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Who will be the best CS:GO player of 2022?

The competitive CS:GO scene is full of exceptional and talented players, and while in previous years it was clear... Eduardo | 12. January 2023

The competitive CS:GO scene is full of exceptional and talented players, and while in previous years it was clear that s1mple was the absolute GOAT, this year, it’s not looking so certain. 

Just a few days before HLTV announces the world’s best player of the 2022 CS:GO season, let’s look at the possible candidates for this award.

So far, 15 players have been announced in this list which comes in decreasing order starting with the 20th place.

Which players could win?

Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev

The Ukrainian wunderkind s1mple has been considered by many to be one of the best CS:GO players on the planet since 2016, when he first joined Natus Vincere.

In 2017, he won several prestigious awards, including MVP at ESL One Cologne 2017 and HLTV’s Most Valuable Player Award of 2017. His incredible accuracy and technical ability make him a formidable opponent in any matchup, and it looks like he will only improve as time goes on.

Despite the excellent results NaVi has had in recent seasons, including the PGL Major Stockholm 2021, the year 2022 for s1mple and NaVi was tough. The only trophy they could lift in the year was the BLAST Premier: Spring Finals 2022.

According to HLTV, s1mple has a 1.25 rating which makes him one of the most latent threats in the world. This, above all, with the dreaded AWP.

Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut

Frenchman ZywOo, considered by many in the community the best player in the world, plays under the banner of Team Vitality.

In 2022 ZywOo and his team won the ESL Pro League S16, beating Team Liquid in the Grand Final, where the French player showed a spectacular performance. In this series, ZywOo had one of the best results: he finished with 143 frags and only 93 dead.

ZywOo’s performance was so good in 2022 that he is currently in first place in the individual player rating, published by HLTV with 1.27. However, there is no doubt that if the player had more help from his teammates, Team Vitality would have won another tournament in the season.

Dmitriy “sh1ro” Sokolov

Dmitriy “sh1ro” Sokolov is one of the world’s best professional CS:GO, players. Born in Moscow, Russia, in 2001, sh1ro started playing CS:GO in 2018 and quickly became one of the best players in the game.

This player is a member of the North American organization which now makes life in the CIS region, Cloud9. There is no doubt that little by little, sh1ro has carved a niche for himself among the best AWPers in the world.

In 2022, sh1ro was a fundamental part of his team’s victory in the Intel Extreme Masters XVII Dallas, where they defeated ENCE in the Grand Final with a crushing 3-0. In this Grand Final, sh1ro was the best, without a doubt. The young Russian finished with a K-D of 67-31 and 87.7 ADR. No player, not even from C9 itself, came close.

Also, due to the player’s influence on his fans, he has been part of different charity broadcasts, where he raises funds for various organizations.

Currently, sh1ro has a rating of 1.22, placing him in third place on this list, only behind ZywOo and s1mple. However, there is no doubt that right now, the young Russian is one of the world’s best players in the competitive CS:GO scene.

Nikola “NiKo” Kovač

Nikola “NiKo” Kovač is a professional esports player from Bosnia and Herzegovina. He is best known for playing the first-person shooter game CS:GO for G2 Esports. NiKo is considered one of the best players in the world in CS:GO and is known for his aggressive and versatile play style.

In 2022, G2 Esports had some trouble finding their best level of play, but they closed the season with an incredible victory at the BLAST Premier: World Final 2022. Although NiKo does not stand out for being the most fragger of his team, as extraordinary players accompany him, he is a spectacular IGL.

NiKo brings all his experience to his teammates in every game. He is a player who knows how to use his aggressiveness in the game’s best moments.

NiKo has a rating of 1.15 according to HLTV, and although he is not at the top of this list, there is no doubt that part of the success of G2 Esports is thanks to this player.

So, who will be the best CS:GO player in 2022?

As things stand now, it may be hard to predict who will become the best CS:GO player in 2022. But if we take into account the players we just mentioned, we can have a more or less clear idea about it.

ZywOo vs. s1mple will be the grand final that will decide who is the best player in the world in 2022. ZywOo has shown a great level with a solid team. At the same time, s1mple has had to carry the burden alone with NaVi in a season full of difficulties.

Both deserve this award, but we expect Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev to defend the title.

Header: Stefan Petrescu | PGL