2024 was a year marked by both exhilarating triumphs and periods of stagnation within the esports world. It was a rollercoaster of peaks and troughs, with new talents emerging as icons stepped aside. From a diverse range of events to groundbreaking achievements, let's delve into the pivotal moments that defined 2024 in esports.
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 esports calendar in 2024 reached its zenith with the League of Legends Worlds, where T1 successfully defended their title, and Faker cemented his legacy as a five-time world champion. The journey to this achievement was anything but smooth. Early in the year, T1 faced significant challenges due to relentless DDoS attacks that disrupted their participation in the Korean scene. These attacks made streaming for fans and conducting practice matches nearly impossible, and even affected official LCK matches. Despite these hurdles, T1 managed to qualify for Worlds after a tense five-game series.
Once in Europe, T1's performance transformed dramatically. The grand final against Bilibili Gaming was a testament to Faker's legendary status. His pivotal plays, especially in games four and five, were instrumental in securing T1's victory. While the entire team played a crucial role, it was Faker's individual brilliance that ultimately clinched the title, showcasing true greatness.
Faker Inducted into the Hall of Legends
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Months before the Worlds 2024, Faker achieved another milestone by becoming the inaugural inductee into Riot Games' Hall of Legends. This induction was not only a celebration of his career but also marked a new era of in-game monetization with the release of an expensive commemorative bundle. More importantly, it represented one of the first major esports halls of fame directly supported by a game publisher, ensuring its enduring legacy.
The CS World Got Donked
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While Faker solidified his status as the greatest of all time, 2024 also saw the rise of a new star in the Counter-Strike scene: donk, a 17-year-old prodigy from Siberia. His aggressive playstyle, characterized by exceptional aim and mobility, propelled him to the forefront of the competition. Donk's remarkable performance led Team Spirit to victory at the Shanghai Major, earning him the prestigious Player of the Year title—a rare feat for a rookie, especially one not playing the AWP role.
Chaos at Copenhagen Major
The Copenhagen Major in Counter-Strike was marred by chaos when individuals, motivated by promised monetary rewards, stormed the stage and vandalized the trophy. This incident was orchestrated by a virtual casino protesting against a competitor. The aftermath saw a tightening of security measures at tournaments and sparked a significant investigation by Coffeezilla, which uncovered unethical practices within the esports gambling industry. The full legal ramifications remain to be seen.
Hackers Disrupted Apex Legends Tournament
The ALGS Apex Legends tournament also faced disruption when hackers remotely installed cheats on participants' computers. This incident occurred during a period when a major bug was rolling back players' progress, highlighting the precarious state of Apex Legends. As a result, many players began looking towards other games, signaling a worrying trend for the title's future.
Saudi Arabia’s Two-Month Esports Feast
Saudi Arabia's influence in esports continued to grow with the Esports World Cup 2024, a two-month extravaganza featuring 20 disciplines and substantial prize pools. The event not only showcased the country's commitment to esports but also included a support program for teams. Falcons Esports, a local organization, capitalized on this investment to win the club championship, setting a precedent for other teams to follow in terms of management and strategy.
The Rise of Mobile Legends Bang Bang and the Decline of Dota 2
2024 painted two contrasting pictures in the mobile and PC gaming scenes. The M6 World Championship for Mobile Legends Bang Bang achieved impressive viewership numbers, second only to League of Legends, despite its modest $1 million prize pool. This success underscored the game's growing popularity, particularly in regions outside the West.
Conversely, Dota 2 experienced a noticeable decline. The International failed to generate significant excitement in terms of viewership or prize pools. Valve's decision to end its crowdfunding experiments indicated that past successes were more reliant on in-game item sales than genuine support for the game's ecosystem.
The Best of the Best
In reflecting on 2024, we present our awards for the year:
- 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, the esports landscape promises even more excitement with anticipated changes in the Counter-Strike ecosystem, thrilling tournaments, and the emergence of new stars. Here's to another year of unforgettable moments in esports!
