Meet the team: Dimi

At Bayes Esports, we operate at the intersection of esports, betting, and technology. This space requires a depth of knowledge and unique experience, so it’s not every day that you find someone who covers all three.

Meet Dimi, a Senior Product Manager at Bayes Esports. From his early days competing as a pro-gamer to working at one of the largest betting companies in Europe, Dimi brings a rare blend of experience and a one–of-a-kind perspective. He knows exactly what it takes to build a successful esports product portfolio and what elements are essential in esports compared to traditional sports. 

In our interview, Dimi shares how he first crossed paths with Bayes Esports, why he was drawn to the company after years of watching its evolution, and the unique challenges of working with major tournament organizers like ESL FACEIT Group. Being responsible for the audiovisual tools at Bayes Esports, he also delves into the critical role of stream delays in maintaining competitive integrity, and why these matter more than you may think!

Tell us about your career journey. How did you become a Product Manager?

DT: “My career started with an internship in Marketing. At the same time, I was also competing as a Hearthstone pro-gamer. The next couple of years were pretty intense, with constant traveling for tournaments. I had several top-16 finishes in A-tier tournaments, but my most notable achievement was a 2nd place finish at DreamHack Leipzig.

When that chapter came to an end, I joined a leading bookmaker in Greece. The Head of Product at the time suggested I give the Product team a try, and I haven’t looked back since!”

What caught your attention about Bayes Esports and made you want to work here?

DT: “I first heard about the company back when it was called DOJO Madness, focused on developing data products for gamers, and later came across the Bayes Esports booth at the ICE conference in 2022. So when Agnes, the previous Head of Product, reached out a few months later, I was familiar with the company and what it was doing in the space. Working at the intersection of esports and betting has always been a passion of mine.”

What skills or experiences from earlier in your career have helped you most in your role today?

DT: “A mix of industry knowledge and adaptability. Having a background in esports, being a former pro gamer, and being very established in the betting industry allows me to communicate effectively with various stakeholders, from engineers to sales teams and clients. I can truly understand their needs across the board.”

What advice would you give to someone looking to follow a similar career path?

DT: “Don’t stress about finding the “perfect path.” In my case, I went to the office one day and someone basically said: “You’re a Product Owner now.” That’s how it all started.

You don’t need a specific degree or background (having a business degree helps, but it’s not mandatory). What you do need is empathy, the ability to understand both technical and business perspectives, strong communication skills, and being comfortable making decisions with limited information.”

What products are you responsible for at Bayes Esports? Tell me about your team.

DT: “I’m responsible for all Audiovisual and Visualization tools at Bayes Esports. Given my background in betting, I also consult the team on any betting-related topics. 

My team includes two backend developers, Ruslan and Oscar, who are great to work with. I also oversee an external team and work closely with the frontend team and our design lead, Fotis.”

Have you and your team ever faced a tough obstacle? Can you share the story of how you handled it?

DT: “One ongoing challenge we face is the constantly evolving esports landscape, both in terms of game titles and tournament ecosystems. We need to continuously adapt our products and strategy to ensure coverage of the most relevant titles, while staying closely aligned with both tournament organizers and our clients to react quickly to market shifts.”

What's something about working in esports that might surprise someone outside the industry?

DT: “One of the biggest differences between esports and traditional sports is video delay.

In football, what you see on TV is almost live. The score, stats, and positions are all public. Everyone has access to this information, including the fans, coaches, and players. In esports, it’s different. Things like map positions, enemy stats, and gold count are hidden from players. Real-time access would be cheating.

That’s why, especially in online tournaments, streams run with a delay to protect competitive integrity. At Bayes Esports, together with tournament organizers, we aim to provide customers with the minimal delay possible.”

What has been a highlight from your time at Bayes Esports?

DT: “I felt very proud when one of our biggest clients, a multi-national betting company, created a dedicated, well-produced esports-themed TV ad for our very low-delay Bayes Video for Bettors, which they named “Turbo Streams”. It featured the fastest delay on the market at the time, which gave them a clear edge over the competition. The ad also helped showcase our product to a much wider audience.”

To wrap up this interview, we have a couple of quick-fire questions. Ready?

• ‍Favorite video game? 

DT: “I have to mention Hearthstone (a Card game by Blizzard, very popular between (2014-2017) since it’s the game that allowed me to travel all around the world and meet amazing people. Honorable mentions also go to DOTA & Teamfight Tactics. The latter is the game I played the most in 2024.” 

• ‍Best thing about the Bayes Esports office? 

DT: “The massage chairs and the bi-weekly Tuesday massage session! Also, I’m glad I can always find my favorite protein bars and yummy food in our kitchen.”

• ‍Favorite place to get lunch around the office?

DT: “Hmm I’d go with Chikogi, but Vietonic 2 is definitely up there. You can also find us at Amrit, an Indian restaurant, every Friday. It’s a weekly ritual at this point.”

• ‍Best thing about the Bayes Esports team? 

DT: “It’s a very diverse team. I think we have people from every continent, except Antarctica. Everyone’s friendly and easy to work with. Now, some of my closest friends in Berlin are actually colleagues.”

• ‍Favorite Bayes Esports perk? 

DT: “The flexibility to manage your own schedule and prioritize deep work when needed. It makes a real difference.”

• ‍Favorite esports tournament?

DT: “I used to love attending DreamHack tournaments. I played in many back in the day, although it's been a while now.

The tournament I watch the most nowadays is The International, the annual Dota 2 tournament. My honorable mention goes to IEM Cologne, which is probably the biggest tournament covered by Bayes Esports. The crowd and the venue are amazing! I’ve been very lucky to attend in person on behalf of Bayes the last couple of years.”

‍