Esports and the gaming industry have quickly become a part of people’s lives and important industries. The last decade has shown the great potential of esports and demonstrated how what started as niche communities has grown into a billion-dollar global industry. At the centre of this rapid rise are professional players, figures who have not only achieved competitive success but also changed the cultural landscape of the gaming industry. These athletes have redefined what it means to be a professional player, popularised esports, and become stars far beyond their disciplines. In this article, we will tell you about the most influential esports players over the past ten years, breaking them down by game and telling you what their secret to success is.
Dota 2 Most Influential Esports Players of Decade
Let’s start our story with the favourite game of millions – Dota 2. This game has spawned a huge number of professional players, but some of them stand out the most, we are talking about Johan ‘N0tail’ Sundstein and Daniil ‘Dendi’ Ishutin. These two are probably the first people who come to mind when you think of Dota 2. They are the most titled players and champions of the main eSports tournament – The international. The OG captain ‘N0tail’ has led his team to many championships at major tournaments and is considered one of the best supporters in the history of the game.
Dendi, together with Natus Vincere, won the first The International and is also known as the best player on Pudge. The influence and development that these two players have brought to Dota 2 and eSports is invaluable. We’re sure that even if you’re only interested in the valorant tournament, you’ve heard of them. Even though these players have now completed their professional careers, N0tail is a coach and Dendi has its own esports organisation, they are still known and remembered.
Counter-Strike Most Influential Esports Players of Decade
The next prominent eSports players on our list are Counter-Strike players, better known as CS. The game has many versions, but if we talk about the last decade, the main one is CS:GO. We will talk about 3 players who can be considered the best in the history of this game.
The first place is undoubtedly taken by Alexander ‘s1mple’ Kostylev, a name synonymous with mechanical precision and AWP. Hailing from Ukraine, s1mple started his career in 2014 and became known for his unrivalled accuracy, aggressive playstyle and ability to lead his team forward in major tournaments. At one time, his name could be seen in the tops of all analytics platforms, similar to today’s valorant live score, which confirms his professionalism. s1mple is best known for playing for Natus Vincere (Na’Vi), and as a member of this team, he received the most titles of Top 1 HLTV and MVP at Major. The s1mple era forced the community to reconsider the ceiling of individual skills in FPS titles.
The next legendary player is Mathieu ‘ZywOo’ Herveaux, a member of Team Vitality. He was the main competitor of S1mple and was proclaimed as one of the most naturally talented players in CS:GO. In addition, he was named HLTV #1 ‘Player of the Year’ (2019, 2020).
The third legendary CS:GO player is Nikolai ‘dev1ce’ Ridtz. The player is known for his performances for the Astralis team, with which he won several Major and received many MVP titles. His contribution to the AWP playstyle and tactics in CS:GO is invaluable.
LoL Most Influential Esports Players of Decade
In this article, we have already talked about Dota 2, so let’s talk about League of Legends. Lee ‘Faker’ Sang-hyuk is probably the most famous and best player in this esports discipline. Since making his professional debut in 2013 with T1 (formerly SK Telecom T1), Faker has consistently shown the highest level of play at both domestic LCK and international tournaments. His mental approach, unrivalled mechanics and performance led T1 to three world titles and several LCK trophies.
Luka Perkovic, aka PerKz, and . Jian “Uzi” Zi-Hao. The Croatian player is considered one of the best LoL players in Europe and together with G2, he has won many prestigious tournaments. Jian “Uzi” Zi-Hao is one of the best technical players in the world. He is also known for his fearsome use of Vayne, with which he achieved three out of five total Pentakills in the LPL. Together, these players set a good example of dedication to organisation and hard work in esports, inspiring countless players to follow in their footsteps.
Fortnite Most Influential Esports Players of Decade
We will also tell you about Fortnite, which can be considered a real cultural phenomenon. The first player that comes to mind when you think of this game is Tyler ‘Ninja’ Blevins. He may not be the most titled eSports player in terms of tournament wins, but his cultural influence is undeniable. After building his early career in Halo, Ninja quickly rose to prominence with Fortnite. His popularity was fuelled by the livestreams he held to demonstrate how he played Fortnite. Ninja’s success opened the door for future collaborations between gaming and pop culture, effectively expanding the reach of esports.
Another well-known Fortinite player is Kyle ‘Bugha’ Hirsdorf, who became an instant sensation after winning the first Fortnite World Championship in 2019. At that time, he was only 16 years old and managed to win $3 million. After that, ‘Bugha’ instantly became the face of the Fortnite competitive scene.
Bugha’s victories have always resonated in esports. Moreover, his story sent a message to players and parents that esports can offer good career opportunities. He continues to compete and create content, representing a new generation of esports players, and is deservedly considered one of the most famous of the last decade.
Conclusion
In this article, we’ve told you about 10 of the best esports players from the most popular disciplines over the past decade. These players have gone far beyond esports and have made a great contribution to the development and popularisation of the gaming industry. No matter which game is your favourite, you can learn a lot from each of them. In conclusion, their stories show that the impact on esports is not just about titles, but about inspiring others, breaking barriers, and leaving a legacy that will be inspired by future generations.
Also Read: How Sports Coaching Certification Can Elevate Your Career
