Scarra
William "Scarra" Li (born November 25, 1989) is an American content creator, Twitch streamer, and retired professional League of Legends esports player.[1] Best known for his tenure as a mid laner for Team Dignitas from 2011 to 2014, where he competed in major tournaments including the Season 2 World Championship and IEM Season VI World Championship, Li earned approximately $26,765 in prize money across his career.[1] He briefly served as head coach for Counter Logic Gaming in 2014–2015 and returned to competitive play as a jungler for Delta Fox in 2017 before retiring from professional League of Legends.[1] In 2017, Li co-founded OfflineTV, a Los Angeles-based collaborative house of content creators focused on producing social entertainment and gaming videos, which has grown into a prominent online media group.[2] Transitioning to full-time streaming, he has built a large audience on Twitch, where he broadcasts a variety of games, reactions, and collaborations, amassing over 1.58 million followers as of 2025.[3][4] More recently, Li has competed in Teamfight Tactics (TFT) tournaments as a player for the Disguised organization, including events like the TFT Macao Open in late 2024.[5]Early life
Childhood and family
William Li, better known online as Scarra, was born on November 25, 1989, in Houston, Texas. As an Asian American of Chinese heritage, Li grew up in the United States, where his family emphasized personal development and achievement.[6][7] One formative childhood experience occurred during elementary school when Li and his classmates were asked what they wanted to be when they grew up. While his peers named conventional professions such as doctor or lawyer, Li simply wrote that he wanted to be happy—a response that irritated his teacher, who viewed it as an invalid occupation rather than a legitimate career goal.[8] Reflecting on the incident years later, Li described his younger self as wiser than his adult perspective, recognizing happiness as a fundamental aspiration that transcends traditional success metrics. This early mindset underscored his personal growth and approach to life challenges within his family-oriented upbringing.[8]Education and early interests
Scarra attended Texas A&M University, majoring in economics, beginning around 2008 or 2009.[9] He balanced his studies with growing interest in video games during this period, initially engaging with titles like World of Warcraft, where he achieved top 10 ranking in arena play within his battlegroup.[10] His exposure to League of Legends came around 2010, prior to the game's first official season, starting with casual unranked play that quickly evolved into competitive solo queue dominance.[9] Scarra honed his skills through online communities, reaching high ranks and experimenting with champions like Katarina, where he secured 22 wins in 23 games.[9] This phase marked his transition from hobbyist to aspiring professional, as he participated in amateur tournaments, including forming the team Rock Solid in November 2010 and placing third at the Newegg Winter Wanfest later that year.[9] In 2012, Scarra dropped out of Texas A&M to pursue full-time opportunities in gaming and esports, prioritizing his burgeoning passion over completing his degree.[9] This decision aligned with his increasing involvement in competitive scenes, building on years of self-taught proficiency and community engagement.Esports career
Professional League of Legends play
Scarra entered the professional League of Legends scene in early 2011 as the mid laner for Team Rock Solid, a North American team competing in early regional tournaments.[11] In September 2011, the Rock Solid roster, including Scarra, was acquired by Team Dignitas, marking his entry into a major organization.[12] During Season 1, Scarra contributed to Dignitas' performance at events like the IGN Pro League Season 3 in October 2011, where the team secured 1st place and Scarra earned $2,000 in prize money. In January 2012, Scarra solidified his role as Dignitas' starting mid laner, focusing on playmaking and champion control in the mid lane.[1] Season 2 saw strong results, including a 1st-place finish at the LoLPro.com Curse Invitational on February 25, 2012, where Dignitas defeated Curse Gaming in the LAN final for a $25,000 team prize, with Scarra receiving $5,000 individually. The team also achieved 2nd place at the IEM VI World Championship in March 2012, earning Scarra $4,000, and 2nd at the Season 2 Regional Finals - Seattle in September 2012 for another $6,000. These performances highlighted Scarra's proficiency with mid-lane assassins and mages, such as Kassadin for scaling teamfights and Ahri for early-game pressure.[13] Dignitas qualified for the inaugural NA LCS in late 2012, with Scarra making his LCS debut in the Spring 2013 season starting February 7. In Season 3, Scarra was selected as the NA mid-lane representative for the LCS All-Star event in May 2013 after receiving over 50% of fan votes, representing North America against other regions in Shanghai.[14] The team placed 3rd at IEM Season VI Global Challenge Kyiv in January 2013, defeating SK Gaming 2-1 before a semifinal loss, earning Scarra $3,400. Dignitas achieved multiple top finishes in LCS regular seasons and playoffs, with Scarra's macro decisions contributing to consistent mid-table contention. Entering Season 4 in 2014, Scarra continued as Dignitas' mid laner through the Spring split, participating in NA LCS matches until announcing his retirement from competitive play on March 29, 2014, after the playoffs.[15] Over his career from 2011 to 2014, Scarra earned approximately $26,765 in tournament prize money.[16] He briefly transitioned to coaching Dignitas for the Summer 2014 split before departing the organization.[17] In 2017, Scarra briefly returned to professional play as a jungler for Delta Fox, a North American Challenger team, from June to August 2017. The team, featuring former pros including Dyrus, Voyboy, and Imaqtpie, competed in the NA Challenger Series Summer split but disbanded in November 2017 without earning prize money, marking Scarra's final retirement from esports competition.[1]Coaching roles
Following his retirement from playing in March 2014, Scarra transitioned into a coaching role with Team Dignitas for the Summer 2014 split, leveraging his experience as a mid laner to guide the team's strategic preparation.[1] In this capacity, he focused on developing team strategies and player positioning, contributing to Dignitas's efforts during the latter part of the 2014 season. His tenure ended in October 2014 when he chose not to renew his contract, allowing him to explore new opportunities in the esports scene.[17] In late October 2014, Scarra joined Counter Logic Gaming (CLG) as head coach ahead of the 2015 NA LCS Spring Split, where he was tasked with roster integration, draft preparation, and player development.[18] Despite a three-week suspension at the start of the split due to a competitive ruling on his prior contract situation, Scarra emphasized analytical approaches to mid-lane matchups and team synergy, drawing from his own competitive background in the role.[19] His guidance helped CLG secure a third-place finish in the regular season with a 12-6 record, establishing the team as a consistent mid-tier contender.[20] Scarra's contributions extended to refining draft strategies and fostering individual player growth, particularly in the mid lane, which supported CLG's competitive positioning during the Spring Split playoffs.[21] However, after the playoffs concluded in April 2015, he stepped down from the role to focus on full-time streaming and content creation.[22]Streaming and content creation
Return to Twitch and milestones
Following his departure from coaching Counter Logic Gaming in April 2015, Scarra entered a hiatus from competitive esports and content creation that lasted through 2016.[9] He resumed streaming on Twitch in early 2017, transitioning to full-time content creation focused on gaming and community interaction.[9] A major milestone came in 2019 when Scarra completed a 365-day consecutive streaming challenge, broadcasting every day and marking the end with a celebratory New Year's Eve stream on December 31.[23] His streams often saw average viewership spikes during League of Legends sessions, reflecting sustained interest in his esports roots amid a mix of gameplay and commentary.[24] By April 2025, Scarra's Twitch channel had grown to 1.6 million followers, driven by variety content including League of Legends, first-person shooter games, and "just chatting" segments.[3] His style emphasizes humorous commentary, active viewer engagement through chats and challenges, and playful self-labeling as an "FPS prodigy" during showcases of skill in shooter titles.[3] In October 2025, Scarra participated in TwitchCon San Diego, joining creator panels and engaging in community events that highlighted streaming trends and collaborations. This event underscored his ongoing influence, bolstered briefly by ties to OfflineTV for cross-promotional visibility.[25]OfflineTV founding and collaborations
In July 2017, Scarra co-founded OfflineTV with his then-manager Chris Chan and streamer Pokimane, establishing the collective as a shared housing arrangement for content creators in Los Angeles to facilitate collaborative streaming and video production.[26][7] The initial lineup included early additions like LilyPichu and BasedYoona, emphasizing a communal living setup that encouraged organic interactions among gamers and entertainers.[27] Scarra, as the group's elder statesman, assumed an informal leadership role often dubbed the "OTV dad," handling aspects of house management and brainstorming content ideas to maintain harmony and creative output.[27] His experience from professional esports helped guide the collective's direction, fostering a supportive environment that prioritized group synergy over individual pursuits. Collaborations within OfflineTV centered on joint Twitch streams and YouTube videos, including high-engagement sessions of games like Among Us and Rust, where members' real-time banter amplified viewer retention.[26] The group also hosted internal events, such as the recurring Valorant SoloQ invitational tournaments, which highlighted competitive play among creators and extended to crossovers with external influencers.[26] Disguised Toast joined in 2017, further diversifying the roster for varied gaming and variety content.[26] In 2020, OfflineTV expanded operations by relocating to a larger fourth house, accommodating growing membership and intensifying gaming-focused productions amid the rise of titles like Valorant.[28] This period marked increased collaborative output, blending streaming with scripted videos to engage broader audiences. Scarra's involvement in OfflineTV propelled his personal growth, with the collective dynamics contributing to his YouTube channel amassing 760,000 subscribers and over 240 million views by October 2025.[29] Through 2025, he continued active participation, navigating house relocations—such as a recent move shared with Disguised Toast and Sydeon—and adapting to evolving member lineups while sustaining core collaborations.[26]Later ventures
Teamfight Tactics involvement
Following his retirement from professional League of Legends, Scarra shifted his streaming focus to Teamfight Tactics (TFT) upon the mode's launch by Riot Games in June 2019, producing early content such as a beginner's guide that highlighted core mechanics and strategies using pre-release footage.[30] This transition revitalized his streaming career, with TFT sessions drawing average viewership of around 7,000 during peak periods in late 2019, including a notable stream that reached 10,950 concurrent viewers in September.[31][32] His prior experience as a League of Legends mid laner informed his approach to TFT, emphasizing champion synergies and positioning tactics transferable from the main game.[8] Scarra entered competitive TFT with early participation in events like the 2020 Galaxies Showcase, where he earned $7,500 for a 13th–14th place finish.[5] In November 2023, he joined the Disguised organization.[5] By 2025, his total earnings from TFT tournaments approximated $24,700, derived from top placements in series such as Twitch Rivals and regional opens, including consistent mid-tier results in North American qualifiers.[5] His competitive efforts centered on high-rank climbing, achieving Challenger status in early sets such as Set 2 in 2019 and reaching Master I in Set 15 as of November 2025, through disciplined play in solo queue.[5][33] Scarra's content emphasized strategic depth, with streams and videos analyzing meta builds, patch changes, and transition strategies between compositions, such as adapting early-game boards into late-game verticals like those in Set 2.[34] This focus helped build a dedicated audience interested in both entertainment and educational breakdowns of TFT's evolving metas.[35] Through 2025, Scarra maintained active involvement in the TFT scene, streaming regular ranked climbs and participating in community events, including the 2024 TFT Macao Open and other qualifiers, though he faced setbacks such as a disqualification for tardiness in an August 2025 tournament.[36][37] His ongoing streams, such as those pushing for higher ranks in Set 15, continued to engage viewers with live gameplay and post-match reviews.[38]VTuber debuts and media
In January 2021, Scarra debuted his first virtual YouTuber (VTuber) model during a live stream, featuring a custom avatar designed for anonymous content creation and experimentation with new streaming formats.[39] The model drew inspiration from the "Choncc" unit in Teamfight Tactics, emphasizing a playful, dragon-like aesthetic to align with his gaming interests. This debut allowed Scarra to explore VTubing as a way to vary his on-camera presence while maintaining engagement on Twitch. In September 2022, Scarra introduced a second VTuber model, an "evolved evil" iteration of the original, complete with accompanying lore depicting a transformation due to fictional tragic events.[40] This updated design supported a broader range of variety content, including gaming playthroughs, reaction videos, and collaborative streams. The model's dragon-inspired evolution received positive feedback from the streaming community for its thematic depth and visual appeal.[41] Scarra's VTuber setups rely on Live2D software for rigging and animation, involving artist collaborations for initial design sketches, layering, and motion integration.[42] These models are seamlessly incorporated into his Twitch and YouTube workflows via tools like VTube Studio for real-time facial tracking and overlay during broadcasts. By 2025, Scarra continued utilizing VTuber elements in special events, such as collaborations highlighted at TwitchCon, enhancing interactivity in his content production.[43] Outside of core streaming, Scarra has appeared in various media outlets. In a 2018 Digital Trends interview at TwitchCon, he discussed the challenges and rewards of transitioning from professional esports to full-time content creation.[44] On YouTube, his 2023 video "I Googled Myself..." humorously examined search results and public perceptions of his online identity.[45] Scarra has also contributed to podcasts, serving as a guest on episodes of the OfflineTV Podcast exploring topics like esports history and personal anecdotes, and co-hosting the anime-focused Fake Fans Podcast with PeterParkTV since April 2024, with episodes continuing through November 2025.[46][47][48] In esports media, Scarra expanded his commentary role with a 2019 Dot Esports interview on the impact of Teamfight Tactics on his streaming career and future goals.[8] These engagements, often tied to his expertise in League of Legends and related titles, positioned him as a go-to voice for industry insights. His involvement with OfflineTV has briefly amplified these opportunities through group media crossovers.Achievements
Tournament results
Scarra's competitive career in League of Legends featured several notable tournament placements during his time with Team Dignitas, contributing to his reputation as a skilled mid laner in the early North American scene. In January 2012, he helped Dignitas secure third place at IEM Season VI - Global Challenge Kyiv, losing 0-2 to TSM in the semifinals before defeating SK Gaming 2-1 in the 3rd place match, earning $800 in prize money (individual share).[49] This result marked one of the first international showings for the team, highlighting Scarra's ability to perform against European and Asian competition and elevating Dignitas' standing as an emerging force. Later that year, in February 2012, Scarra and Dignitas won the LoLPro.com Curse Invitational, triumphing 2-0 over Team Curse in the finals after a 2-1 victory against Counter Logic Gaming in the online qualifiers, securing a $20,000 prize (team total).[50] This victory provided significant financial stability for the team and solidified Scarra's personal profile as a clutch performer, influencing subsequent roster decisions and sponsorship opportunities. In the inaugural NA LCS season, Scarra's Dignitas finished fifth in the 2013 Spring Split regular season with a 13-15 record, qualifying for the playoffs where they were eliminated in the quarterfinals by Counter Logic Gaming (0-2), placing 5th-6th overall.[51][52] These mid-table results demonstrated consistency in a highly competitive league but also underscored challenges in closing out high-stakes series, which impacted the team's playoff seeding and long-term strategy. Scarra's individual prowess was recognized when he was voted as the NA LCS mid laner All-Star in April 2013, representing North America at All-Star Shanghai; the NA team defeated the EU LCS All-Stars 2-0 but finished 3rd-4th overall after losses to Korea and China.[53][54] This selection affirmed his peer and fan acclaim, enhancing his reputation beyond team results and bridging his professional play to broader esports visibility.| Tournament | Date | Placement | Prize Money | Team | Impact |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| IEM Season VI - Global Challenge Kyiv | Jan 2012 | 3rd | $800 | Dignitas | Early international exposure, boosted team momentum |
| LoLPro.com Curse Invitational | Feb 2012 | 1st | $20,000 | Dignitas | Major financial win, established Scarra as a top mid laner |
| NA LCS 2013 Spring | Apr 2013 | 5th-6th | N/A | Dignitas | Consistent league presence, highlighted adaptation to pro circuit |
| All-Star Shanghai 2013 | May 2013 | 3rd-4th | N/A | NA LCS All-Stars | Personal honor, elevated individual standing |