The Most Memorable Moments in E-Sports History

7 April 2025

E-sports: the glorious lovechild of gaming and competitive spirit. It’s the arena where nerds become legends, Mountain Dew flows like champagne, and the air crackles with the sound of keyboards clacking furiously. And boy, has it had its fair share of jaw-dropping, eye-popping, “did-that-really-just-happen?” moments.

If you're a fan of e-sports (or just a casual “I’ll-watch-Dota-finals-while-snacking” spectator), you know that its history is riddled with legendary plays, unexpected twists, and heart-pounding storylines that keep us glued to our screens. So grab some snacks, adjust your gaming chair for maximum lumbar support, and let’s dive into The Most Memorable Moments in E-Sports History.

1. "Is This The Real Life?" - Faker's Zed Outplay

Picture this: It’s the League of Legends World Championship in 2013. Two players, Faker and Ryu, face off in mid-lane in what can only be described as a showdown of epic proportions. Both are playing Zed, the shadowy ninja champion who embodies the phrase, "Ninjas don’t fight fair."

What followed was a sequence of moves so fast, it made The Matrix look like it was in slow motion. Faker, with his pixel-perfect execution, juked Ryu into oblivion, leaving the crowd (and the commentators) in disbelief.

“FAKER... WHAT WAS THAT?!”

That line is now etched into e-sports history, much like how your fingerprints are permanently etched on your favorite WASD keys. This single moment solidified Faker’s legacy as the Unkillable Demon King. Let’s be honest, we all Googled “How to play like Faker” after watching that. Spoiler alert: You can’t. Faker’s gameplay is like art. You can admire it, but you’ll never truly replicate it.

2. The $6 Million Echo Slam Heard ‘Round The World

Dota 2’s The International 2015. The prize pool? A mind-blowing $18 million. (Yes, you read that right. Million. With an "M.") And in the lower bracket finals, one moment brought the house—err, arena—down.

CDEC was looking unstoppable. LGD, their opponents, were clinging on like a gamer clings to their last health potion. Then came the Earthshaker Echo Slam, coordinated perfectly by Evil Geniuses’ Universe.

The crowd lost its collective mind. The casters screamed louder than someone losing an internet connection during a ranked game. The play not only turned the tide of the match but cemented itself as a defining moment in e-sports. If Dota 2 plays were action movies, this Echo Slam would be the equivalent of an Avengers-level crossover scene.

3. When Hungrybox Made Everyone Cry (Including Himself)

Super Smash Bros. Melee is a game that refuses to die, much like your backlog of unplayed Steam games. And one of its most emotional moments came in 2019, at the tournament Genesis 6.

Juan "Hungrybox" Debiedma, a player known for his controversial Jigglypuff plays (yes, the pink, cuddly balloon CAN be deadly), clawed his way through the tournament. By the grand finals, he was up against Mango, the people’s champ. The match was intense. Sweaty palms, edge-of-the-seat intensity—you know the drill.

When Hungrybox finally won, he broke down in tears. And you know what? So did we. Because amidst the elaborate combos and frame-perfect inputs, we witnessed raw human emotion. Hungrybox’s victory reminded us that, at its core, e-sports is about dreams coming true. (And also about proving a pink puffball can wreck you.)

4. Fnatic’s Unbeatable Run - The Perfect Season

Imagine playing 18 games of League of Legends in a professional season and winning every single one. Yep, that’s exactly what the European team Fnatic did during the 2015 EU LCS Summer Split.

It’s like pulling off a no-hit run in Dark Souls. Or eating an entire bag of chips without spilling crumbs everywhere. It’s almost unheard of.

Fnatic didn’t just win—they dominated. Their synergy was tighter than a grandma’s secret cookie recipe. Their strategies were like chess moves played ten steps ahead. And their confidence? Let’s just say it was “boss level.”

They went down in history as one of the most dominant teams in e-sports, proving that Europe isn’t just known for baguettes and beautiful landmarks—they’ve got gaming legends too.

5. The Fortnite Black Hole: When E-Sports Broke the Internet

Alright, this one’s less about a specific match and more about Fortnite doing what Fortnite does best: being extra.

In 2019, during Fortnite’s Chapter 1 finale, Epic Games did the unthinkable. They had the entire world—players, streamers, and fans alike—stare at a black hole. For hours.

What happened? Fortnite literally deleted its map. Like, poof. Gone. Players were sucked into a mysterious black hole during a live event, and the game was unplayable while fans collectively lost their minds. Twitter exploded. Memes flooded Reddit. Streamers stared awkwardly at their screens for hours, trying to entertain millions of viewers who were just as confused as they were.

Was it brilliant marketing? 100%. Did it make millions of people question their life choices? Oh, for sure. The black hole was Fortnite’s way of proving that in e-sports, even nothing happening can make headlines.

6. Ninja vs. Drake: The Crossover Nobody Saw Coming

Speaking of Fortnite, we can’t forget the time real-life celebrities dipped their toes into e-sports. In 2018, streaming sensation Tyler “Ninja” Blevins teamed up with… Canadian rap superstar Drake?!

They hopped into a match of Fortnite together, and let’s just say this wasn’t your average “squad up” session. The duo not only won games but also broke Twitch records, reaching over 600,000 concurrent viewers.

It was the first time many non-gamers realized, “Wait, people watch others play video games?” Yeah, Karen, they do. And they love it. Ninja and Drake’s Fortnite stream was a watershed moment—proof that e-sports had fully infiltrated mainstream culture.

7. When Starcraft Became a National Sport

South Korea’s love for Starcraft is no joke. It’s practically their national pastime. But back in 2004, something groundbreaking happened: the finals of the Starcraft Proleague drew 100,000 fans to a live outdoor event.

Let me repeat that: 100,000 people showed up in person to watch a game of Starcraft. If that’s not wild enough, the event was broadcast on national TV too.

This wasn’t just a moment in e-sports history—it was a cultural phenomenon. South Korea proved to the world that gaming wasn’t some niche hobby for basement dwellers. It was a serious, legitimate competition. Kind of like chess… but with more lasers and zerglings.

8. OG’s Unstoppable TI Runs

Winning one International (Dota 2’s biggest tournament) is already a Herculean feat. So when OG won two—back-to-back in 2018 and 2019—they didn’t just make history. They stomped on it, danced over it, and planted their flag on top.

What made their wins so unforgettable? They weren’t even favorites to win. In 2018, they had to fight their way through qualifiers just to get a spot. It was like starting a game with no gear and still managing to beat the final boss.

Their underdog story, coupled with their insane chemistry and out-of-the-box strats, makes OG’s victories one of the greatest tales in e-sports lore.

9. Overwatch League’s Inaugural Grand Finals

When Blizzard announced the Overwatch League, skeptics thought, “Ehh, just another e-sports league.” But oh, how wrong they were.

The inaugural Grand Finals in 2018 took place in none other than the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York—a venue typically reserved for rock stars and sports legends. The London Spitfire came out on top, but the real winner? E-sports itself.

By hosting a major event in such a high-profile venue, Overwatch League proved that gaming wasn’t just nerds sitting in their basements anymore. Okay, it is still that sometimes, but with a lot more glitz and glamour now.

10. Shroud’s Miraculous Clutch in CS:GO

No list of unforgettable e-sports moments would be complete without a little CS:GO action. And there’s no better highlight than Shroud’s legendary 1v4 clutch against Team Dignitas.

It was do-or-die time. Shroud, like an action movie hero in the final act, calmly dismantled his opponents one by one. His aim was sharper than a katana, and his movements were smoother than butter on a hot skillet.

By the time he secured the clutch, fans around the world were screaming, “HOW?!” It’s a moment that solidified Shroud as one of the greatest aim gods to ever grace the game.

Final Thoughts

E-sports is a wild ride—one filled with epic victories, heartbreaking losses, and moments of pure, unfiltered magic. Whether you’re a die-hard fan keeping up with every patch note or just someone who tunes in for the finals, these unforgettable moments remind us why we love this crazy world of competitive gaming.

And who knows? The next legendary play might just be happening as you’re reading this.