Esports has grown from a niche subculture to a multibillion-dollar industry with millions of fans worldwide. The unforgettable moments that have etched themselves into the collective memory of the community define esports. The Red Annihilation tournament for Quake in 1997 was the first major esports tournament. StarCraft: Brood War is one of the most popular esports games of all time. The International 2013 featured the game Dota 2 and had the largest esports prize pool of over $2.8 million. Evo Moment 37 is one of the most famous moments in the fighting game genre. The Miracle of Istanbul football match inspired esports players to achieve their own miraculous comebacks.
The Most Iconic Moments in Esports History: A Trip Down Memory Lane
Esports, also known as electronic sports, has come a long way since its inception as a niche subculture in the 1990s. Today, it is a multibillion-dollar industry with millions of fans all over the world. Esports tournaments and events now attract the attention of mainstream media and sponsors, and professional gamers are considered celebrities in their own right. But what makes esports truly special are the unforgettable moments that have etched themselves into the collective memory of the community. Here are some of the most iconic moments in esports history.
The First Major Esports Tournament
In 1997, the Red Annihilation tournament for the first-person shooter game Quake became the first major esports event. The tournament attracted over 2,000 participants, and the final match was played in front of a live audience. The winner, a player known as Thresh, received a brand new car as a prize. The Red Annihilation tournament set the stage for future esports events and paved the way for the industry’s growth.
StarCraft: Brood War
StarCraft: Brood War is one of the most popular and influential esports games of all time. It was the main game in the Korean esports scene and was responsible for launching the careers of many professional players. The rivalry between the top Korean players, known as the “Korean Big Four,” was legendary and drew huge crowds both online and offline. The 2008 StarCraft ProLeague final between the teams SK Telecom T1 and KT Rolster is widely regarded as one of the most exciting moments in esports history.
The International 2013
The International is the biggest esports event in the world, and the 2013 edition was a turning point for the industry. The tournament, which featured the game Dota 2, had a prize pool of over $2.8 million, which was the largest in esports history at the time. The grand finals between the teams Alliance and Na’Vi was watched by over a million people online, and Na’Vi’s epic comeback victory in the fourth game was a highlight of the tournament.
Evo Moment 37
Evo is the biggest fighting game tournament in the world, and Evo Moment 37 is one of the most famous moments in its history. In the grand finals of the Street Fighter III: 3rd Strike tournament in 2004, Daigo Umehara, playing as Ken, executed a series of parries against Justin Wong’s Chun-Li’s super attack to win the match. The moment is now known as “the parry,” and is considered one of the greatest moments in the fighting game genre.
League of Legends World Championship 2014
The League of Legends World Championship is one of the biggest esports events in the world and attracts millions of viewers online. The 2014 edition, held in Seoul, South Korea, was a particularly special event. The grand finals between Korean team Samsung White and Chinese team Star Horn Royal Club was watched by over 27 million people online. Samsung White dominated the series, winning 3-1 and becoming the first Korean team to win the championship.
The Miracle of Istanbul
The Miracle of Istanbul is not an esports event, but a football match that took place in 2005 between AC Milan and Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League final. However, it is included in this list because of its significance to the esports community. The match, which saw Liverpool come back from a 3-0 deficit at half-time to win on penalties, is regarded as one of the most dramatic sporting comebacks of all time. It has since become a meme and a source of inspiration for esports players who hope to replicate the spirit of the Liverpool team and achieve their own miraculous comebacks.
Conclusion
Esports has come a long way from its humble beginnings as a niche subculture. Today, it is a mainstream and lucrative industry that has captured the imagination of millions of fans all over the world. The moments on this list are just a few examples of the many unforgettable moments that have defined esports history. As the industry continues to grow and evolve, we can expect many more iconic moments to be added to this list in the future.