Forbes Kazakhstan magazine has named Alimzhan Islamov, the carry player for the Dota 2 team Gaimin Gladiators and widely known as Watson, to its prestigious `30 Under 30` list for 2025.
According to the publication: After finishing school, Alimzhan enrolled on a grant basis at Karaganda Technical University, specializing in `Automation and Control`. Esports began to take up more and more space in his life — he could play Dota 2 day and night and eventually dropped out in his fourth year. Since starting his career in 2019, he has earned over $300,000 in prize money and played around 400 matches. Watson is known for his aggressive playstyle and mastery of using strong heroes in the lane. Today, he is a key player for Gaimin Gladiators (GG), one of the strongest teams in the world. His significant achievements include second-place finishes at major tournaments and participation in the final stages of many prestigious competitions.
The `30 Under 30` list is compiled by Forbes editors in collaboration with experts, and the finalists are chosen through voting by readers, a special jury composed of representatives from various categories, and the editorial board. The Russian edition of Forbes also produces a similar ranking. It has previously featured other well-known figures from the world of esports and streaming, such as Alan Satanic Gallyamov, Alexander Paradeev1ch Paradeyev, and Danil donk Kryshkovets.
Finley Holt