2024 was a rollercoaster year for esports, marked by exhilarating highs and unexpected challenges. From legendary achievements to disruptive incidents, the year was filled with events that left a lasting impact on the esports landscape. Let's delve into the 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
Faker Became the Greatest Esports Player of All Time
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The pinnacle of the 2024 esports calendar was undoubtedly the League of Legends Worlds. T1 successfully defended their title, with Faker cementing his legacy as a five-time world champion. What set this achievement apart was not just the impressive stats, but the journey to victory itself.
In the first half of 2024, T1 faced significant challenges in the Korean scene, primarily due to repeated DDoS attacks that disrupted their streams, practice matches, and even official LCK games. These attacks severely hampered their preparation, and it was only after a grueling five-game qualifier that T1 secured their spot at Worlds.
Upon arriving in Europe, T1's performance transformed dramatically. The grand final against Bilibili Gaming was a testament to Faker's legendary status. His pivotal performance in games four and five secured T1's victory, showcasing his ability to single-handedly turn the tide of the match. This achievement solidified Faker's place as one of the greatest esports players of all time.
Faker Inducted into the Hall of Legends
Image: x.com
Months before the Worlds 2024, Faker achieved another milestone by becoming the first member of Riot Games' official Hall of Legends. This induction was not only a celebration of his career but also marked a new era in in-game monetization, as Riot released an expensive bundle to commemorate the event. Moreover, this Hall of Legends, directly supported by a publisher, promises longevity and recognition for esports legends.
The CS World Got Donked
Image: x.com
While Faker dominated League of Legends, 2024 also saw the rise of a new star in Counter-Strike: donk, a 17-year-old from Siberia. His aggressive playstyle, characterized by pinpoint aim and mobility, propelled him to the forefront of the scene. Donk's remarkable performance led Team Spirit to victory at the Shanghai Major, earning him the title of Player of the Year—a rare feat for a rookie who doesn't play the AWP role.
Chaos at Copenhagen Major
The Copenhagen Major in Counter-Strike was marred by chaos when individuals, promised monetary rewards, stormed the stage and damaged the trophy. The perpetrators were from a virtual casino protesting against a rival. This incident led to heightened security measures at tournaments and triggered a major investigation by Coffeezilla, exposing unethical practices by casinos, influencers, and even Valve. The legal ramifications are still pending, but the event significantly altered the esports landscape.
Hackers Disrupted Apex Legends Tournament
The ALGS Apex Legends tournament faced its own turmoil when hackers remotely installed cheats on participants' PCs. This incident occurred amidst a massive bug that rolled back players' progress, highlighting the precarious state of Apex Legends. As a result, many players are now exploring alternative games, which is 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 featured a support program for teams. Falcons Esports, a homegrown organization, won the club championship, thanks to significant investment. Their success could inspire other teams to adopt better management practices.
The Rise of Mobile Legends Bang Bang and the Decline of Dota 2
2024 saw contrasting trends in the mobile and traditional esports scenes. The M6 World Championship for Mobile Legends Bang Bang achieved impressive viewership, second only to League of Legends, despite its modest $1 million prize pool. This event underscored the game's growing popularity, particularly outside the West.
Conversely, Dota 2 experienced a decline. The International failed to generate significant hype in terms of viewership or prize pools. Valve's decision to end crowdfunding experiments revealed that past successes were more dependent on in-game item sales than genuine support for players and teams.
The Best of the Best
Reflecting on the year, here are our 2024 awards:
- 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 community can anticipate even more excitement with expected changes in the Counter-Strike ecosystem, thrilling tournaments, and the emergence of new stars. Here's to a fantastic 2025!
