One of the most infamous blunders in esports history occurred during The International 4, the Dota 2 championship in 2014. The match between Alliance and Na’Vi was immensely intense, with both teams battling for supremacy. In the deciding game, Alliance had a significant lead and seemed destined for victory. However, in a shocking turn of events, they made a series of costly mistakes, leading to a massive comeback by Na’Vi. It was a catastrophic collapse from Alliance, who failed to capitalize on their advantage and lost the game, ultimately losing the championship as well.
The next fail on our list takes us to the world of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO). In 2015, during the ESL One Cologne tournament, Fnatic and EnVyUs faced off in a thrilling match. In one round, Fnatic found themselves in an impossible situation. With only one player, Olofmeister, remaining against two EnVyUs opponents, it seemed like a certain defeat. However, in a bizarre turn of events, Olofmeister boosted himself onto an unreachable ledge, exploiting a map glitch. Unable to be killed, Olofmeister secured the round for Fnatic, sparking outrage and controversy. This incident shed light on the importance of fair play and exposed vulnerabilities within the game.
Moving on to League of Legends, another unforgettable fail took place during the 2016 World Championship semifinals. The clash between ROX Tigers and SK Telecom T1 was a nail-biting affair. In the fifth and final game, it all came down to a single team fight. ROX Tigers, with a slight advantage, engaged SK Telecom T1 near the Dragon pit. However, what followed was a disastrous miscommunication. One of the ROX Tigers’ players, PraY, accidentally used his ultimate ability, Ashe’s Enchanted Crystal Arrow, in the wrong direction. Instead of stunning multiple opponents, he fired it into an empty jungle, achieving nothing. This blunder allowed SK Telecom T1 to capitalize, secure victory in the game, and advance to the finals.
Esports fails and blunders are not limited to just gameplay mistakes. In 2019, during the Fortnite World Cup, an embarrassing technical glitch occurred, overshadowing the event. One of the players, Mongraal, experienced an inexplicable bug that prevented him from building structures, a crucial aspect of the game. Despite his frantic attempts, he was unable to defend himself or retaliate against opponents. Millions of viewers bore witness to this unfortunate malfunction, emphasizing the challenges and uncertainties of playing competitive online games at such a high level.
In the world of esports, triumphs and disappointments go hand in hand. These fails and blunders serve as reminders that even the best players and teams can make mistakes. Whether it’s a massive collapse in a crucial match or a technical glitch derailing a player’s chances, these moments add to the drama and unpredictability that make esports so enthralling. In the end, it’s how players and teams overcome these failures that define their resilience and determination to succeed.
