How Millions of Dollars Evaporated From Esports Overnight - The Four Horsemen S4E7

In this episode of The Four Horsemen, Thorin, Richard Lewis, and MonteCristo dive deep into several major esports controversies. They begin with Team Liquid's fallout with Honda following a controversial tweet from one of their Brazilian Rainbow Six players and discuss the broader implications and responses within the community. The conversation then shifts to the surprising stand taken by the GeoGuesser community against the Esports World Cup in Riyadh, illustrating how community-driven efforts can influence major decisions in the gaming world. Lastly, the hosts tackle the decline of Astralis, once a titan in competitive Counter-Strike, now struggling with multiple consecutive major misses and its current state for sale. With in-depth analysis, industry insights, and personal anecdotes, this episode sheds light on the business and ethical dimensions of the esports landscape.

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The Four Horsemen is the premier esports industry show that reacts to important news and critical conversations across all major titles. Esports veterans Duncan "Thorin" Shields, Richard Lewis, and Christopher "MonteCristo" Mykles use their decades of experience to shed light and debate on key esports topics as they emerge. Each episode they are joined by an expert guest to help further provide insider information on the topic at hand.

This episode was filmed on May 24th, 2025.

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00:00 Introduction and Catching Up
07:24 Horse Meat Adventures
16:24 Team Liquid and Honda Sponsorship Drama
37:03 Japanese Resentment and Historical Atrocities
39:31 The Brazilian Connection and Cultural Sensitivity
43:31 Team Liquid's Apology and Community Reaction
47:00 The Importance of Media Training
58:46 GeoGuessr and the Esports World Cup Controversy
01:18:17 Debating Inclusivity in Gaming
01:20:20 Critique of Saudi Involvement in esports
01:23:49 Activism and Hypocrisy in the Gaming Community
01:28:49 The Role of Players and Organizations
01:40:53 GeoGuessr Community's Stand
01:47:40 The Future of esports and Saudi Influence
01:54:22 Astralis's Decline and Financial Troubles
01:58:02 Corporate Espionage and Consequences
02:01:35 Nicolai Nyholm's Role and Departure
02:02:36 Astralis's Mismanagement and Financial Struggles
02:06:32 The Future of Astralis and Player Uncertainty
02:18:55 Potential Buyers and Ownership Concerns
02:28:03 The Legacy and Impact of Astralis
02:36:17 Final Thoughts and Wrap-Up

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