2024 was a year marked by both exhilarating highs and moments of stagnation in the world of esports. The landscape saw new champions emerge and old legends cement their legacies, with a variety of events that defined the year. Let's dive into the key moments that shaped 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 highlight of the esports calendar in 2024 was undoubtedly the League of Legends Worlds. T1 successfully defended their title, and Faker achieved the remarkable feat of becoming a five-time world champion. This achievement is not just about the numbers; it's about the journey. Early in 2024, T1 faced significant challenges due to repeated DDoS attacks that disrupted their local Korean scene activities. These attacks prevented them from streaming for fans, participating in practice matches, and even affected official LCK matches. Despite these obstacles, T1 managed to secure their spot at Worlds after a hard-fought five-game qualifier.
Once in Europe, T1's performance transformed. The grand final against Bilibili Gaming was a testament to Faker's legendary status. His exceptional gameplay, particularly in games four and five, clinched the victory for T1. While the entire team played a crucial role, it was Faker's individual brilliance that ultimately won the grand final, showcasing true greatness.
Faker Inducted into the Hall of Legends
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Months before the 2024 Worlds, Faker reached another milestone by becoming the first inductee into Riot Games' official Hall of Legends. This induction was not only a celebration of his career but also marked a new era of in-game monetization with Riot releasing an expensive bundle to commemorate the event. Additionally, this was one of the first major esports halls of fame directly supported by a game publisher, ensuring its longevity and significance.
The CS World Got Donked
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While Faker solidified his status as the greatest of all time, 2024 saw the rise of a new star in the Counter-Strike world: donk, a 17-year-old from Siberia. Donk burst onto the scene with a dominating performance, earning the Player of the Year title—a rare achievement for a rookie, especially one not playing the AWP role. His aggressive style, characterized by pinpoint aim and exceptional mobility, led Team Spirit to victory at the Shanghai Major, marking a phenomenal year for the young player.
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 incident was a protest by a virtual casino against a rival. This event led to heightened security measures at tournaments and sparked a major investigation by Coffeezilla, exposing unethical practices by casinos, influencers, and even Valve. The legal ramifications are still unfolding, but the incident has already left a lasting impact on the esports community.
Hackers Disrupted Apex Legends Tournament
The ALGS Apex Legends tournament faced its own set of challenges when hackers remotely installed cheats on participants' PCs. This incident occurred amidst a significant bug that rolled back players' progress, highlighting the precarious state of Apex Legends. As a result, many players are now looking to other games, which is a worrying trend for fans of the title.
Saudi Arabia’s Two-Month Esports Feast
Saudi Arabia's influence in esports continued to grow in 2024 with the Esports World Cup, the year's largest event. Spanning two months and featuring 20 disciplines with substantial prize pools, the event showcased Saudi Arabia's commitment to the industry. The support program for teams further solidified their influence, with Falcons Esports, a homegrown organization, winning the club championship. 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 PC gaming 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 tournament underscored the game's growth, even with limited presence in 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 indicated that past successes were more driven by in-game items than genuine support for players or teams.
The Best of the Best
In conclusion, 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 another great year in esports!
