Torture; a combined 176 years worth to be exact, and Wednesday night’s winner take all match up to end one team’s drought was an instant classic.

It was a long time coming, but if there was ever a team that could lift the longest championship drought in sports history, it was this year’s Cubs. Led by Joe Maddon and assembled by the legendary Theo Epstein, Chicago marched into a historic meeting with the Cleveland Indians after trailing in the series three games to one. Two wins later and Chicago was poised to pop champagne in the Indian’s stadium a year after the Cleveland Cavaliers did the same thing on the Golden State Warrior’s home court. The Dubs also led their series three-games-to-one. Poetic justice anyone?

Cue the eighth inning, and All Star closer Aroldis Chapman is set to wrap this thing up for the Cubs, up 6-3 and one out away from going into the final inning. Then the unthinkable began happening, which was only fitting for a game featuring the two teams longest rooted in futility. The Indians began getting on base. And one strike away from that ninth inning, and boom: Rajai Davis hit a two run game tying home run. This was the only game-tying home run ever hit in the eighth inning or later in a Game 7 of a World Series.

Unreal.

Extra innings was set to roll in, and finally, one of these teams would be crowned champions. Not so fast. If the suspense wasn’t killing everyone watching by this point, a 17 minute rain delay surely didn’t help matters. When the action resumed, it felt like it was their time. 108 years later and it had the feeling of destiny. No more Billy Goat, no more curse, no more laughing stock.

After MVP Ben Zobrist doubled in the top of the tenth, it started taking shape. Fans at Wrigley could hear the championship parade that would be there next week, and players could see themselves popping bottles in the clubhouse. After the Indians brought home one run in the bottom half of the inning, the most memorable game in baseball history came to a close at 12:47 a.m. est. Victory at last.

After all the jokes and all of the curse talk, Theo Epstein painted the perfect picture to break a legend and sculpt history. Make no mistake, these Cubs are here to stay, with one of the youngest cores in the MLB. The city of Chicago can finally celebrate with  Harry Caray looking down on the champagne showers.

108 years in the making Cubs fans, you deserve it; fly that W.