xQc Claims He Should Have Won Streamer of the Year Four Consecutive Times, Sparking Debate Over Awards Criteria

The 2024 Esports Awards have ignited significant debate in the streaming community, particularly after Samantha Rivers was crowned Streamer of the Year. Many fans were left surprised and frustrated that well-known streamers like Kai Cenat, IShowSpeed, and Felix ‘xQc’ Lengyel didn’t take home the top prize. xQc, one of the most recognized faces in streaming, has now weighed in on the controversy, and his comments have only fueled the fire.

Felix ‘xQc’ Lengyel is a veteran in the streaming world, with a combined following of 12.7 million fans across Twitch and Kick. With nearly a decade of broadcasting experience under his belt, xQc is often considered one of the giants of the industry. So when Samantha Rivers, a Twitch streamer with 6 million followers, won the award, many felt xQc and other prominent streamers were snubbed.

Fans were particularly vocal about IShowSpeed and Kai Cenat being overlooked, despite the huge success both streamers have enjoyed in 2024. However, xQc isn’t siding with the argument that follower count alone should determine the winner. In fact, during a stream following the Esports Awards, he offered a different perspective.

xQc downplayed the notion that a streamer’s popularity—measured by numbers alone—should be the deciding factor for the prestigious title. He expressed that if follower count were the only criteria, he would have taken home the Streamer of the Year award for four consecutive years.

“It’s not a new thing, that things are biased and off, or whatever,” xQc said during the August broadcast.
“People try to use mathematics and analytics like, ‘Oh, this streamer’s bigger, so they should have won it.’ If that’s what we were judging people on, then I would have won four years in a row before last year. Literally. That is not cope. That is mathematics. Not even by a little bit, by a margin of 2.5 – 3x.”

In other words, xQc claims that when purely based on metrics and reach, he outpaced his competitors by significant margins during his peak years. However, he also acknowledges that there’s more to the equation than numbers alone and seems to suggest that biases—whether social or cultural—play a role in the decision-making process at award shows.

xQc is not the only high-profile streamer to mention the possibility of bias within the Esports Awards. Fellow streamer Asmongold echoed similar sentiments, but his critique took a more specific direction. Asmongold argued that Rivers’ win was largely influenced by her gender, stating that her position as a female streamer played a major role in her victory.

“They put her up there because she’s a female,” Asmongold said in his reaction. “It’s embarrassing… It’s patronizing. It’s not even the top female streamer, either. It’s bullsh*t. It’s not even close.”

However, it’s important to note that the Esports Awards are largely determined by fan votes. Samantha Rivers, who boasts over 5 million followers on Twitter, was propelled to victory thanks to her dedicated fanbase. Her supporters turned out in large numbers to secure her win, making it a testament to the strength of her community rather than just industry bias. Rivers herself responded to the win by calling it a victory for her fans and her community.

Despite the ongoing debate, xQc’s remarks underline a larger conversation about the criteria for winning such accolades. While numbers and reach are often seen as key indicators of success, fan engagement and dedication, as demonstrated by Rivers’ supporters, clearly play a critical role in deciding who takes home these coveted awards. Whether or not biases exist, it’s clear that streamers and fans alike are deeply invested in the outcomes, making these debates as much a part of the culture as the awards themselves.

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Shivam Kumar

Hi, I'm Shivam Kumar. I'm pursuing Journalism honors from the IP University. I love the skill of writing and looking forward to learn more of it. Also I love traveling and experiencing new things every day....