10 Esports moments that were definitely worth it

We’ve all made questionable decisions while gambling, only to use the word “worth” to justify it afterward. However, esports pros can sometimes take this term to another level.

Your plays have a massive impact on gameplay and can sometimes turn a game upside down. That’s why today we’ve picked out 10 esports moments that were definitely worth it. Have fun!

10. Ball juggling until overtime

Today’s list starts with the legendary RLCS final from 2018 between NRG and Dignitas. With 4 seconds on the clock and their backs against the wall, NRG were in desperate need of a hit. After the kick-off, the ball was basically off the ground and NRG had to somehow juggle it to score another goal.

It paid off just seconds later when jstn put the ball into Dignitas’ goal. In this case, it was worth fighting until the last second to get into overtime. However, the overtime went to Team Dignitas, who have been crowned the RLCS Champions.

9. World’s base race

The League of Legends World Championship promises tight matches and unbelievable plays every year. Just like this dramatic base race between KT Rolster and Invictus Gaming from the Quarterfinals of Worlds 2018. KT were down 2-0 after only 2 games and needed a miracle to progress against Invictus. In a base race, Game 3 should finally decide.

The special thing about this base race: KT top planer Smeb, who initially defended his own base, quickly realized that his opponent was superior to him. He gave up his own base and teleported to his team in the enemy base, where they destroyed the Nexus together at the last second. This teleport was probably game-changing and therefore worth it.

8. Dev1ce burning triple

Anyone who sacrifices their own life to help the team win, more than deserves a place on our list. Dev1ce did exactly that at the IEM Global Challenge Finale 2020. His team Astralis were already two maps ahead and tried to get the third map and thus the tournament victory.

Faced with three charging opponents, Dev1ce tried to make the best of the situation. Standing in a Molotov, he took out all opponents, two of them even with collateral, and won the round the second he burned up. His sacrifice was rewarded just a few turns later when Astralis won the map and were crowned the champions.

7. EMP play Overwatch

Sometimes it is not possible to take down opponents in conventional ways. In cases like this, you have to throw yourself to your death to help your team. Overwatch pro Lip did just that at Overwatch League 2021. In a match against the Chengdu Hunters, Lip plucked up courage and dove at his cliff-hanging opponents with an EMP. He ignited the EMP at the right time and both he and his opponents fell thanks to the EMP. Lip’s sacrifice paid off as his team won the map and best-of-three.

6. Dark Double KO

The following clip from EVO Online 2021 is an example of how sometimes the best way to go down is to take your opponent with you. In a close match between Brazilian opponents Didimokof and Dark, only a fraction of the life bar separated both players from a KO.

Dark decided on an extremely risky maneuver that, had he missed the move, would have resulted in his own KO. He put everything on one card and still managed to get a draw by double KO. This led to a new final game, which Dark won. For him, this risky move has definitely paid off.

5. Nexus Baron trade

The fifth place on our list is the pure definition of “Worth it” plays. During the group stage of League of Legends Worlds 2020, TSM and LGD faced off. TSM, who were already 0-5 at the time, just wanted a consolation win so as not to leave Worlds empty-handed. So when they saw their chance against LGD, they decided to start the Baron to take over the match.

What they didn’t consider was that LGD could just walk through to their base during this time. And so it happened. LGD ceded the Baron to TSM, but at the same time were able to reduce the base of the North Americans to rubble. A trade that was worthwhile for the Chinese, but didn’t help them to reach the playoffs either.

4. S2J risky KO

The following clip from EVO 2016 shows once again that risky plays can be worthwhile if executed correctly. In the game Super Smash Bros Melee, players S2J and Westballz delivered a bitter exchange of blows. S2J’s record against the Falco-Main was 0-11. He wanted to bring victory home all the more urgently. After a bit of back and forth, Westballz was able to take a slight lead. It was therefore for S2J to pack in the bag of tricks.

After a solid edge guard, Westballz still had a chance to get back onto the stage. Thus, S2J decided to perform a risky spike over the chasm that would have catapulted him to his death had he missed his opponent. The move worked and S2J won the match. For him, it was always worth taking the risk associated with the game.

3. Happy Deagle Ace

CS:GO legend Happy and his Desert Eagle made it onto the podium of DreamHack Open London 2015, specifically the Grand Final between TSM and EnVyUs. In an even game, money was tight and the French team went into an eco round. The fact that he doesn’t need a real weapon and is good with just a pistol, Happy demonstrated with an impressive ace, in which he eliminated four of five opponents with a headshot with a smoke. A worthwhile eco round brought momentum to EnVy’s side, who won the map and the final.

2. Dota2 TP cancels

One of the most exciting Dota2 finals makes it to number two on our list. We’re talking about the International 2013 final between NaVi and Alliance. In Game 5, Alliance had their backs to the wall, and NaVi were on the verge of winning their second TI title. Alliance knew they couldn’t stop NaVi’s push, and they used it to their advantage. They pushed both side lanes so penetratingly that NaVi were forced to retreat. With the help of their teleports, they wanted to defend their base.

However, they had reckoned without S4, who was left alone in the base and now took on the task of canceling as many teleports as possible. He managed to do that not just once, but twice within a few minutes. Thanks to this brilliant play, Alliance pulled off one of the craziest comebacks of all time. An ingenious tactic that definitely paid off.

1. Olofmeister’s Hot Defuse

First place on our Esports Worth it Plays list goes to Olofmeister’s hot Defuse during ESL Cologne 2014. At 14-14, Olof’s Team Fnatic found themselves in a post-plant situation against Dignitas and had to do everything they could to plant the bomb defuse. This was well guarded on all sides. Olofmeister finally plucked up courage and jumped onto the spot to defuse the bomb. However, he was standing in a Molotov, which was slowly but surely shrinking his life bar.

Only milliseconds before he was burned, he managed to defuse the bomb and get his team the all-important match point. So much sacrifice should be rewarded — Fnatic defeated Dignitas and advanced to the ESL ONE Cologne finals, where they lost to their compatriots NiP. Nevertheless, it was a memorable play by Olof that was rewarded with a graffiti after the tournament.