In the world of professional esports, only a handful of organizations have achieved legendary status through sustained excellence, championship victories, and global recognition. Natus Vincere (NAVI) is undoubtedly one of them. Founded in Ukraine, the organization has grown over the past fifteen years into one of the most successful and recognizable esports brands in history, winning dozens of international titles across Counter-Strike, Dota 2, PUBG, Apex Legends, VALORANT, and many other competitive titles.
Today, NAVI ranks among the world’s premier esports organizations, with its teams consistently competing at the highest level of international competition.
The Beginning of NAVI
Natus Vincere, Latin for «Born to Win,» was founded in 2009. Initially, the organization was built around a Counter-Strike 1.6 roster, but it quickly expanded into additional esports disciplines as its competitive ambitions grew.
NAVI immediately established itself as a global force. In 2010, its Counter-Strike 1.6 team became the first in history to win the three most prestigious international tournaments within a single calendar year: Intel Extreme Masters, Electronic Sports World Cup (ESWC), and the World Cyber Games (WCG). This unprecedented achievement elevated NAVI to worldwide prominence and cemented its reputation as one of esports’ elite organizations.
The Counter-Strike Legacy
Counter-Strike has always been the discipline most closely associated with NAVI.
Over the years, the organization has been home to numerous legendary players, including Ioann «Edward» Sukhariev, Danylo «Zeus» Teslenko, Yegor «markeloff» Markelov, and, most notably, Oleksandr «s1mple» Kostyliev, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest Counter-Strike players of all time.
The arrival of s1mple marked one of the most significant chapters in NAVI’s history. Around him, the organization built one of the strongest Counter-Strike lineups ever assembled.
In 2021, NAVI won the PGL Major Stockholm, becoming the first team in Major history to capture the title without dropping a single map throughout the playoffs. Later that year, the organization also secured the Intel Grand Slam Season 3, earning one of the largest bonus prizes ever awarded in esports.
Following the transition from CS to Counter-Strike 2, NAVI has remained among the world’s leading organizations, consistently reaching the playoff stages of the biggest international tournaments.
Success Beyond Counter-Strike
Although Counter-Strike remains NAVI’s flagship discipline, the organization has long evolved into a multi-title esports club.
Throughout its history, NAVI has fielded professional teams in:
- Dota 2
- PUBG
- PUBG Mobile
- Apex Legends
- Rainbow Six Siege
- VALORANT
- Mobile Legends
- Brawl Stars
- Free Fire
- and several other competitive titles.
Among these, Dota 2 occupies a special place in the organization’s legacy.
In 2011, NAVI became the inaugural champion of The International, winning the first-ever edition of Valve’s flagship tournament and taking home the historic $1 million grand prize. The team then reached the Grand Final of The International in 2012 and 2013, a remarkable achievement that remains one of the greatest runs in the tournament’s history.
Building the NAVI Brand
Throughout its history, NAVI has focused not only on competitive success but also on developing one of the strongest brands in esports.
The organization actively produces YouTube content, documentaries, interviews, behind-the-scenes videos, educational projects, and extensive social media content.
As a result, NAVI has built one of the largest fan communities in global esports. Millions of supporters follow the organization’s teams regardless of the game they compete in.
A New Era of Growth
The past several years have marked a new stage in NAVI’s development.
The organization has continued expanding internationally, rebuilding its competitive rosters, investing in young talent, strengthening its academy system, and modernizing its infrastructure.
An important milestone came with the evolution of the organization’s ownership structure. Today, NAVI is owned by Ukrainian entrepreneur Maksym Krippa. Under his ownership, the club has continued to strengthen its international position while investing in long-term organizational development and supporting the continued growth of Ukrainian esports.
NAVI Today
Today, NAVI remains one of the world’s most successful esports organizations.
Its teams regularly compete at the highest level of events including Counter-Strike Majors, The International, the Esports World Cup, the VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT), and many other premier international competitions.
Beyond competition, NAVI continues to collaborate with global partners, expand its merchandise business, produce multimedia content, and grow its worldwide audience.
The Legacy of NAVI
More than fifteen years after its founding, NAVI has become far more than an esports organization.
The club has played a crucial role in shaping professional esports in Ukraine, developing generations of world-class players, and demonstrating that a Ukrainian organization can consistently compete for–and win–the biggest titles in international esports.
Today, Natus Vincere remains one of the defining names in global esports. Through championship success, strong branding, and continuous innovation, NAVI has established itself as a symbol of excellence for millions of esports fans around the world.
