Gaming
Esports
Looking back at the history of the World Cyber Games
With the World Cyber Games set for a return later this year, we run through the competition’s storied history ahead of this year’s venture in Xi’an, China.
Nostalgia is a powerful feeling, and it’s something that the World Cyber Games is set to tap into when it returns later this year in July. The legendary esports tournament ran each year from 2000 through to 2013, and featured some of the biggest names in esports at the time – but we haven’t seen a WCG since. After a solid 13 year run, the competition faded away, but now it's back with a bang, and there are lofty ambitions in store, too.
Crossfire developer Smilegate Holdings are the company responsible for reviving the WCG name, and they’re set to hold the 2019 finals in Xi’an, China later this year in July, aiming to revive the prestige that came with the original series. The WCG is different to other major esports tournaments, in that it features multiple titles, with countries sending out players to compete in a variety of titles – with national pride and a lofty prize pool on the line, too. That looks to be the same this year when the WCG returns, with a whole host of games set to be played – including Clash Royale, Dota 2, Hearthstone, Honor of Kings (Arena of Valor), Warcraft III and Smilegate’s own Crossfire.
With the official schedule and prize pool now officially revealed, it looks like it’s full steam ahead – and with that, we’re taking a trip down memory lane and exploring the history of the WCG, some of the past winners and where we can see the event going later this year.
WCG 2000
The very first World Cyber Games, held in Yongin, South Korea, almost 20 years ago sparked the start of the long running series, and held tournaments in Age of Empires II, StarCraft: Brood War, FIFA 2000, and of course, Quake III Arena. 180 competitors from 17 countries took part in the whole competition, and despite a strong South Korean contingent across the board, the West proved strong in Q3A, and would-be arena shooter legend Johnathan ‘Fatal1ty’ Wendel walked away with the top prize and a $25,000 cheque.
At a time when esports was still in its infancy, Wendel would go on to be one of the superstars of the time, showcasing his prowess in a variety of solo arena shooters, but it was Quake he made his name in. Though he would go on to further success, back in 2000, the WCG win was what essentially would be the start of his dominating career after he turned pro in 1999.
WCG 2001, 2002
In 2001, the WCG would move on to Seoul, where 389 competitors from 37 nations competed in six game titles to a crowd of over 30,000 spectators – numbers, that while are dwarfed today, are still incredible at a time when esports was still rising across the globe. Counter-Strike was added to the game roster, while FIFA would be updated to its 2001 edition, and Unreal Tournament was played alongside Quake III Arena.
One of those competitors, Lim Yo-hwan, then known as gonia119_kr, took first place in StarCraft: Brood War; a feat he would repeat again the following year in Daejeon, South Korea, beating out rival Hong ‘YellOw’ Jin-ho (and would remain the only StarCraft player to claim gold twice) starting the legacy of one of the greatest StarCraft players in the game’s storied history. The player who would eventually be known as BoxeR would then go on to be one of the most successful players across the globe – and his success was revered outside of StarCraft, too.
Spectators look on at the 2011 WCG Grand Finals
© Samsung
WCG 2003
The World Cyber Games would return to Seoul for the 2003 edition, which saw 562 players descend upon the South Korean capital to compete in seven titles; which would also be the first time console games were added to the roster, with Halo: Combat Evolved. Age of Empires was swapped out for Age of Mythology, while it would be the first time Warcraft III would join the competition.
SK Gaming’s legendary roster, featuring the likes of Emil ‘HeatoN’ Christensen, Michael ‘ahl’ Korduner, Tommy ‘Potti’ Ingemarsson, Christer ‘fisker’ Eriksson and Abdisamad ‘SpawN’ Mohamed, would go forth and dominate the competition, taking first place, and showcasing the might of that iconic roster, which is still revered even today.
WCG 2005
In 2005, for the second year running, the WCG headed outside of South Korea. Following on from San Francisco, 2005’s event took place in Singapore, where the US would rack up the most medals, and we would see the dominance of one of Halo 2’s most iconic duos in Halo history.
Dan and Tom Ryan, the twin brothers better known as OGRE1 and OGRE2, took the competition by storm, fighting side by side, and scooped the win without losing a single map along the way.
WCG 2006, 2009, 2011
The WCG worldwide train kept on going, and headed to Monza, Italy in 2006, where 700 competitors headed to the Monza Autodromo to compete in eight titles. It was a year with a mix of titles, including Need for Speed: Most Wanted, Warhammer 40,000: Dawn of War and Project Gotham Racing 3 alongside more typical esports fare like StarCraft: Brood War and Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne. But it would be in Counter-Strike 1.6 where we’re focusing on here, as Filip ‘NEO’ Kubski, widely considered to be one of the best players of all time, would go on to take the gold medal in Monza, with his team then known as Pentagram.
The Polish side would beat out NiP in the final, a feat NEO would repeat again with his later team, Again, in 2009, taking down a Fnatic side starring Patrik ‘f0rest’ Lindberg, Patrik ‘cArn’ Sättermon, and Christopher ‘GeT_RiGhT’ Alesund. NEO, the future Virtus.Pro star, would, then again, beat out f0rest to the gold medal with a win in 2011 in Busan, South Korea, with his side ESC ICY BOX, featuring the likes of Jarosław ‘pashaBiceps’ Jarząbkowski and Jakub ‘kuben’ Gurczyński, edging out a stacked SK Gaming side starring GeT_RiGhT and f0rest.
