A new year has begun, and with that, it’s time for CS:GO fans to finally learn who were the best players of Counter-Strike esports in 2022 according to HLTV, the leading website for CS:GO statistics.
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HLTV took a deep dive into each tier-one player’s statistics throughout 2022 and will announce one CS:GO player each day starting from the bottom of the top 20 list until Jan. 14, when the three best players in the world will be revealed during the HLTV Award Show in Stockholm, Sweden. Fans will soon know if a new player will take the crown or if it will be handed to either s1mple or ZwyOo again, who were nominated as the best players in the world twice between 2018 and 2021.
Without further ado, here are the best CS:GO players in the world in 2022, according to HLTV.
Every CS:GO player who made HLTV’s top 20 in 2022
20) Jame
The captain of Outsiders, the neutral name Virtus.pro is using in CS:GO tournament, led his team to win IEM Rio Major, the second Valve-sponsored tournament of 2022, in November despite being dark horses at best.
Jame was named the MVP of the tournament because of his impactful plays and consistent ratings throughout the event. He averaged a 1.30 rating during the Legends Stage and Champions Stage of IEM Rio Major, according to HLTV.
The Russian AWPer and in-game leader didn’t do so well in the remainder of 2022, having averaged a 1.12 rating and 0.98 impact, according to HLTV, which is the reason he didn’t make it past the 20th position. This was the second time that Jame made HLTV’s top 20, as he was the 10th best player in the world in 2021.
“Maybe I’ve reached my peak, or I did at the Major—time will tell,” Jame said in an interview with HLTV. “All I can do is keep working and put my soul into it, so my conscience will be clear no matter the result.”
19) Yuurih
The Brazilian rifler of FURIA was consistently great throughout 2022. Even though the team didn’t win a trophy, he was one of the reasons the Brazilians reached the playoffs of both Major, including their semifinal run at IEM Rio Major in November.
Yuurih averaged a 1.13 rating, a 1.06 impact, and an 80.9 ADR in competitive matches in 2022, according to HLTV. He wasn’t put further up the list like he was in 2020 (14th) because his individual form wasn’t so great during the playoffs of important events this year.
“The game against NAVI in the Major in Rio [was my favorite moment of 2022],” yuurih told HLTV. “That day, everything was so incredible. The crowd, we were feeling very confident, and the coolest thing was that it was a very difficult game. To win a game like that in the quarterfinals against a team that is considered one of the best in the world, it’s very nice.”
18) Spinx
Spinx was one of the best CS:GO players in the world in the first half of 2022 while he was still playing for ENCE. He helped them to finish runners-up at ESL Pro League season 15 in April and to reach the semifinals of PGL Antwerp Major in May, having averaged a 1.18 rating in the former and a 1.21 rating in the Legends Stage and Champions Stage of the former, according to HLTV.
The Israeli star made the jump to Vitality during the player break of 2022 and although he had a fabulous start as they won ESL Pro League season 16 in October, the international team had mediocre runs in the next tournaments and failed to finish 2022 on a high note.
Spinx averaged a 1.10 rating and 1.08 impact throughout the year, according to HLTV, and made the top 20 for the first time in his career, despite not putting great numbers under Vitality in a consistent way as he did in ENCE.
“I think the reason my individual performance dropped off towards the end of the year is mostly because of adapting to a new style and losing a bit of confidence in myself,” Spinx said in an interview with HLTV.
17) Frozen
Like yuurih, frozen didn’t win a single trophy with MOUZ in the 2022 season, but he played an essential part in the team’s rebuild. The German organization lost ropz to FaZe Clan in January and promoted three players from the academy team in form of Ádám “torzsi” Torzsás, Jon “JDC” de Castro, and Dorian “xertioN” Berman throughout the year, leaving only frozen and dexter on the lineup.
Frozen averaged a superb 1.17 rating and 1.11 impact throughout 2022, according to HLTV, which is excellent considering he played for a team that wasn’t a serious contender. MOUZ did surprise in certain moments of the season, having reached the quarterfinals of IEM Cologne in July and ESL Pro League Season 16 in September, much thanks to frozen’s heroics.
MOUZ finished the year on a high note, with an impressive semifinal run at IEM Rio Major in November, despite being just a dark horse. Frozen averaged a 1.35 rating in the Challengers Stage and a 1.14 rating in both the Legends Stage and Champions Stage of IEM Rio Major, according to HLTV, and could have been placed higher in the top 20 list if MOUZ had a better start of the year. This was, nonetheless, the first time the Slovak star made HLTV’s top 20.
“I honestly haven’t thought so far yet [about goals for 2023], but one thing is for sure: this team has no ceiling and I just want to get back to grinding,” frozen said in an interview with HLTV.
16) B1t
The young Ukrainian star b1t has not displayed the same individual form in 2022 that he showed in 2021, but he still remains one of the best CS:GO players in the world. The NAVI rifler averaged a 1.10 rating and a 1.09 impact this year, according to HLTV, and helped the team win the BLAST Premier Spring Final in June and finish runners-up at the PGL Antwerp Major in May.
What truly helped b1t make this year’s top 20 HLTV list is the consistent number of playoff runs NAVI had throughout the year, despite all the turbulence caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, which deeply affected the NAVI organization and its players. Even though the team struggled at various moments, mostly after the departure of Boombl4, b1t remained one of the most skilled players in the world, having secured the second-best headshot ratio of 2022 (0.42 per round), according to HLTV.
With 16th place secured on this year’s list, b1t has made it into HLTV’s top 20 in back-to-back years. He was named the ninth-best player in the world in 2021, his rookie year.
“Of course, every team started watching and analyzing us after 2021, and we try to make changes to our game,” b1t told HLTV. “I try to play diverse, so that it would be harder for my opponents to prepare. I’m sure that this year made me stronger in all aspects.”
15) YEKINDAR
The Latvian star secured his second HLTV top 20 medal in 2022, the year he left Outsiders to play for Team Liquid after the PGL Antwerp Major in May. He was named the eighth-best player in the world in 2021 and decayed a bit this year, mostly because his individual performance took a hit due to all the help he is providing with Liquid’s calling and gameplan.
Still, YEKINDAR had a positive year in terms of individual impact. He averaged a 1.12 rating and a superb 1.30 impact (No. 3 in the world) in 2022, according to HLTV. The Latvian entry fragger made Liquid a better team as the North Americans greatly improved after his addition and went on to reach the quarterfinals of IEM Cologne in July, grab a second place at ESL Pro League season 16 in September, and wrap the year with another second place this time at BLAST Premier World Final in December.
Unfortunately for Liquid fans, YEKINDAR’s impact hasn’t brought them any titles, but this is what he and the team are aiming for in 2023.
“Winning a big tournament has always been not only mine but our [Liquid’s] goal,” YEKINDAR said in an interview with HLTV. “And now we see that we are getting closer and closer, we will do everything to gain maximum from each tournament and even if we don’t win, we learn and prepare for next. That’s our mindset.”
14) HuNter-
13) Rain
12) BlameF
11) Twistzz
10) Stavn
9) KSCERATO
8) Ropz
7) M0NESY
6) Broky
5) NiKo
4) Ax1Le
3) Sh1ro
2) ZywOo
1) S1mple
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