Epic esports moments: Relive the greatest plays of all time

Esports is all about competitive gaming wherein players perform incredible feats, showcasing their incredible skills. Some of these top-tier gameplay has etched their way into esports history, impressing fans and inspiring aspiring esports players.

Key takeaways

• Some of the epic esports moments in history include XPeke’s surprising backdoor in League’s 2013 IEM Season 7 and Evil Geniuses’ epic comeback in the 2015 Dota 2 International Finals
• Key factors to consider to boost your esports betting odds of winning include team form, history, and player rosters. 

Daigo’s impressive block (Street Fighter III: Third Strike)

The Evolution Championship Series (EVO) is one of Street Fighter III’s biggest tournaments. In the 2004 EVO, Daigo Umehar faced off against Justin Wong in an epic match that’s regarded as one of the best esports moments.

There was tension as Daigo's Ken found himself on the brink of defeat, with a sliver of health remaining. Justin Wong, playing Chun-Li, unleashed fatal attacks, almost securing victory. 

However, Daigo, in a display of nerves of steel and excellent skill, did the impossible. He executed a perfect parry, deflecting all attacks with pixel-precise timing.

The crowd were in a frenzy as Daigo not only survived but capitalised on the opening, countering with his combo and securing a surprising comeback. This became a symbol of esports fighting games’ potential, showcasing the fast reflexes, strategic thinking, and mental fortitude required to compete at the highest level. 

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XPeke’s surprising backdoor (League of Legends)

League of Legends 2013 Intel Extreme Masters (IEM), one of League’s well-known events, Fnatic and SK Gaming faced off in a thrilling match. The match was a nail-biter, featuring back-and-forth attacks that stretched past the 50-minute mark. Both teams were down inhibitors (structures), leaving their Nexuses exposed. 

With a classic team fight bound to happen, Fnatic's mid-laner, XPeke, made a gamble. Instead of grouping with his team, xPeke defied expectations. 

He bypassed the main battlefield and teleported directly into SK's base, completely unseen. Playing Kassadin, a League of Legends champion with high-tier mobility, XPeke weaved through towers, dodging spells and surviving with low health left. 

He unleashed a torrent of damage on SK's Nexus, destroying it in seconds and securing their victory.xPeke's backdoor wasn't just a lucky win; it was a calculated risk that marked its way to the best esports moments that fans look back on today.

Evil Geniuses’ epic comeback (Dota 2)

The Dota 2 International (TI) is the pinnacle of professional Dota 2, and the 2015 edition didn't disappoint. In the Grand Finals, Evil Geniuses (EG) faced off against CDEC Gaming, showcasing one of the best esports moments of all time.

EG boasted a talented lineup with veteran players like Clinton ‘Fear’ Loomis and Saahil ‘Universe’ Arora. However, CDEC, with their aggressive playstyle and unusual hero picks, led the game.

Game 4 saw a complete turnaround. EG dominated with Ancient Apparition’s combined power of Call Down, Ice Blast, and Echo Slam which was too much for CDEC to handle. 

This turned the tides of the game in their favour. From the brink of defeat, EG clawed its way back, winning The International and impressing millions of Dota 2 fans. 

Nairo ending Zero’s winning streak (Smash 4)

In Super Smash Bros. 4’s (Smash 4) 2015, Major League Gaming (MLG) World Finals, Gonzalo ‘ZeRo’ Barrios who had been on a winning streak, faced off against Nairoby ‘Nairo’ Quezada Martinez. ZeRo, wielding his signature character Diddy Kong, was known for his technical mastery and patient zoning tactics. 

On the other hand, Nairo favored ZeRo Suit Samus, a powerful zoner with excellent projectile options. The two players created a clash of styles that had the crowd on the edge of their seats.

ZeRo displayed incredible focus, shutting down Nairo's aggressive approaches with pinpoint banana placements and well-timed aerials. Nairo, frustrated by ZeRo's defensive wall, struggled to find openings but was able to do so. His aggressive tactics, often risky against ZeRo, began to pay off. Finally, in a surprising finish, Nairo won, ending ZeRo's win streak. 

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Dendi’s relentless Fountain Hook (Dota 2)

In the 2013 Dota 2 The International match against TongFu, Natus Vincere (Na'Vi), a powerhouse team, found themselves on the ropes. Their early game dominance was gone, and TongFu relentlessly pushed towards victory.

Na'Vi's Dendi, a skilled player known for his incredible Pudge (a hero with a grappling hook ability) provided a miracle. Dendi spearheaded a tactic that would forever be known as the ‘Fountain Hook’.

With his Pudge, Dendi teleported directly to his fountain, the area considered the safest in the game. Then, with perfect timing and aiming, unleashed his ultimate ability, ‘Dismember’, attempting to snag an enemy hero from his base and drag them back for a potential kill.

Dendi executed his strategy, but the first hook attempt failed. TongFu, initially surprised, quickly adapted, becoming wary of going too close to Na'Vi's fountain.  

However, he wasn’t deterred. Dendi kept teleporting back with the help of a teammate and finally, his persistence paid off. With a perfectly aimed hook, Dendi snagged an enemy hero, dragging them back into the heart of Na'Vi's base.  

This unexpected kill swung the momentum back in Na'Vi's favour. Fueled by Dendi’s impressive play, Na’Vi managed to fight back and secure a win against TongFu.

s1mple’s four aces (Counter Strike 2)

IEM Cologne is a prestigious Counter-Strike 2 (previously known as CS:GO) tournament. In 2021, Oleksandr ‘s1mple’ Kostyliev unleashed a performance that would forever be etched in the history of the game.

An ace, which involves killing the entire opposing team single-handedly, is a coveted feat in Counter-Strike 2. It demands amazing aim, fast reflexes, and strategic positioning under immense pressure. 

For s1mple, four aces in a single major tournament was an easy feat. With nerves of steel and a rain of bullets, he secured four aces, silencing any doubts about his dominance.

ROX Tigers’ epic clutch play (League of Legends)

The 2016 League of Legends World Championship was a stage for giants, but one series rose above the rest in terms of sheer strategic brilliance and clutch execution. In the semifinals, the ROX Tigers, a team known for their aggressive playstyle, faced off against the mighty SK Telecom T1 (SKT).

The game started with SKT dominating the map. Suddenly, showcasing good teamwork and aggressive play, ROX Tigers started a fight with SKT's top laner. 

ROX Tigers’ jungler, Han ‘Peanut’ Wang-Ho, landed a decisive smite steal, shifting the game’s momentum. With SKT surprised, ROX Tigers’ carry, Kim ‘PraY’ Jong-In unleashed a barrage of bullets, melting through SKT's frontline. 

SKT tried to fight back but ROX Tigers’ attacks proved to be relentless. The ROX Tigers won and proved they could outplay and outsmart a powerful team. 

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Boston Uprising’s perfect play (Overwatch)

The 2018 Overwatch League was one of Overwatch’s best seasons and the Boston Uprising played a huge role in it. The team’s performance was a testament to their teamwork, strategic prowess, and pure dominance.  

Boston Uprising had a perfect run, winning all 10 matches. Every member played their role flawlessly, a testament to their strategic brilliance and flawless teamwork. Their 10-0 record inspires aspiring teams of this generation and stands as a reminder that true dominance is all about hard work. 

Factors to consider when betting on esports matches

Betting on esports matches is one of the best ways to experience the thrill of esports games on a whole new level. To help you make informed bets, here are some factors to consider when esports betting:

• Team form and history →  Analyse the recent performance and results of the teams playing. Look at their win-loss record, how they have performed against other top teams, player stats, and notable trends or patterns in their play.
• Player roster → Stay up to date on any roster changes that could impact a team's performance. Veteran players and stable rosters tend to be more reliable.
• Tournament structure → Learn the format of the tournament or league, including factors like best-of-X series and group stages. This impacts how teams approach and strategise for matches.
• Meta shifts → Esports games often receive balance updates and patches that alter the meta and shift the competitive landscape. Assess how teams are adapting to the latest patch to see which ones are more likely to perform well. 

Esports betting markets to take advantage of

Boost your chances of winning by taking advantage of the following esports betting markets: 

• Winner → Bet on which team will win the entire match.
• Total kills → Predict the total number of kills garnered by both teams throughout a match or map.
• Handicap →  Bet on a team to win by a certain margin of difference in kills, maps, or rounds.
• Correct score → Predict the exact final score of a match, such as 2-0 or 3-1.
• First blood → Wager on which team or player will secure the first kill in a match.
• Total rounds → Bet on the total number of rounds or maps played in a match.

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