Epic showdowns: the most legendary eSports tournaments and moments in gaming history

eSports, electronic competition at a professional level, has become a global phenomenon in recent years. Millions of viewers watch the thrilling duels between the best gamers in the world, who provide breathtaking moments with lightning-fast reactions, strategic thinking and outstanding gaming skills. But which tournaments and moments have elevated eSports to this level and captivated spectators and professionals alike?

The International - A milestone in the Dota 2 universe

One of the most famous tournaments in e Sports is "The International", the annual Dota 2 tournament organised by Valve Corporation. Since its first edition in 2011, "The International" has secured a permanent place in eSports history thanks to its huge prize money and intense competition.

A particularly memorable moment occurred in 2018 when European team OG took the world by storm. OG, originally considered the underdog, managed to pull off a spectacular comeback and defeat favourites PSG.LGD in a thrilling five-game final. This triumph was hailed as one of the biggest underdog stories in eSports and cemented the legacy of OG and players like Johan "N0tail" Sundstein.

EVO - The stage for fighting games

The Evolution Championship Series (EVO) is the largest and most prestigious fighting game tournament in the world. Since its inception in 1996, EVO has brought together the best players from various fighting games to compete in epic duels.

One of the most memorable moments in EVO history is known as "EVO Moment #37". During EVO 2004, Street Fighter player Daigo Umehara pulled off a spectacular parry that earned him victory against Justin Wong. This moment is not only a testament to Daigo's extraordinary skills, but also a symbol of the excitement and thrill that fighting games can provide. EVO Moment #37 has been a staple of eSports folklore ever since and is consistently hailed as one of the greatest moments in eSports.

Eternal rivals and unforgettable matches:

• CS:GO - Major Championship 2015 (Fnatic vs Virtus.pro): This final is considered one of the most exciting moments in the history of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. In a match full of dramatic twists and turns and close round wins, Fnatic came out on top by a razor-thin 16-14 margin on the Dust2 map. The legendary "Olofmeister" flickshot, in which Olofmeister Olof Kajbjer Gustafsson secured victory for Fnatic with an incredible shot through a cloud of smoke, remains unforgotten to this day.
• StarCraft II World Championship 2010 (Boxer vs. Flash): The duel between Korean StarCraft II giants Lee "Flash" Young-ho and Jung "Boxer" Won-seok at the first-ever BlizzCon World Championship was a clash of titans. Flash, known for his aggressive play and micromanaging skills, ultimately prevailed over the strategic Boxer 4-2 to write himself into the StarCraft II history books.
• League of Legends World Championship 2015 (SK Telecom T1 vs. KOO Tigers): This all-Korean final of the League of Legends World Championship was a prime example of strategic depth and perfect team play. SK Telecom T1, led by legendary mid laner Faker, showed their dominance in a nerve-wracking match, defeating the up-and-coming KOO Tigers 3-1.

Live betting on such high-calibre eSports tournaments not only allows fans to experience the action even more intensely, but also to convert their knowledge of the teams and players into cash.

Exceptional player performance:

• Faker's Zed Outplay (League of Legends World Championship 2013): Lee "Faker" Sang-hook is one of the most famous players in eSports history. His outplay with the champion Zed in the semi-finals of the 2013 LoL World Championship against Royal Never Give Up is legendary. In a seemingly hopeless situation, he eliminated three opponents with lightning-fast manoeuvres and perfect use of skill, securing victory for SK Telecom T1.
• KennyS' AWP One-Taps (CS:GO Major Championship 2014): Kenny "kennyS" Schrub is a true AWP legend (AWP is a sniper rifle in CS:GO). At the 2014 Major Championship in Cologne, he showed off his incredible talent with several spectacular one-tap kills and was instrumental in Team LDLC's victory.
• Serral's Zerg Domination (StarCraft II World Championship 2018): Joona "Serral" Mutanen is a Zerg specialist (Zerg are an alien race in StarCraft II) known for his innovative and aggressive play. At BlizzCon 2018, he dominated the entire tournament and won his first world title with an impressive 4-0 victory over Dark in the final.

Moments that made history:

• Fortnite Pro-Am Charity Event 2018: This charity event not only raised incredible donations for a good cause, but also provided a surprising winner. The streamer Ninja played together with the rapper Drake and took the win in the end. The event showed the growing popularity of esports and its ability to connect the gaming community with celebrities.
• Overwatch League Inaugural Season Grand Finals (London Spitfire vs. Philadelphia Fusion): The Overwatch League was the first major league for a hero shooter game. The finals of the first season were an exciting showdown between the London Spitfire team and the American Fusion team. London Spitfire, led by DPS player Profit, ultimately secured the title with a narrow 4-3 victory and wrote themselves into the Overwatch League history books as the first champions.

These epic duels and unforgettable moments are just a small part of the rapidly growing history of eSports. Tournaments with prizes worth millions, huge spectator numbers and growing recognition from traditional sports organisations underline the importance of eSports. The future continues to look promising for electronic competition. New games, innovative technologies and the enthusiasm of players and fans will ensure that we can expect many more epic showdowns in the coming years.