Trying to take the RTS esports mantle from Starcraft 2? An impossible task, it just cannot be done and although all will perish trying to climb the altar, it is a just cause.
So quick update: with the cancellation of Battle Aces, incredibly rough free-to-play launch of Frost Giant's Stormgate, love and attention Microsoft's the Age Of series is getting, the unfathomable amount of balancing ZeroSpace is going to take, and last but not least the arrival indie RTS's, the genre is in a state of flux to say the least. It's a long standing genre at this point and the technical issues arising from making a good campaign should not be so hard, of course game dev is hard but this is a long standing genre things have been figured out. But when it comes to the esports side of things I just cannot see anyone taking the crown of Starcraft at least not in the foreseeable future. Despite Starcraft 2's decline in not only player base but it's developer Blizzard's support. These two things have been going on for quite some time now, granted small revival here and there mainly thanks to it's dedicated community of casters, players and viewers.
Predictions? Well more dreams but through the ashes will rise indie RTS games. Games like Tooth and Tail, Godsworn, Thronefall, Beyond Reason, Spellforce. Older RTS's being made new again and the love they are currently receiving is also quite surprising and most welcome.