Writer, Host & Producer. Left a PhD in English to talk about AWPs for a living. I'm into rare vinyl, extreme metal & Side 3 of the White Album.
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Articles by Dimitri Pascaluta
How a Salty, Raging Superfan Became Esports' Iconic Crying Caster
by Brendan Fahey, Dimitri Pascaluta, Miles Hackett, Alina Sotula, Daniel Rosen 2d ago Sponsored By GEICO - Fighting back tears at EVO may not be easy, but you know what is? Switching to GEICO – 15 minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance: http://on.gei.co/theScore Every game has its pillars - the people you think of immediately when you hear its name.
How Valorant's Biggest Sh*tdisturbed Teabagged His Way to a World Title
Sportsmanship has always been an important part of competition. But, sometimes, being all nice and respectful just gets kinda boring. Sometimes you quite literally dunk on your opponent and, at that point, you don’t owe them sh*t. The thing is, having an ego isn’t exclusive to traditional sports. In fact, we’ve seen our fair share of it in esports. Across the whole of esports, one form of BM has stood the test of time: teabagging.
How a Creative Cringelord Freed Esports Broadcasts From Being Boring as F@*k
by Matt Massey, Dimitri Pascaluta, Danny Burke, Brandon Mistele, Miles Hackett, Sean Wetselaar 17 minutes ago What makes an esports caster legendary? Is it their innate ability to perfectly capture exactly what you’re feeling? Their ingenious ability to improvise that raises the hair on the back of your neck? Or maybe it’s their capacity to string together words that transcend the very games they’re casting?
Homeless to Pro: He One Tapped Shroud and It Changed His Life
by Shihab Mian, Dimitri Pascaluta, Alina Sotula, Daniel Rosen, Connor Dunn 18 minutes ago Picture this: you’re Shroud and you load into an Apex Legends server. You cruise your way into the final three, are gearing up to take that easy dub, and then, out of nowhere, you get one-tapped by someone you've never heard of. Your first thought would have to be: "this kid’s a cheater . . . right"? But, as Shroud quickly learned, on that day, he’d stepped into the crosshairs of Bowen “Monsoon” Fuller.
The Rise and Fall of CS:GO's Most Iconic Pistol Player
by Matt Massey, Dimitri Pascaluta, Brandon Mistele, Miles Hackett, Alina Sotula 39 minutes ago What does it take to be the absolute best at something? Is it an unwavering, unquestionable self-belief? Is it the countless hours of grueling practice? Maybe it’s just a natural, God-given talent. Or, maybe it has to do with a little bit of luck? For most players, it’s probably a combination of all those things. But in the case of CS:GO legend "dennis," his specific talent remains a bit of a mystery.
How a Head Injury Inspired a Kid on Reddit to Create Rocket League's Sexiest Mechanic
by Matt Massey, Shihab Mian, Dimitri Pascaluta, Niall McCrossan, Miles Hackett 10h ago Plenty of esports have specific moves that are nicknamed by their community. Whether it’s CS:GO, VALORANT, Rainbow Six: Siege or League of Legends, players around the world often race each other to be the first to discover them. And in some cases, these mechanical contributions have seen certain players become forever immortalized by their game’s community.
How a Middle-Aged Mom Accidentally Upstaged a League of Legends Superstar
Sponsored By GEICO - Having your quiet life invaded by League of Legends diehards may not be easy, but you know what is? Switching to GEICO – 15 minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance: http://on.gei.co/theScore There are a lot of perks to being an esports athlete. You get to travel the world, you make a living playing video games, and if you're especially popular, you'll have legions of fans that will do anything for your attention.
How a Cracked Controller God Became Dr. Disrespect's Secret Weapon
by Shihab Mian, Dimitri Pascaluta, Miles Hackett, Jason Durante, Josh Bury 35 minutes ago Whether we’re talking about the earliest days of Justin.tv or Twitch’s current, continuing surge in popularity, online streaming has always been about entertainment. The success stories we see today aren’t just following the trails of early adopters, or esports retirees: they’re people intentionally trying to reach the top. And some of them are using their knowledge of entertainment to do it.
He Survived Cheating Accusations and Death Threats to Become Valorant's Next Prodigy
by Brendan Fahey, Shihab Mian, Dimitri Pascaluta, Alina Sotula, Daniel Rosen 5 minutes ago Nathan "leaf" Orf was one of most exciting, promising young CS:GO players in the world. He came out of nowhere, and everyone was talking about him. But everything changed when he was accused of cheating after demolishing some of the greatest players of all time. No one was singing him praises. Instead, all he got were death threats. But leaf didn’t take the accusations laying down.
How the Oldest Esport in the World Did the Impossible and Conquered Twitch
by Andrew Faigal, Shihab Mian, Dimitri Pascaluta, Niall McCrossan, Alina Sotula, Daniel Rosen 18 minutes ago On Twitch, games come and go. The biggest streamers can bring new titles a lot of attention, but most hot games on Twitch are fads, brand new titles that don’t have staying power. But last year, something weird happened. Twitch got hooked on a new game - except it wasn’t new at all. Chess broke all the rules of Twitch.
The Weeby Wonderkid Who Became Valorant's First 'W' Warrior
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Niall McCrossan, Brandon Mistele, Miles Hackett, Jason Durante 18d ago Tactical shooters have been a force in online gaming for over two decades. These games have developed a core set of values over the years, with each player filling a specific role for their team. And, being the genre’s new kid on the block, Valorant has chosen to adopt many of these same values. But the thing about rules and tradition, is... well, not everyone is interested in following them.
The Top 10 Dumbest Ways to Die in Esports
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Brian Van Huynh, Daniel Rosen 35 minutes ago There’s no embarrassment quite like the shame you feel when you die for the dumbest reasons possible. Whether you got hit in the head with a flashbang or you fell off a cliff and watched helplessly as your bones crunched into the pavement, nothing is more humiliating than dying for a stupid reason, especially when you could have avoided it.
How CS:GO's Sloth-Like Superstar Vibed His Way to a Grand Slam
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Fermin Mulett, Brandon Mistele, Miles Hackett, Jason Durante 30 minutes ago It’s no secret that esports competitors can be extremely regimented in how they play. But this isn’t just about weuird, organizational quirks. It's about what they say about those who’ve trademarked them. Esports are stressful and everyone is entitled to deal with that stress in their own way. But there’s one top-level contestant in CS:GO for whom none of this applies.
theScore esports
Roughly six months ago, the abuse of a spectator bug caused a massive coaching scandal and rocked the CS:GO scene. Three coaches were initially banned, 37 coaches were eventually found guilty and everyone had an opinion about what should happen next. Well, everyone except Valve.
Valve Just BANNED All Coaches From CS:GO... Sort Of
by Devin Jones, Shihab Mian, Dimitri Pascaluta, Keith Capstick 2 months ago Roughly six months ago, the abuse of a spectator bug caused a massive coaching scandal and rocked the CS:GO scene. Three coaches were initially banned, 37 coaches were eventually found guilty and everyone had an opinion about what should happen next. Well, everyone except Valve. But then last week, Valve dropped one of their CLASSIC blog post responses out of the blue.
The Brilliant Beefcake Who Bench-Pressed the Gods of CS:GO
by Matt Massey, Dimitri Pascaluta, Fermin Mulett, Miles Hackett 32 minutes ago These days, esports’ biggest stars routinely dismantle old stereotypes about ‘gamer’ health. How? Uh, well, by getting swole. But I think it’s fair to say that all of them shrink in comparison to Benjamin "blameF" Vang Bremer, Complexity Gaming's gargantuan IGL. A player who is equally as capable of popping your head on the server as he is off of it.
Built Different, Built to Last: The Retired Legend Who Came Back to Run-Over CS:GO
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Fermin Mulett, Miles Hackett, Jason Durante 17d ago Unlike many of his French kinsmen, Cedric 'RpK' Guipouy has long been regarded as an altogether unemotional assailant. A silent yet slippery sentinel who’s strong in any position and able to stay calm and collected in even the tensest of circumstances. A reputation that’s led him to being dubbed “The Tank”.
Built Different, Built to Last: The Retired Legend Who Came Back to Run-Over CS:GO
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Fermin Mulett, Miles Hackett, Jason Durante 1h ago Unlike many of his French kinsmen, Cedric 'RpK' Guipouy has long been regarded as an altogether unemotional assailant. A silent yet slippery sentinel who’s strong in any position and able to stay calm and collected in even the tensest of circumstances. A reputation that’s led him to being dubbed “The Tank”.
The Controversial Grind That Turned a Panda into WoW's Most Famous Pacifist
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Fermin Mulett, Miles Hackett, Jason Durante, Josh Bury 31 minutes ago Sponsored By GEICO - Leveling up as a pacifist in World of Warcraft may not be easy, but you know what is? Switching to GEICO – 15 minutes could save you 15% or more on car insurance: http://www.GEICO.com/gaming World of Warcraft has been around for nearly 16 years, and the Warcraft series goes back another ten. And throughout that entire period, the games have always featured one thing prominently — war.
How CS:GO's Dirtiest Cheater Inspired the Game's Most Ridiculous Meme
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Fermin Mulett, Miles Hackett, Jason Durante, Josh Bury 17 minutes ago Esports is a truly global phenomenon — but that doesn’t mean that every region is on equal footing. But among the regions that are expected to soak up all the silverware, are those that are fighting just to be recognized. Formidable dark horses that have overcome incredible odds, despite the challenges they've faced along the way.
Did He Cheat? The Unsolvable Mystery of CS:GO's Most Suspicious Player
Robin “flusha” Ronnquist, a three-time Major winner who, in addition to having one of the biggest brains in CS:GO, is one of the game’s most controversial figures. Not because of anything he’s said, but rather because of some dubious plays on the server... For more great videos, be sure to subscribe to theScore esports on YouTube.
theScore esports
Competition is built on rivalry. And some of esports' greatest stories are about two great players vying for glory, constantly outdoing one another in pursuit of victory. But "xPeke" vs. ocelote" isn't that kind of story. It's the story of a rivalry that exists exclusively in fans' heads.
The Brutal Legacy of Esports' Most Disrespectful Beatdown
Carl "Perfect Legend" White spent years building a respectable reputation as one of the best Mortal Kombat players. But this long-time fighting game player isn't celebrated for being a three-time EVO winner. No, his legacy has become overshadowed by an infamous first-to-ten exhibition match with SonicFox that took on a life of its own transforming into one of the FGC's cruelest and funniest memes.
The Wonderchild Who Became CS:GO’s Most Bullied A**hole
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Fermin Mulett, Miles Hackett, Jason Durante 10 minutes ago It’s no secret that, in any game, people love to watch winners lose. It doesn’t matter if it’s Faker, Fabian, the entirety of Astralis, or the awe-inspiring underdog OG. Dominance eventually breeds a community hunger for downfall. Especially if the team on top is flexing it. See, it’s one thing if whoever’s dominating your esport is also humble. The darling of the scene, who looks as if they simply stumbled into success.
The Lovable Bully Who Became the Undisputed King of CS:GO’s Deadliest Alleyway
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Miles Hackett, Jason Durante 29 minutes ago In esports, as in life, rulers are destined to rise and fall. Sometimes, a crown naturally finds its way onto the brow of an up-and-comer, heralding a new era of royalty. Other times, it’s left unattended, and gets seized as a result. As the level of competition increases, those who’ve been deemed masters of their craft are fated to be dethroned.
How Esports' Greatest Rap God Emerged From Its Most Agonizing Game
by Matt Massey, Dimitri Pascaluta, Fermin Mulett, Miles Hackett, Alina Sotula 21 minutes ago Every hero has a storyline that defines them. Sometimes it’s a fateful event that turns an ordinary person into a legend, or maybe it’s through their determination to overcome heart-breaking adversity. Whatever form these moments take, one thing is certain – they don’t present themselves that often. But when they do – if they’re seized – they’re capable of changing lives forever.
How Bad Luck and a Big Ego Ruined the Career of League’s Most Promising Superstar
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Miles Hackett, Jason Durante 12 minutes ago Every once in a while we see the rise of a true superstar. A world-class, one-in-a-million competitor who, quite simply, has it all. These individuals have the plays, they have the personality, and their unmistakable it factor. Because, at the end of the day, esports isn’t just about dominating the competition. It’s about doing it in style.
How Faker’s Greatest Play Turned One Man into the Face of Esports Failure
No one likes to be on the receiving end of someone else's highlight. But typically, most top tier competitors are able to shrug-off these humiliating instances and move on with their lives. Yoo "Ryu" Sang-wook, however, hasn't been that lucky. For more great videos, be sure to subscribe to theScore esports on YouTube.
F@*K Retirement: How CS:GO’s Oldest Aim God Keeps Turning Back the Clock
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Fermin Mulett, Miles Hackett, Alina Sotula, Jason Durante 1h ago In esports, there is no such thing as being too young to compete. But on the other end of the spectrum, a player’s shelf life is usually not a long one, at a certain point, players become too old. Whatever the reason may be, most pros accomplish their greatest feats early on in their careers and transition into background roles like coaching or being an IGL, or they just retire.
How a Diss Track Led to Esports' Most Humiliating Beatdown
by Matt Massey, Dimitri Pascaluta, Fermin Mulett, Miles Hackett 26 minutes ago Esports is no stranger to cringe. From terrible handshakes, to weird entrances to god awful trash talk, we’ve seen, and gritted our teeth through it all. But there is one moment, one awkward, almost unwatchable moment that we always come back to. A trainwreck from half a decade ago that not only produced one of esports' juiciest beefs and most humiliating beatdowns, but unquestionably its greatest diss track.
The Controversial Loudmouth Who Became CS:GO's Most Iconic Rager
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Fermin Mulett, Miles Hackett 24 minutes ago Mohamad "m0E" Assad is loud, animated and hilarious. Not only has the former pro CS player created some of the funniest and most recognizable soundbites in Counter-Strike history, but he's also become the scene's most iconic and controversial rager. So, how is it that this hot-headed, desk-pounding man-child become such a household name in esports?
Esports’ Worst Dream Team: The Hilarious Disaster That Was Delta Fox
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Miles Hackett, Alina Sotula, Jason Durante 7 minutes ago What can you expect when you create a roster stacked with superstars? Occasionally, you get to see a real synergy of talent and flashes of greatness. Now and then, you see dominant personalities clash. And once in a while, the parts work together so well that long-standing rivalries turn into unstoppable friendships. But sometimes, what sounds good in theory, doesn’t take form in practice.
The Fighting Game God Cursed to Suck Until September
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Fermin Mulett, Miles Hackett, Daniel Rosen 11 minutes ago Some of esports’ most legendary and adored players have earned almost mythical titles. And in most cases, these monikers are worn like badges of honor, commemorating the unparalleled skill and excellence of these titans in game. But that’s not always the case with nicknames. Sometimes they’re given for different reasons, just look at an oddball like Kenryo “Mago” Hayashi as proof.
The Cocky Underdog Who Tried to Monetize Dick Pics at a CS:GO Major
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Miles Hackett, Jason Durante 36 minutes ago Every accomplished professional can think back on that one moment where they were able to look around, smile, and say with absolute certainty, I’ve made it. And in CS:GO one of those moments arrives when you punch your first ticket to a Major, earning you the right to design your own in-game sticker – weaving your name into the fabric of Valve’s busted code forever.
The Ingenious Dumbass Who Can't Stop Throwing
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Miles Hackett 1h ago Jacky “EternaLEnVy” Mao is one of the coin-flippiest competitive gamers alive and he’s developed a reputation for doing things that are so transparently absurd that it genuinely isn’t clear whether they’re strokes of brilliance, or fits of madness. And over the years, EnVy’s single-minded commitment to this unreliable fiftEE-fiftEE play-style has taken on a life of its own, oftentimes to the detriment of his own career.
The Rise and Fall of CS:GO's Unkickable Bad Boy
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Miles Hackett, Jason Durante 5 minutes ago Lincoln “fnx” Lau is a problem. The two-time CS:GO Major winning, tatted-up Brazilian bad boy might be incredibly talented, but off the server he's known for being problem-causing liability for his teammates. So why is it that every roster that gives him the boot is doomed to never win a Major without him? Well it’s simple really: “No fnx, no Major.” For more great videos, be sure to subscribe to theScore esports on YouTube.
The Polite Killer Who Became the Clutch King of Counter-Strike
Whenever anyone talks about great teams in esports, they usually just want to talk about the superstars. But as often as these gods might bask in the warmth of the spotlight, sometimes they’re known to burst into flames when they’re forced under it. But for Andreas “Xyp9x” Højsleth things are a little different... For more great videos, be sure to subscribe to theScore esports on YouTube.
The Major-Winning Matchfixer Who Dodged a Lifetime Ban
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Miles Hackett, Alina Sotula, Jason Durante 11 minutes ago There comes a time in every player’s career when they have to put it all on the line for a chance to win big. A moment where they throw caution to the wind and simply hope for the best. And sometimes those gambles have spectacular pay-offs. But there have also been infamous moments when players didn’t need to put anything on the line and chose to risk everything. Solo's was one of those moments.
The Drunken Master Who Became Smash’s Shameless God
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Miles Hackett 25 minutes ago Sponsored by Grubhub - Today's Offbeat is brought to you by Grubhub, helping bring your favorite dishes safely to your door with contact-free delivery. Use the link below for $10 off with Grubhub's daily Perk, and get FREE Delivery with your order! https://grhb.me/dontatme For Joseph "Mang0" Marquez, cementing his reputation as one of the greatest Melee players of all time wasn't enough.
The CS:GO Legend Who Terrorizes Scrubs With His Toxic Persona
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Miles Hackett, Jason Durante 35 minutes ago Everybody has a different way of coping with the chaotic, soul-destroying nightmare that is solo queue. Whether it’s leavers, cheaters, team-killers, loud-mouthed silvers, or people who use the M4A1-S over the M4A4, we’ve all been burned by the inextinguishable hellfire that is online matchmaking.
The Top 10 Insane League Strats That Actually Worked
by Dimitri Pascaluta 15 minutes ago League of Legends is a game where the meta is constantly shifting. Every patch is different, with certain champions and strategies usually being the right pick. Which means there are always bad ideas. But, sometimes, the insane, idiotic ideas are actually genius. Today we wanted to celebrate the craziest picks, plays and strategies in League of Legends. Here are the Top 10 Insane League Strats… that actually worked.
The Best, Worst Player Ever: The Enigma of CS:GO’s Most Unpredictable AWPer
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Miles Hackett, Alina Sotula 19h ago In Counter-Strike, players aren’t just trying to lift comically large cheques and trophies, they’re looking to write themselves into history. There are legends who will be remembered for their incredible aim. Those that will be celebrated for their inhuman ability to prevail against the odds, and there are others who will be immortalized for single acts of heroism.
The Superstar Being Sabotaged By His Own Alter Ego
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Miles Hackett, Alina Sotula, Jason Durante 16 minutes ago Even the greatest esports players have bad days at the office. But in League of Legends, there’s one superstar in particular who has become known for his consistent ability to reach the highest of highs... only to regularly follow it up with the lowest of lows. And over the course of his career, it’s created an inescapable conflict within him. For more great videos, be sure to subscribe to theScore esports on YouTube.
The Incredible AWPer Cursed to Miss CS:GO’s Easiest Shots
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Miles Hackett, Alina Sotula 42 minutes ago Everyone misses their shots now and then. Even the sharpest of shooters occasionally throw away free kills because of momentary lapses in concentration. But what if these events weren't just anomalies? And what if your erratic aim was so consistent that it became your trademark? Well, in the unfortunate case of a certain CS:GO player, that’s exactly what happened...
Why a Misfit Millionaire Sacrificed His Ferrari to Esports' First God
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Miles Hackett, Brandon Mistele, Jason Durante, Daniel Rosen 13 minutes ago These days, esports’ biggest players are basically nerdy rockstars. They’re wearing thousand dollar shoes, driving flashy sports cars and even starring in overly obnoxious Doritos commercials. But long before then, in a prehistoric era, there was one, original superstar gamer.
The Rise and Fall of CS:GO's Most One-Dimensional Superstar
For the vast majority of Counter-Strike players, one-taps are nothing more than a flashy way of asserting mechanical dominance on the server. But for Adil "ScreaM" Benrlitom, they're not just an obsession – they're a way of life. For more great videos, be sure to subscribe to theScore esports on YouTube.
Why is Esports Lore So F@#!ing Bad? | OverExplained
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Fermin Mulett, Miles Hackett, Jason Durante, Josh Bury 6 minutes ago The relationship between esports titles and their in-game stories, or lore, is pretty weird. Some games have almost none. Others had to build a story to justify why the game exists at all. We’ve had companies backtrack entirely and re-write their game’s lore from the ground up. And in others, the lore is just downright f@#!ing weird. For more great videos, be sure to subscribe to theScore esports on YouTube.
The Top 10 One-in-a-Million Plays in Esports
Sometimes, esports isn’t JUST about skill, prowess or strategy. Some of our favourite plays of all time weren’t born solely out of someone outplaying, out thinking or outmaneuvering their opponent.They were born… from a little luck. So with that, join us in counting down the top 10 One-in-a-Million Plays in Esports! For more great videos, be sure to subscribe to theScore esports on YouTube.
The Man Who Conquered His Demons and Became the God of Dota
by Dimitri Pascaluta, Dan Cole, Daniel Rosen 2 minutes ago For a long time, people thought that Anathan “ana” Pham was one of the most overrated players in Dota. A self-conscious sixteen-year-old who just didn’t have the mental fortitude to cut it in the big leagues — even though he played for the biggest team in the game. Now, he’s a two-time Major winner, part of the first roster in history to win back-to-back TIs and, as far as the community is concerned, the indisputable God of Dota.
What is Hacking? How Harmless Pranksters Became Gaming's Gutless Cheaters
In a world where the most popular video games are online, there exists a better class of criminal. Rogues who refuse to play by the digitally-coded rules. Villains who can be as absurd as they are disruptive. We’re talking, of course, about hackers. For more great videos, be sure to subscribe to theScore esports on YouTube.
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