusive standout list of the year.
Moving away from team owners and into their staff, players named include CLG’s League of Legends skipper Zaqueri ‘Aphromoo’ Black, CS:GO player Gabriel ‘Fallen’ Toledo of SKT Gaming and Super Smash Bros Melee talent Juan ‘Hungrybox’ DeBiedma.
Event organisers Josh Watson, who organised the Rocket League Championship Weekend in Amsterdam, and Tomber Su, MD at the High school Starleague were featured too. Of commentators and hosts Auguste ‘Semmler’ Massonnat and Turner’s ELEAGUE host Rachel ‘Seltzer’ Quirico made it into the 30.
Esports Insider says: Ten won’t quite cut it..next year we want all 30. In all seriousness though, this is some feat for esports and a huge congratulations to all who made it onto the list. A manic 2017 awaits.
