Top 7 Esports Highlights of 2024

2024 was a year filled with both exhilarating triumphs and moments of quiet stagnation. The esports landscape saw peaks and troughs, with new talents emerging to fill the shoes of retiring legends. Throughout the year, a variety of events shaped the world of esports, and today, we'll revisit the key moments that defined 2024.

Table of Content ---

• Faker Became the Greatest Esports Player of All Time
• Faker Inducted into the Hall of Legends
• The CS World Got Donked
• Chaos at Copenhagen Major
• Hackers Disrupted Apex Legends Tournament
• Saudi Arabia’s Two-Month Esports Feast
• The Rise of Mobile Legends Bang Bang and the Decline of Dota 2
• The Best of the Best

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Faker Became the Greatest Esports Player of All Time

The pinnacle of the esports calendar in 2024 was undoubtedly the League of Legends Worlds. T1 successfully defended their title, with Faker securing his fifth world championship. What sets this achievement apart is not just the impressive statistics, but the narrative of how it was accomplished.

During the first half of 2024, T1 was scarcely present in the local Korean scene due to relentless DDoS attacks that disrupted their activities. Fan streams were impossible, practice matches were thwarted, and even official LCK matches were affected. These challenges severely hampered T1's preparation, making their qualification for Worlds a hard-fought battle that went to five games.

However, once in Europe, T1 underwent a remarkable transformation. Their path to victory was fraught with challenges, but the grand final against Bilibili Gaming showcased why Faker is considered a legend. His performance, particularly in games four and five, was instrumental in securing T1's victory. While the entire team contributed, it was Faker's individual brilliance that ultimately clinched the title. This is the essence of true greatness.

Faker Inducted into the Hall of Legends

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Before the Worlds 2024, another significant milestone was reached: Faker became the first inductee into Riot Games’ official Hall of Legends. This event was noteworthy not only because Riot released a costly celebratory bundle, signaling a new era of in-game monetization, but also because it marked one of the first major esports halls of fame directly supported by a game publisher, ensuring its sustained recognition.

The CS World Got Donked

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While Faker solidified his status as the greatest of all time in esports, 2024's breakout star was donk, a 17-year-old prodigy from Siberia. He made a stunning entrance into the Counter-Strike scene, dominating opponents with his skills. It's rare for a rookie to earn the Player of the Year title, especially without playing the AWP role, which is typically favored for high stats. Donk's aggressive playstyle, characterized by precise aim and mobility, propelled Team Spirit to victory at the Shanghai Major, marking a spectacular year for him.

Chaos at Copenhagen Major

The Copenhagen Major in Counter-Strike was marred by a disruptive incident when individuals, motivated by promised financial rewards, stormed the stage and damaged the trophy. The culprits were revealed to be from a virtual casino protesting against a competitor.

This event had far-reaching consequences. It led to the end of the relaxed atmosphere at tournaments, with security measures now being significantly tightened. Additionally, the incident triggered a thorough investigation by Coffeezilla, which uncovered dubious practices by casinos, influencers, and even Valve. While legal repercussions are still pending, the impact on the esports community was immediate and profound.

Hackers Disrupted Apex Legends Tournament

The Copenhagen Major wasn't the only tournament to face turmoil. The ALGS Apex Legends tournament was severely disrupted when hackers remotely installed cheats on participants' computers. This occurred during a period when a major bug rolled back players' progress, highlighting the precarious state of Apex Legends. As a result, many players are now looking towards other games, which is a worrying trend for the game's fanbase.

Saudi Arabia’s Two-Month Esports Feast

Saudi Arabia's influence in the esports world continued to grow in 2024. The Esports World Cup was the year's most significant event, spanning two months and featuring 20 different disciplines with substantial prize pools. The support program for teams further solidified Saudi Arabia's role, with Falcons Esports, a local organization, clinching the club championship due to substantial investments. Their success could serve as a model for other teams to enhance their management practices.

The Rise of Mobile Legends Bang Bang and the Decline of Dota 2

2024 saw two divergent stories in the esports realm. The M6 World Championship for Mobile Legends Bang Bang achieved remarkable viewership, ranking second only to League of Legends. Despite its relatively modest $1 million prize pool, the tournament underscored the game's growing popularity, even with its limited presence in the West.

Conversely, Dota 2 experienced a decline. The International failed to generate significant excitement in terms of viewership or prize pools. Valve's decision to end its crowdfunding experiments revealed that past successes were more driven by in-game item sales than by genuine support for players or teams.

The Best of the Best

In conclusion, here are our awards for 2024:

• Game of the Year: Mobile Legends Bang Bang
• Match of the Year: LoL Worlds 2024 Finals (T1 vs. BLG)
• Player of the Year: Donk
• Club of the Year: Team Spirit
• Event of the Year: Esports World Cup 2024
• Soundtrack of the Year: Heavy is the Crown by Linkin Park

As we look forward to 2025, we can anticipate more thrilling developments in the esports ecosystem, including changes in Counter-Strike, exciting tournaments, and the rise of new stars. Let's gear up for another incredible year!