The 10 Best Esports Players of All Time
By Barry on Apr 21st, 2025, 12:45
Defining the single best player is a near-impossible task, given the eras and different games; however, some names resonate louder than others in 2025. Prepare to meet these with the 10 greatest Esports players of all time.
Any discussion about the greatest Esports player usually starts and often ends with Faker.
Since his debut in 2013 with SK Telecom T1, Faker has amassed an unparalleled trophy cabinet: a staggering five World Championship titles (including the latest in 2023 and 2024), two Mid-Season Invitational victories, and ten domestic LCK titles.
Widely regarded as the best player in LoL, he holds records for kills, assists, and games played in the LCK and was the first player to get 100 Worlds wins, granting him a spot in the LoL Esports Hall of Legends.
When raw, skill takes center stage, s1mple enters the convo. Widely regarded as the most mechanically gifted player in Counter-Strike history, the Ukrainian AWPer has always challenged the concept of individual impact in-game.
While playing for Natus Vincere (NAVI), s1mple captured the Major championship at PGL Stockholm 2021, solidifying team OG's place among the best Esports teams in history.
However, that's not all; s1mple's trophy collection includes an Intel Grand Slam trophy and numerous S-Tier tournament wins.
As the captain and co-founder of OG, N0tail orchestrated arguably one of the most incredible feats in competitive Esports: back-to-back victories at The International (TI) in 2018 and 2019.
And, these weren't just wins; they were run-ins that defied the odds, netting OG unprecedented prize money. Beyond the Aegis of Champions, N0tail also boasts four Dota Major championships.
As the highest-earning Esports player ever with over $7.1 million, N0tail's legacy is cemented not just by wealth, but by team success at the highest level.
In StarCraft: Brood War, particularly during its golden age in South Korea, Flash achieved a god-like status. Known as the "Ultimate Weapon," Flash's dominance using the Terran was crazily good.
Flash holds a joint record of six premier Korean Starleague titles (OSL/MSL) and enjoyed the longest reign as the number one ranked player in the KeSPA system. Boasting an impressive win rate, he is regarded as one of the top players globally.
Daigo is a living legend in the Fighting Game Community. His career spans multiple decades and numerous wins, establishing him as one of the best Esports players in history.
Daigo holds six Evolution Championship Series (EVO) titles across various games, including Super Street Fighter II Turbo and Street Fighter IV, and has the Guinness World Record for being the most successful player in major Street Fighter tournaments.
Before massive arenas and multi-million-dollar prize pools became the norm, Fatal1ty was leading the way for future Esports players around the world. A true pioneer of professional gaming, Fatal1ty dominated the early Arena FPS scene, particularly in Quake and Painkiller.
He achieved the feat of winning five world championship titles across five different games, including multiple Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL) victories and the inaugural QuakeCon Doom 3 title.
His 2005 CPL World Tour win in Painkiller netted him a then-record $150,000. Fatal1ty was one of the first Esports players to build a successful personal brand, launching his line of gaming hardware and demonstrating to the world that competitive gaming could be a viable career path.
While maybe not always possessing the flashy aim of others, his game sense, consistency, and ability to perform under pressure were extraordinary. A legend in both CS 1.6 (with fnatic and SK Gaming) and CS: GO, GeT_RiGhT was a cornerstone of the legendary Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP) lineup that achieved the historic 87-0 map win streak on LAN.
He reached five consecutive Major finals, winning ESL One Cologne 2014, and was crowned HLTV's best player in the world in both 2013 and 2014. Inducted into the HLTV Hall of Fame.
f0rest stands alongside his long-time teammate GeT_RiGhT as a titan of Counter-Strike. Renowned for his crisp aim, incredible game sense, f0rest achieved success at the highest level in both CS 1.6 and CS:GO. He was part of the dominant fnatic lineup in 1.6 and a key component of the aforementioned NiP dynasty, sharing in the 87-0 streak and the ESL One Cologne 2014 Major victory.
Consistently ranked among the best players in the world for over a decade, f0rest's smooth mechanics and ability to deliver impactful frags made him one of the most respected and feared players in Esports.
Moon is royalty in the Warcraft III scene. Nicknamed "Fantasista" for his creative and often unorthodox strategies, Moon dominated the game primarily using the Night Elf race, sometimes referred to as the "Fifth Race" due to his mastery. He amassed an incredible collection of titles, including five world championships, and is often recognized as one of the best players in the Esports community.
Multiple televised Korean league titles (like MBCGame WarCraft League), and team league success. His micromanagement was legendary, often controlling armies with balletic precision. A torchbearer for the 2008 Beijing Olympics and an inductee into both the KeSPA and ESL Halls of Fame.
Puppey is well known for his exceptional strategy and leadership in Dota 2. As one of the few players to compete in the first eleven iterations of The International, Puppey's longevity is astounding. He captained Natus Vincere to victory at the inaugural The International (TI) in 2011 and reached the Grand Final in the following two years. He later founded and led Team Secret, consistently keeping them among the world's elite, including another appearance at The International (TI) Grand Final in 2022.
Known for his drafting and commanding presence, Puppey holds the record for the most games played and won at The International. While N0tail has the back-to-back wins, Puppey's sustained excellence across different teams and eras makes him one of the undeniable greatest players of all time in Dota 2.
Picking just ten names from the vast ocean of talent in Esports history is a monumental challenge, and many other legendary players in Esports could easily feature. Icons like Grubby (Warcraft III), Jaedong (StarCraft), Crimsix (Call of Duty), Ogre 2 (Halo), KennyS (CS: GO), and countless others have left indelible marks on the world of Esports.
Who do you think belongs on this list? Who is your personal greatest Esports player of all time? Let us know your thoughts!
