The esports scene has already witnessed countless historic wins across various genres, and some of its unforgettable moments come from the breakout teams toppling the heavily favored opponents.
These teams have proven that no one is safe once the game starts, and here are the top three unforgettable moments that have defied expectations and made history in breaking the champions’ streak.
From Worst to First: Dramatic Rise of Evil Geniuses
The Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) Americas 2023 showcased a tense clash between the North American squad Evil Geniuses and Pacific titans Paper Rex, becoming one of the defining battles in the Valorant stage.
Paper Rex entered the competition as crowd favorites, while Evil Geniuses already looked destined for failure during the early stage of the VCT Season. After an awful start with a 1-4 record and criticism towards them, the rise of Evil Geniuses already seemed impossible to happen.
A turning point came after Coach Potter made a bold move to bring Demon1 into the team, which made the team an unstoppable force in the following matches. Powered by Demon1’s explosive playstyles, it eventually carried the team to the Grand Finals, leading to an unexpected 3-1 victory against Paper Rex and becoming world champions.
DRX’s Miracle Run Against T1
From Valorant to League of Legends (LoL), another iconic underdog story unfolded during the LoL Worlds 2022 when DRX stunned the esports world by taking down esports giants T1.
DRX pulled off every battle from the Play-In stage until they finally met T1 in the Finals. In a thrilling five-game series, DRX finally overcame T1 in a 3-2 win through clutch performances and strong teamwork, capturing their first-ever World Championship title. The breathtaking battle between DRX and T1 is marked as one of the greatest finals ever played, which redefined their legacy.
The Unexpected Fallout: BOOM Esports vs. Team Spirit
During DOTA 2: The International back in 2022, BOOM Esports—composed of Filipino and Indonesian players—found themselves in a critical lower bracket matchup against TI10 defending champions Team Spirit. BOOM entered the competition as underdogs, while Team Spirit carried the weight to chase another title.
Team Spirit went off to a strong start but eventually had a shaky run throughout the matchup. BOOM pushed beyond expectations, which led Team Spirit to lose their spot to advance to the next level.
Despite BOOM Esports not clinching the championship in the end, the clash between BOOM and Team Spirit exemplifies that even an established champion does not always guarantee victory and can be defeated midway through the game.
Ultimately, the rise of underdog teams highlights the unpredictable nature of every competition. Even world champions can fall when faced with opponents who are willing to fight the hardest. These unexpected triumphs show that greatness is earned through passion, not guaranteed by reputation.