Ensiplay "Ensiplay" Kaitlyn "Amouranth" Siragusa is one of the most popular streamers on Twitch (and beyond), who gained her fame in a rather controversial manner: she streamed in quite revealing outfits that emphasized her figure. Additionally, partly thanks to her efforts on the platform, the tag "Pools, Hot Tubs, and Beaches" emerged.
At first glance, what does this have to do with esports, CS2, and the major in Shanghai? The answer lies in the fact that Kaitlin became a co-owner of the professional esports club Wildcard Gaming in June 2024, which is based in America.
Image: siege.gg
For those who watch CS2 esports matches once every six months when a major starts, we provide a detailed explanation of who Wildcard is, why there is so much attention on their new owner, and what the team's future prospects are.
Why did Amouranth choose esports?
Kaitlin strives to invest most of her finances in businesses outside of Twitch: she owns an entire small network of gas stations in Texas, as well as fruit orchards totaling 2.2 thousand acres (895 hectares) and valued at over $17 million. This includes four different plots in Florida and neighboring states. Additionally, Amouranth has her own stable and regularly invests in cryptocurrencies, so the streamer has long been accustomed to participating in businesses unrelated to her direct activities.
Image: knijff.com
However, let's be honest, esports is unlikely to be as profitable an investment right now as gas stations or cryptocurrency. This raises the question: why did esports become the next item on her list? Kaitlin herself admits that the idea was inspired by fellow streamers, particularly Disguised Toast and MoistCr1TiKaL, who own the teams Disguised and Moist Esports, respectively.
"I’ve always been passionate about esports. I admired what Disguised Toast and MoistCr1TiKaL did by creating their teams. During negotiations with representatives of organizations and through my research, it seemed to me that Wildcard is the best organization that needs help with growth."
Most likely, the fact that almost all esports events are streamed on Twitch played a role, meaning Kaitlin would have the opportunity to attract part of the audience already accustomed to using this platform for her streams. After all, she launches streams much more frequently than her team’s matches occur.
Why Wildcard?
It should be noted that the organization was more or less successfully operating without Siragusa's investments. Initially, the team entered the discipline by signing the DETONATE roster in April 2023, which consisted solely of American players whose achievements looked weak even in a not very strong region.
However, management quickly realized that this was a dead end and decided to sign someone stronger. It was at this moment that Stanislaw, JBa, and Sonic joined the team, and they are still active members. After this, the roster was further strengthened by two Swedes—phzy and sups. Following these changes, the team flourished, at least by North American regional standards.
Undoubtedly, the choice fell on Wildcard precisely because of the well-updated roster, as well as because it is an American organization, making it easier for the American streamer to monitor and manage, unlike some foreign assets.
How do the players feel about this?
Initially, everything was great. Of course, players are pleased when new investors join the team, especially if it's a likable and popular streamer. There was no negativity, and the roster certainly gained hype. This is, of course, also important for a media industry like esports.
Moreover, after the team qualified for the Shanghai Major, the players themselves supported memes about their boss. When the team defeated 9z Team in the qualification finals, the players hugged and began chanting Kaitlin’s nickname.
However, it seems that at some point, this started to annoy some team members, especially after the final elimination from the major, when everyone's nerves were on edge. Aran "Sonic" Grusbek reacted quite sharply to the team being called "Team Amouranth" instead of its official name by a certain esports media outlet. This, in turn, did not please the streamer herself.
Image: x.com
She urged them "not to bite the hand that feeds them," clearly implying that some of the funds invested in the team were going directly to the esports players' salaries. However, it seems that Aran was quickly explained by the managers that this was indeed not appropriate, and the situation quickly subsided. No one else on the team objected to this matter.
Unfortunately, the team has already left GamerLegion in the third round of the Elimination Stage at the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 in CS2. Although the result is quite good for a team that might not have qualified for the tournament at all—and perhaps we will still hear big news about "Team Amouranth" winning in the future.
Main image: ensigame.com
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