7 Main Esports Moments of 2024

2024 was a year of dazzling highs and quiet stagnation. Peaks were followed by setbacks, and new players stepped in to replace old legends. Esports saw a wide variety of events this year, and today, we’ll look back at the defining moments that shaped 2024.

Faker Became the Greatest Esports Player of All Time

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The highlight of the esports calendar in 2024 was the League of Legends Worlds. T1 defended their title, and Faker became a five-time world champion. While the stats themselves are impressive, what matters even more is how it happened.

In the first half of 2024, T1 was almost absent from the local Korean scene. The reason was not post-victory complacency, but repeated DDoS attacks that disrupted their activities. Streams for fans? Impossible due to DDoS. Practice matches? Same story. Even LCK official matches were hit by DDoS attacks. These issues severely impacted the team’s preparation, and T1 barely secured their Worlds spot after a grueling five-game qualifier.

Once in Europe, however, T1 transformed. But even there, their road was rocky. The grand final against Bilibili Gaming showed why Faker is a legend. His gameplay—especially in games four and five—secured T1’s victory. While the rest of the team deserves credit, it was Faker who single-handedly won the grand final. This is true greatness.

Faker Inducted into the Hall of Legends

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A few months before Worlds 2024, another milestone was reached: Faker became the first member of Riot Games’ official Hall of Legends. This was significant not only because Riot released an expensive bundle to celebrate (marking a new phase of in-game monetization) but because this was one of the first major esports halls of fame supported directly by a publisher, ensuring its longevity.

The CS World Got Donked

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While Faker solidified his status as the GOAT of esports, 2024’s breakout star was donk, a 17-year-old from Siberia. He burst onto the Counter-Strike scene, dominating the competition. It’s rare for a rookie to claim the Player of the Year title, especially without playing AWP—a role often favored by stats. Donk’s aggressive style, built on pinpoint aim and mobility, carried Team Spirit to victory at the Shanghai Major, capping off a phenomenal year.

Chaos at Copenhagen Major

In Counter-Strike, one major low point was the Copenhagen Major. Chaos erupted when individuals promised monetary rewards stormed the stage and damaged the trophy. The culprits? A virtual casino protesting against a rival.

This event had significant repercussions. First, it marked the end of the relaxed tournament atmosphere, with security measures now heightened. Second, the incident sparked a major investigation by Coffeezilla, exposing shady practices by casinos, influencers, and even Valve. Legal consequences might follow, but it’s too early to predict.

Hackers Disrupted Apex Legends Tournament

Copenhagen Major wasn’t the only event marred by trouble. The ALGS Apex Legends tournament faced a severe interruption when hackers remotely installed cheats on participants' PCs. This came amidst a massive bug that rolled back players' progress, exposing the dire state of Apex Legends. Many players are now eyeing other games, a concerning trend for fans of the title.

Saudi Arabia’s Two-Month Esports Feast

Saudi Arabia’s presence in esports continues to grow. The Esports World Cup 2024 was the biggest event of the year, running for two months, featuring 20 disciplines, and offering massive prize pools. The support program for teams further cemented Saudi Arabia’s influence, with Falcons Esports—a homegrown organization—winning the club championship thanks to significant investment. Their success might inspire other teams to adopt better management practices.

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

Two contrasting narratives defined 2024. On one hand, the M6 World Championship for Mobile Legends Bang Bang showcased impressive viewership, second only to League of Legends. Despite its modest $1 million prize pool, the tournament highlighted the game’s growth, even with limited presence in the West.

On the other hand, Dota 2 experienced a decline. The International generated little hype in viewership or prize pools. Valve’s decision to end crowdfunding experiments showed that past successes were driven more by in-game items than genuine support for players or teams.

The Best of the Best

In conclusion, here are our 2024 awards:

This year promises even more excitement, with expected Counter-Strike ecosystem changes, amazing tournaments, and rising stars. So, let's have a great 2025!

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