Keep in mind that the landscape of eSports is continuously evolving, with new talents emerging frequently. Here are a few examples:
- Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev: A Ukrainian player who is often considered one of the greatest players in CS:GO history. He has been part of several teams, most notably Natus Vincere (Na’Vi).
- Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz: Hailing from Denmark, dev1ce is considered one of the most consistent players in the professional CS:GO scene. He has won multiple Major Championships with Astralis.
- Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut: This French player quickly rose to fame and is often compared to s1mple. He has shown remarkable talent and skill, playing for Team Vitality.
- Marcelo “coldzera” David: A Brazilian player who was the number one player in the world for two consecutive years (2016 and 2017), according to HLTV. He was part of the legendary Luminosity Gaming and SK Gaming lineups that dominated the scene for several years.
- Kenny “kennyS” Schrub: Another French player who is often cited as one of the best AWP (a sniper rifle in CS:GO) players in the game’s history. His quick and accurate playstyle made him a key asset to any team he was a part of.
- Christopher “GeT_RiGhT” Alesund: A Swedish player who was a key figure in the early days of CS:GO. He was part of the Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP) team that had an impressive 87-0 win streak in the early days of competitive CS:GO.
- Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo: Another Brazilian player who, alongside coldzera, was part of the dominant Luminosity Gaming and SK Gaming rosters. FalleN is known as one of the best in-game leaders and AWP players in CS:GO history.
These players have not only been recognized for their individual skills but have also played critical roles in successful teams at various times in the history of competitive CS:GO.
Biography Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev
Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev is a professional esports player from Ukraine who is often considered one of the greatest players in the history of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO).
Early Life:
Oleksandr Kostyliev was born on October 2, 1997, in Kyiv, Ukraine. Not much is publicly known about his early life apart from the fact that he has a brother, Alexey Kostylev, who introduced him to gaming and Counter-Strike.
Career:
S1mple’s career began in 2013 when he started playing CS:GO competitively. He gained recognition while playing for several small teams in the CIS region. His mechanical skill, particularly with sniper rifles (known as AWPing), and his wide range of abilities quickly drew attention from the larger global teams.
In 2014, s1mple joined the team HellRaisers, where he started gaining international recognition. Afterward, he had stints with teams like FlipSid3 Tactics and Team Liquid. His tenure with Team Liquid in 2016 was particularly noteworthy as it marked his debut in North American esports. He played a key role in Team Liquid reaching the semi-finals and finals of two major tournaments, making them the first North American team to do so.
After leaving Team Liquid, s1mple joined Natus Vincere (Na’Vi), one of the most prestigious esports organizations based in his home country of Ukraine. Here, s1mple cemented his reputation as one of the best players in the world. Under his leadership, Na’Vi won several major tournaments, and s1mple was often at the top of the individual player rankings.
S1mple has been awarded the HLTV.org’s Best Player of the Year award multiple times, which is a testament to his high skill level and impact on the game.
Playing Style:
S1mple is known for his aggressive and flashy playstyle. His mechanical skill, game sense, and versatility are often highlighted as his strengths. He can play effectively with any weapon but is particularly known for his prowess with the AWP. His ability to consistently make high-impact plays and carry his team in difficult situations has earned him the respect of both fans and peers alike.
Biography Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz
Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz is a professional esports player from Denmark, widely recognized as one of the most accomplished and consistent players in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) history.
Early Life:
Nicolai Reedtz was born on September 8, 1995, in Denmark. He began his professional esports career in 2009 with Counter-Strike: Source before transitioning to CS:GO in 2012, following the latter’s release.
Career:
Dev1ce’s professional CS:GO career really began to take off when he joined Team Dignitas in 2013, a team that would later become Astralis. The team quickly rose through the ranks and became one of the best in the world, in large part due to dev1ce’s strong and consistent performances.
In 2016, dev1ce and his teammates left Team Dignitas to form Astralis, which would go on to become one of the most successful CS:GO teams in history. Under the Astralis banner, dev1ce achieved an unprecedented level of success, including multiple victories at Major Championships such as ELEAGUE Atlanta 2017, FACEIT London 2018, IEM Katowice 2019, and StarLadder Berlin 2019.
Throughout his career, dev1ce has been praised for his consistent performance and impactful play, especially as an AWPer (a player who uses the AWP, a powerful sniper rifle in CS:GO). His patient and calculated playstyle serves as the backbone of his team’s strategy, and he is known for rarely making unforced errors or unnecessary risks.
In April 2021, dev1ce made a surprising move by leaving Astralis to join the Swedish organization Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP). This marked a significant change in his career, leaving the team he had spent the majority of his professional career with and moving to a new country.
Awards and Recognitions:
Dev1ce has been recognized many times for his skill and impact on the game. He was ranked in the top 5 of HLTV’s Top 20 players list every year from 2015 to 2020, a testament to his consistency and high level of play.
Biography Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut
Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut is a professional esports player from France who has made a significant impact in the world of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO).
Early Life:
Mathieu Herbaut was born on November 9, 2000, in France. He showed a keen interest in video games from a young age and was introduced to Counter-Strike by his brother.
Career:
ZywOo started his professional CS:GO career with a French team called “aAa” (against All authority) in 2018. However, his breakthrough came later in the same year when he joined Team Vitality, one of France’s top CS:GO teams.
Despite his young age, ZywOo quickly became known for his exceptional skill, particularly with the AWP, a powerful sniper rifle in CS:GO. His ability to make high-impact plays and his consistency were remarkable, often helping to carry Team Vitality through difficult matches.
In 2019, ZywOo was ranked as the best player in the world by HLTV, a significant accomplishment given that he was only 18 years old and it was his first year competing at the top level. He managed to repeat this feat in 2020, solidifying his status as one of the best players in CS:GO.
Playing Style:
ZywOo is known for his exceptional skill with the AWP but is also highly versatile, excelling with many other weapons as well. His game sense, aim, and ability to clutch (winning a round despite being one of the last remaining players) are often highlighted as some of his key strengths.
Biography Marcelo “coldzera” David
Marcelo “coldzera” David is a Brazilian professional esports player who has made significant contributions to the world of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO).
Early Life:
Marcelo David was born on October 31, 1994, in Brazil. Little is publicly known about his early life, though his passion for gaming, especially for Counter-Strike, is well-documented.
Career:
Coldzera began his professional CS:GO career in Brazil, but his international breakthrough came when he joined Luminosity Gaming in 2015. Alongside his teammates, including Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo, coldzera helped elevate the team to new heights. Luminosity Gaming later became SK Gaming due to a change in sponsorship.
Coldzera quickly established himself as one of the best players in the world. In 2016, at the MLG Major Championship: Columbus, he made one of the most iconic plays in CS:GO history, known as the “Jumping Double,” earning him the Play of the Year award from PC Gamer.
In both 2016 and 2017, coldzera was named the top player in the world by HLTV, further solidifying his place in CS:GO history. During this time, Luminosity/SK Gaming was one of the most dominant teams in the scene, winning two Major Championships back-to-back (MLG Columbus 2016 and ESL One Cologne 2016).
In 2019, coldzera left MIBR (the team that SK Gaming had become due to another sponsorship change) and joined FaZe Clan, a European team. His move marked a significant shift in his career as he would be playing outside of a Brazilian lineup for the first time.
Playing Style:
Coldzera is known for his high game sense and exceptional aim. His ability to perform in high-pressure situations, often outsmarting opponents, earned him a reputation as one of the best clutch players in the game. His consistent performances were a key factor in the success of his teams.
Biography Kenny “kennyS” Schrub
Kenny “kennyS” Schrub is a French professional esports player known for his extraordinary skills in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), particularly with the AWP (Arctic Warfare Police sniper rifle).
Early Life:
Kenny Schrub was born on May 19, 1995, in France. He began playing Counter-Strike at a young age and quickly demonstrated his exceptional talent, particularly as a sniper.
Career:
KennyS started his professional CS:GO career in 2012. He first rose to prominence while playing for the team VeryGames, which later became Titan.
In 2014, kennyS joined Team EnVyUs, where he truly became a household name. During his time with EnVyUs, the team won several major tournaments, including the DreamHack Open Cluj-Napoca 2015, one of the prestigious Major Championships in CS:GO.
After his stint with Team EnVyUs, kennyS moved to G2 Esports in 2017, another top French team. He continued to display his exceptional skills, contributing significantly to the team’s successes.
KennyS is known for his aggressive and flashy style of play with the AWP, making him one of the most exciting players to watch. His fast reflexes, accuracy, and ability to open rounds with key kills have earned him a reputation as one of the best AWPers in the history of CS:GO.
Throughout his career, kennyS has been awarded multiple individual accolades, including the Esports Awards’ PC Player of the Year in 2015 and being consistently ranked among the top players in the world by HLTV.
Biography Christopher “GeT_RiGhT” Alesund
Christopher “GeT_RiGhT” Alesund is a professional esports player from Sweden who is considered one of the greatest players in Counter-Strike history.
Early Life:
Christopher Alesund was born on May 29, 1990, in Stockholm, Sweden. From a young age, he showed a keen interest in video games, particularly Counter-Strike.
Career:
GeT_RiGhT began his professional career in Counter-Strike 1.6, where he quickly became recognized as one of the top players in the world. In 2012, following the release of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), he transitioned to the new game and joined Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP), a prominent Swedish esports organization.
GeT_RiGhT and his NiP teammates achieved one of the most legendary streaks in CS:GO history, going 87-0 in map wins at LAN tournaments from 2012 to 2013. The team was dominant in the early days of competitive CS:GO and won the ESL One Cologne 2014 Major Championship.
Known for his lurker role and clutch capabilities, GeT_RiGhT was named the best player in the world by HLTV in 2013 and 2014. His consistent performances, game sense, and exceptional skill in high-pressure situations have earned him the respect of both fans and peers alike.
In 2020, after a lengthy tenure with NiP, GeT_RiGhT left the organization. Later in the year, he joined Dignitas, reuniting with his former NiP teammates.
Biography Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo
Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo is a professional esports player from Brazil who is widely considered one of the most influential figures in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO).
Early Life:
Gabriel Toledo was born on May 30, 1991, in Brazil. He showed an early interest in gaming, particularly Counter-Strike, which he began playing at a young age.
Career:
FalleN started his professional gaming career in Counter-Strike 1.6 but rose to international prominence with the release of CS:GO. He is often credited as the godfather of Brazilian CS:GO due to his efforts in cultivating and promoting the scene in his home country.
FalleN’s big break came when he joined Luminosity Gaming in 2015. The team, composed entirely of Brazilian players, quickly became a force to be reckoned with in the international scene. With FalleN as their in-game leader and primary AWPer (sniper), Luminosity Gaming, which later became SK Gaming due to a sponsorship change, won two Major Championships back-to-back (MLG Columbus 2016 and ESL One Cologne 2016).
His leadership, strategic acumen, and exceptional sniping skills have earned FalleN a reputation as one of the best players and in-game leaders in the world. After leaving MIBR (the team that SK Gaming had become due to another sponsorship change) in 2020, FalleN joined the international roster of Team Liquid in early 2021.
