The Four Horsemen

The Esports World Cup 2026 will not be in Riyadh, and the industry that couldn't stop tweeting five years ago has gone completely silent.

Thorin, Richard Lewis, and MonteCristo reunite to break down what the EWC's last-minute move to Paris actually reveals about the Saudi Arabian sportswashing project. The official line is that this was always part of the plan. The reality, per Richard's reporting, is that boots-on-the-ground staf...

MonteCristo and Thorin lay out why co-streaming isn't new, and why esports never really left it.

Richard Lewis does not appear in this episode, but will return next time.

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Richard Lewis, Thorin, MonteCristo, and DoA go deep on how the Overwatch League went from a billion-dollar promise to an industry cautionary tale — with Jeff Kaplan's Lex Fridman interview as the jumping-off point.

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New York just sued Valve, and Harris Peskin breaks down why the CS case gambling lawsuit could reshape how video games make money.

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What actually happened to 2XKO? Rooflemonger joins MonteCristo, Thorin, and Richard Lewis for a deep dive into Riot Games’ new fighter: 2XKO. We discuss its rocky launch, confusing name, use of the League of Legends IP, small roster, monetization strategy, and why expectations may have been wildly misaligned with reality... leading to layoffs. We also explore how the broader gaming industry’s shift toward legacy IP affe...

Should Riot Games remove franchising from League of Legends? In this episode of The Four Horsemen, Monte, Thorin, Richard Lewis, and Guest Horseman/esports attorney Harris Peskin break down why franchising was created, what the teams actually demanded from Riot, how Overwatch League accelerated the timeline, and why dissolving franchising today would be far more complicated—and far more damaging—than many fans realize. ...

The esports model for teams is broken! We break down why the current esports ecosystem is financially broken for teams and how publisher-controlled revenue models have created deep misalignment. Featuring Gen.G CEO Arnold Hur, the conversation explores why previous league revenue models failed, how Riot’s approach in League of Legends and VALORANT differs, the rise of “moneyball” roster building, and what a future...

The Four Horsemen deliver their annual State of League of Legends! PapaSmithy joins MonteCristo, Thorin, and Richard Lewis begin by discussing the LCS and its troubled recent history. They react to "The Data" that convinced Riot Games to switch the LCS to weekdays and bemoan the missed opportunities that the league ignored for years.

The crew also dives into topics surrounding League of Legends as a game, including the upcoming Clie...

The Four Horsemen return with their annual State of Counter-Strike special, featuring messioso (now Head of CS Operations at 100 Thieves) to break down the health of North American and global Counter-Strike in 2025. They dive into 100 Thieves’ re-entry into CS with a European-based roster, the impact of betting sponsors, and what Rain, gla1ve, and a rumored device pickup really mean for the scene. They also debate expectation...

Join esports analysts and industry veterans as they unpack the shocking demise of theScore Esports YouTube channel, dissect Twitch’s ongoing struggles, and expose the shifting power dynamics fueled by Saudi Arabia’s growing influence in competitive gaming.

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In this episode of The Four Horsemen, the hosts dive deep into the massive shake-up in the Counter-Strike skin market caused by Valve’s recent update. They unpack how Valve’s “trade-up” changes have crashed high-tier item prices, wiping out an estimated $2-3 billion in market value overnight, and explore the long history of skins gambling scandals, influencer manipulation, and the hidden economics that prop ...

In this explosive episode of The Four Horsemen, we dive deep into the biggest controversies shaking up the League of Legends esports scene. RichsWrath joins to discuss Bwipo's suspension and removal from the Worlds music video, Riot Games’ questionable decision-making, and the disastrous rebrand of the LCS.

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In this explosive episode of The Four Horsemen, we dive deep into the scandals, controversies, and tragedies that have shaped the Super Smash Bros. and FGC communities. Joined by YouTuber Technicals, we unpack years of drama — from Saudi Arabia's esports influence to some of the darkest moments in Smash history.

This discussion provides a raw, unfiltered look at the systemic problems in Smash — from lack of governance to...

In this episode of The Four Horsemen, the crew dives into some of the most controversial esports stories. The show kicks off with an in-depth investigation into the Saudi-backed Esports World Cup “Superfan” program, revealing allegations of staged crowds, favoritism toward Falcons Esports, and censorship of fan signs and chants.

From there, the discussion shifts to the Fighting Game Community (FGC) and the bombshell news...

Join Richard Lewis, Thorin, and MonteCristo on this explosive episode of The Four Horsemen as they deep dive into the YaLLa Compass scandal with acclaimed CS2 journalist Luis Mira. Discover the inside story of how the YaLLa Compass tournament left over a million dollars in unpaid bills, defrauded countless teams and employees, and left a gaping hole in the Counter-Strike tournament calendar. Mira's meticulous reporting uncovers the...

In this episode of The Four Horsemen, Richard Lewis, Thorin, and MonteCristo take a critical look at the Esports World Cup documentary, "Level Up." The discussion unpacks the propaganda elements, questionable narratives, and the broader implications for esports history and integrity. From the manipulative portrayal of Falcon's rise to the mischaracterization of the esports industry's past, no aspect is left unexamined. Join the hos...

In this episode of The Four Horsemen, Richard Lewis, Thorin, and MonteCristo dive into the latest controversies in the esports world. They dissect Cadrel's controversial decision to co-stream the EWC for Saudi Arabia amidst ethical concerns and the backlash from fans. The trio also breaks down T1's public apology and the fallout from Joe Marsh's comments about player contracts, examining the inner workings of Korean corporate cultu...

In this episode of 'The Four Horsemen,' Richard Lewis, Thorin, and MonteCristo delve into the complex world of Riot Games's new stance on sports betting and its implications for the esports industry. The trio also discusses the controversial moves by Saudi Arabia in the esports space, lies and censorship surrounding the Esports World Cup, the ongoing match-fixing scandals, and how these developments are shaping the future of compet...

In this episode of 'The Four Horsemen,' the hosts dive deep into the history and current state of the iconic esport StarCraft. They are joined by long-time commentator Kaelaris, who offers insights into the game's enduring popularity and the evolving competitive scene. The discussion covers the early days of StarCraft’s rise in Korea, the various match-fixing scandals, and the industry impact of StarCraft tournaments. They al...