HLTV has recently published statistics highlighting the best players in the history of CSGO Big Events
As Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO) bows out of the competitive scene, we take a moment to reflect on the incredible legacy left behind by the game’s greatest players during this era. HLTV, the authoritative source for all things Counter-Strike, has meticulously compiled statistics to determine who truly stood as the best players in the history of CSGO’s Big Events. Let’s find out the top five clutch players of all time in high-profile competitions played on CSGO.
All-Time Best Players in CSGO Big Events
Presenting the crème de la crème: here are the top five players who have consistently delivered outstanding performances in CSGO’s Big Events.
5. Marcelo “coldzera” David
- Rating in Big CSGO Tournaments: 1.15
- Maps Played in Big CSGO Tournaments: 555
Marcelo ‘Coldzera’ David undoubtedly stands as the pinnacle of Brazil’s CSGO talent pool. His legacy is defined by an astonishing achievement: a collection of eight HLTV tournament MVP titles, each a testament to his exceptional skill and consistency. His meteoric rise played a significant role in elevating CSGO’s popularity in Brazil.
The era of SK Gaming, with Coldzera as its star, marked an extraordinary chapter in CSGO’s competitive history. During this period, Coldzera and his team achieved the remarkable feat of clinching back-to-back major championships. This double-major triumph, at MLG Columbus 2016 and ESL One Cologne 2016, solidified Coldzera’s status as a true legend of the game.
To further underscore his unparalleled excellence, Coldzera joins an elite group of only two players who have secured the coveted top spot in HLTV’s end-of-year player rankings on two separate occasions.
4. Nikola “NiKo” Kovač
- Rating in Big CSGO Tournaments: 1.15
- Maps Played in Big CSGO Tournaments: 681
Nikola “NiKo” Kovač is undoubtedly one of the most illustrious figures in Counter-Strike history, a true legend whose talent has shone brightly on the competitive stage. Over the course of his illustrious career, NiKo has secured numerous prestigious S-tier titles. The Bosnian also boasts an impressive tally of eight MVP awards.
While the coveted Major championship remained just out of reach for NiKo, his journey through the CSGO landscape is nothing short of extraordinary. His resume boasts significant victories at tournaments like ESL One: New York 2017, Intel Extreme Masters XIII – Sydney, and the EPICENTER 2018. Most recently, he has won the IEM Katowice 2023 and IEM Cologne 2023 with G2.
3. Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz
- Rating in Big CSGO Tournaments: 1.17
- Maps Played in Big CSGO Tournaments: 634
Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz stands tall as the epitome of excellence among Counter-Strike players hailing from Denmark, a nation with a storied legacy in the world of Counter-Strike. The Astralis AWPer rose to prominence in TSM colors as he was named the third best player in the world by HLTV in 2015. Maintaining a stellar rating of 1.15, he steered TSM to triumphant victories at prestigious events such as the FACEIT League Stage 1 and 2, as well as the FragBite Season 4.
After joining Astralis, he became part of the team’s most successful period. Between 2017 and 2019, Astralis were the team to beat in global CSGO and dev1ce’s sniping prowess was a key contributor to their success. The 28-year-old has an astonishing 19 MVP crests in his cabinet.
2. Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut
- Rating in Big CSGO Tournaments: 1.24
- Maps Played in Big CSGO Tournaments: 357
Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut hit the ground running in his Counter-Strike career as he became the first-ever teenager to top the HLTV rankings. The 22-year-old has proven himself to be one of the finest AWPers to have ever graced the game.
Vitality enjoys a significant edge with ZywOo as their primary sniper. While his mastery of the AWP is evident, he can seamlessly switch to the AK-47 or the M4A4/M4A1-S when the team demands it, as demonstrated below.
Our star AWPers, in numbers… (2023)
ZywOo | 1,31 rating | 34% AWP kills | 44% rifle kills
sh1ro | 1,22 | 41% | 29%
device | 1,19 | 50% | 28%
s1mple | 1,18 | 41% | 39%
m0NESY | 1,17 | 54% | 28%ZywOo indeed has more kills with the rifle than with the AWP over the year…
— Maniac (@Maniac_CSGO) July 24, 2023
1. Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyljev
- Rating in Big CSGO Tournaments: 1.24
- Maps Played in Big CSGO Tournaments: 623
The ongoing debate between s1mple and ZywOo has long been a hot topic in Counter-Strike forums. A closer examination of the statistics, however, reveals that the Ukrainian sensation emerges as the ultimate CSGO Big Events player. Although their ratings may appear similar, it’s worth noting that s1mple’s performance has been consistently exceptional, with an impressive track record that includes a staggering 266 additional maps played.
This is why they are the best 👑@s1mpleO and @zywoo transition to the new game as the best performers in the history of CS:GO Big Events
Though the Ukrainian’s longevity puts him at the top 🥇 pic.twitter.com/aK4d6jIRU9
— HLTV.org (@HLTVorg) October 5, 2023
The Natus Vincere maestro has a remarkable track record, boasting an unprecedented tally of 21 HLTV MVP medals. This impressive collection includes a coveted Major championship and the prestigious Intel Grand Slam trophy, among a slew of other illustrious S-Tier tournament victories. Furthermore, he has been crowned the best player in the world in three distinct years: 2018, 2021, and 2022. In 2019 and 2020, he ranked second.