Chiefs signed under ICON Esports, works towards Oceanic growth
The Chiefs are hitting the big time.
The Oceanic esports scene is recognized as being among the fastest-growing and most dedicated in the world. Within that scene, Chiefs is considered a household name.
The Chiefs Esports Club, competing up until now under “Chiefs,” was founded in 2014 and has since been a staple across nearly every esport title in Australia. Their teams are four times Oceanic Pro League Champions in League of Legends, three times IEM Counter-Strike: Global Offensive qualifiers, RLCS World Champions in Rocket League, and more besides.
So it was not a surprise that larger organisations would have their eyes on buying out or taking ownership in Chiefs. This has finally happened, and the club is now signed under ICON ESPORTS. This is a new initiative launched in 2019 as a collaboration of many traditional sports investors, enterprise developers, and the region’s best industry experts.
Under ICON, the Chiefs get to retain their existing branding and team rosters, and it will be the ICON Rocket League team rebranding to Chiefs’ instead. This means the parent company, rather than taking over the locally recognised organization’s identity, will instead choose to operate from the shadows to focus on the bigger picture.
It is those operations that make this merger so interesting. ICON CEO Nick Bobir has spoken out about the esports “ecosystems development program” that is planned to launch in July 2019.
“We have made strides to develop new business lines which give back to the fans, grassroots and help promote the local landscape to new audiences. As a business, it’s important to diversify and strategise for the future,” Bobir said.
Alongside a newly restructured management team that still features some Chiefs contributors and CEO Frank Li along with an all-new set of shareholders, this is a big operation in the oceanic scene.
This could be the next step in the region’s esports scene receiving the recognition and traction that local players have wanted for years.
Jared Wynne
About Jared Wynne
Jared Wynne is the Editor-in-Chief at WIN.gg, overseeing its content. He has been working in digital media for over two decades, most often in and around the gaming industry. His all-time favorite games include Baldur’s Gate, Doom, and Counter-Strike, but he’ll play just about anything that seems interesting. His previous credits include The Daily Dot, The Esports Observer, GameLand, and more.
View full profile
Read Also
Esports Betting
These Are Our Betting Tips for the League Championship Series Week 4
Ben Boland
The 2026 LCS Summer Split is in full swing, with the eight North American squads all vying for a chance to represent the region at this year's World Championship. With Worlds being on home soil, there is more than just a ticket to Worlds at stake. Each series in the regular season carries weight, as the standings will determine their seeding and potentially their fate in the playoffs. Week four ...
League of Legends
Caps To Be Announced As Third Inductee in the LoL Hall of Legends
Hannan Mundia
After Faker and Uzi were inducted into the Hall of Legends in 2024 and 2025 respectively, the European League of Legends player Caps will be the next to get the same treatment. League of Legends has been a cornerstone in the professional gaming scene for over a decade. In that time, a handful of players have managed to leave their mark for all future fans and fellow players to learn ...
Esports Betting
MLBB is the most-watched game from the EWC, and it’s hard to see another game beating it
Michael Hassall
The Esports World Cup 2026 has officially passed its midway point and viewership figures for the tournament have surpassed many expectations so far, as per Esports Charts. The viewership tracking site revealed new statistics for the event on Aug. 6, showcasing just how many games had set new records in viewership, including one name leading the way in views: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. MLBB leads the viewership charts with the ...
League of Legends
LCK 2026 Rounds 3–4 Preview, Schedule, Predictions, and More
Hannan Mundia
2026 LCK Rounds 3-4 are slated to start soon, and this preview highlights the schedule, our expert predictions, and everything else you need to know before watching. The LCK has been upside down recently. Teams that were considered absolute powerhouses are seemingly falling off, while previous underdogs have been causing upset after upset. 2026 LCK Rounds 3-4 are starting soon, and the big question here is which team will reign ...
League of Legends
LEC 2026 Summer split preview, schedule, predictions, and more
Hannan Mundia
The 2026 LEC Summer split will be the deciding split to determine which teams can make it to the World Championship, and this preview aims to highlight everything you need to know about it. It isn’t a stretch to say that the LCK and LCP are the only two competitive League of Legends regions actually pulling their weight currently. The LEC did show potential at the start of the year, ...
League of Legends
How is League of Legends Classic different from the modern version?
Hannan Mundia
League Classic brings the classic League of Legends gameplay and design from when the game first came out, but how is it different from the modern version? The modern League of Legends mode is arguably in its best state in terms of popularity, with a study even reporting that playing LoL can improve brain function. Over a decade of gameplay and multiple marketing tactics by Riot Games have bumped up ...
League of Legends
Best Champions for every role in League of Legends Classic mode
Hannan Mundia
League Classic sees the return of League of Legends Season 3, but which champions were deemed the best during that time? League of Legends has gone through a lot of changes since it first came out. While the map and item-related changes naturally impacted the game's state, so did the many champion nerfs, buffs, and reworks. Multiple champions played completely differently in Season 3 than they do now. Since League ...
