The History of DreamHack Summer
In 2002, the first DreamHack Summer event took place in Jönköping, Sweden. DreamHack had been hosting general and Winter events for almost a decade, but they decided to expand and hold two large events per year. DreamHack Summer, held in mid-June, focused on video games, while DreamHack Winter, held in late-November, was aimed toward the demo scene. Over time, the division between the events diminished, and now both cater to all audiences.
The First DreamHack Summer: Counter-Strike Tournament
The inaugural DreamHack Summer event featured a Counter-Strike tournament. Although there is limited information available regarding the tournament, it marked the beginning of DreamHack’s renowned Counter-Strike events. Since then, DreamHack has expanded to host tournaments all over Europe and North America.
Highlights of the Inaugural Tournament
The first DreamHack Summer tournament was a best-of-one double-elimination event, with 32 teams competing. The winners were Ninjas in Pyjamas, followed by “Divine” and “Backstab” in second and third place. Ninjas in Pyjamas holds the record for the most championships in DH Summer history, with four titles. Fnatic and SK Gaming have both won the event twice, while Natus Vincere has finished in second place three times without winning.
The Success of DreamHack Summer
DreamHack took a bold risk by dividing their events and creating DreamHack Summer, but it paid off tremendously. DH Summer has become a staple in the Counter-Strike community, growing bigger and better each year. DreamHack is now thriving and is in its 15th annual event, featuring a record-breaking $100,000 prize pool.
That concludes today’s edition. Check back tomorrow for more esports history on June 14.