Unmatched influence: Esports’ most influential players ever
The esports world has seen many iconic players throughout the years. These players were not always the most dominant stars, but their impact shaped how their games are played and perceived today.
By identifying the most influential players across the esports industry’s history, you get a glimpse into the games and how they’ve changed over the years. Before looking at the top players, you must understand the characteristics first.
What makes a player influential?
Influence can have many definitions in esports, but it usually involves pioneering a play style in their respective game. At the same time, these are players who made people interested in the game and possibly got them to play.
Iconic players deserve all the praise they receive for their impact and how they inspired a newer generation. These names played significant roles in their chosen game’s history in esports.
Some players introduced their games to a new generation, and they were influential enough to grow the game. Now, have a look at the biggest names in certain esports that have left their mark on their games and the esports:
Danil ‘Dendi’ Ishutin (Dota 2)
Across Dota 2’s illustrious history, there have been many amazing players. Names like Amer ‘Miracle-’ Al-Barkawi and Sumail ‘SumaiL’ Hassan come to mind due to their success and influence. Before they stood out, Danil ‘Dendi’ Ishutin was Dota 2’s most prominent star.
He won the very first The International in 2011 with Natus Vincere, and he was the star player in the mid lane. Throughout the years, Dendi became popular with the variety of heroes and play styles he had as a mid laner. Most people associate him with Pudge, as he always had innovative ways to use the Meat Hook, including the legendary Fountain Hook game in 2013.
Dendi was also known for many playmaking heroes, such as Puck, Rubick, and Shadow Fiend. With his friendly demeanour and bubbly personality, Dendi became an endearing player that people wanted to watch, and he became Dota 2’s first superstar, whose play style remains influential today.
Christopher ‘GeT_RiGhT’ Alesund (Counter-Strike)
Counter-Strike dates back to the 2000s when 1.3 and 1.6 were the popular games. That was when Swedish player Christopher ‘GeT_RiGhT’ Alesund got his start, as he started playing in 2007. He stood out for Fnatic starting in 2009, winning multiple trophies before moving to SK Gaming.
However, GeT_RiGhT would get his biggest break as part of the Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP) team in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. It was a star-studded roster, but GeT_RiGhT was the team’s standout player. He was always pulling off the clutch plays, mostly coming from unexpected spots on the map.
He was an innovative player, as he pioneered the ‘Lurker’ play style. It is a style that focuses on control and non-aggression. A player with this style wants to catch their opponents off guard, and GeT_RiGhT did that with excellent timing and game sense.
It became such an influential style that even Valorant players have also played it in that role. Ayaz ‘nAts’ Akhmetshin’s play as a lurker in Valorant felt very similar to GeT_RiGhT, which cements his influence across different first-person shooter games.
Daigo Umehara (Street Fighter/FGC)
The fighting game community (FGC) is filled with all kinds of iconic players. For them, Daigo Umehara is a living legend. He specialised in 2D arcade fighting games, but Street Fighter was his most iconic game, where he is also considered arguably the greatest player.
In the Guinness Book of World Records, he is the most successful Street Fighter player ever, which is also backed up by his six Evo Championship Series wins. Many Street Fighter players look up to Daigo, as he proved that one could take over the game and become a legend. His influence is not only seen in SF, but in other fighting games too.
Known for his discipline, precision, and legendary game sense, Daigo is influential. The most iconic moment of his career is the legendary Evo 2004: Moment #37, when he parried an entire combo to snatch victory from the jaws of defeat. That brought new fans into the FGC, cementing his status as an influential FGC icon that other players look up to.
Hong ‘MadLife’ Min-gi (League of Legends)
Playing the support role is fun, but people have a bad perception of it as it is not flashy enough. That changed when Hong ‘MadLife’ Min-gi redefined what the role could do. He was a playmaking support, and that was evident with his performances on champions like Thresh and Blitzcrank.
Most of the time, people see the support role as a passive one. The players who play the support-based champions are usually behind the attack-damage carry (ADC) during team fights. That is not the case with MadLife, as he was usually the support player who initiated the fights, and was there on the frontline.
He would find ways to weave in and out of the fight to keep using his champion’s abilities. That required impressive game sense, and MadLife showed that support players are not replaceable, as they can also make significant plays on the same level as a top-laner or an ADC.
Matthew ‘Nadeshot’ Haag (Call of Duty)
Matthew ‘Nadeshot’ Haag was a top-tier Call of Duty player during his heyday, but his influence goes beyond the controller. He was a captivating player who had clutch performances, and he had a relatable personality to boot.
Although already a respected pro, his legacy grew even more after retirement when he founded 100 Thieves, one of the iconic esports organisations. Nadeshot is a competitive person, and that has bled into his org, content creation, and more. His business savvy turned him into the blueprint that esports players follow today.
