Thorin on the race for the title of world’s top CS2 player in 2026: “m0NESY is quite capable of surpassing ZywOo”

Thorin: I largely agree with this opinion, since in the current competitive cycle, m0NESY is quite capable of surpassing ZywOo and claiming the title of best player of the season. Previously, the sniper had to perform under immense pressure and within the chaotic structure of G2 Esports, where his individual performance was heavily dependent on NiKo’s presence on the server. Although karrigan is an excellent in-game leader, in some matches his shooting performance inevitably drops to historically low levels. Because of this, m0NESY still has to go into “god mode” to give the team a chance to win tournaments. However, under the new system, karrigan takes on all the dirty work, allowing the sniper to shed the extra burden of responsibility and play Counter-Strike as freely as possible, simply for the joy of the game. That said, a player’s dominance on the server doesn’t automatically guarantee his team’s leadership in the world rankings, but he himself will consistently post incredible stats at every championship.

Furthermore, m0NESY possesses a phenomenal level of versatility that many fans of his main competitors underestimate. If tomorrow he decides to completely abandon the sniper rifle and switch to automatic weapons, he is guaranteed to remain among the top 3 esports players on the planet. In terms of his playing style, he combines the best qualities of kennyS and s1mple. That said, m0NESY won’t take a back seat; he’ll play with the AWP whenever financially possible. Right now, he has the ideal conditions to reach his full potential and dominate any opponent on the professional scene.

Pimp: I strongly disagree that m0NESY will be able to become the best player of this season, although the race for that title is indeed still wide open. Undoubtedly, m0NESY’s gameplay is incredibly stylish; he’s a joy to watch, and I’m a big fan of his myself. However, the problem is that with the Falcons, the sniper faces the same issue that has plagued him in the past. If karrigan continues to struggle with his individual aim, m0NESY will once again find himself in a situation where he has to carry matches single-handedly. ...> ZywOo doesn’t face this kind of pressure at Vitality, as he’s surrounded by powerful fire support in the form of flameZ, mezii, and ropz, who are capable of compensating for any slumps by the captain. Moreover, apEX’s overall stats are higher than karrigan’s, which directly impacts the French sniper’s consistency. It’s simply easier for him to maintain his level in a system where the team wins most of its matches and creates ideal conditions for him.

The difference also lies in their approach to the game: m0NESY is used to creating rounds on his own from the very first seconds. If you compare their replays, the average time until their first contact with the opponent will differ drastically. ZywOo may not get involved in a round until the first minute if there’s no need to, whereas for m0NESY, a lack of activity at the start means the round isn’t going according to plan. The characteristics of the Falcons’ playstyle and the sniper’s own style won’t allow him to achieve the same consistency as ZywOo, even though m0NESY is every bit as talented as his rival—and in some ways even surpasses him. Ilya is used to carrying the team on his own, since throughout his career he has consistently played with captains who frankly didn’t pull their weight in terms of kills—whether it was Snax, HooXi, or now karrigan. This has become deeply ingrained in his gaming DNA, whereas for ZywOo, the situation has always been completely different.

Mauisnake: I see this issue a little differently and notice a certain loophole. m0NESY’s chances of claiming the top spot in the world rankings at the end of 2026 are indeed high, but this is largely due to the specifics of HLTV’s scoring system, where MVP awards carry tremendous weight. If his team wins a number of tournaments comparable to Team Vitality’s, including the Major in Singapore, he’s guaranteed to take home that award. However, if we evaluate purely based on the level of Counter-Strike play, I would dispute his superiority. In my opinion, donk will still emerge as the best individual performer throughout the entire year. Yes, he’s unlikely to rack up many MVP awards because Team Spirit, in its current roster, is unlikely to win more than two tournaments featuring absolutely all the top teams, and it certainly won’t win a Major, but his overall form will remain at its peak.

Nevertheless, m0NESY has an excellent chance of becoming the top player, as he continues to develop steadily. His stats in the group stages and at past Majors were already incredible, but now his play is becoming more mature. While ZywOo entered the Tier 1 scene as a fully-fledged master, m0NESY is still in the process of learning. He’s gradually learning to avoid risky plays that could harm the team and no longer tries to chase flashy plays for highlights in every round. Of course, in critical situations, he’s still capable of pulling off insanely accurate shots, but now he does so much less frequently and with greater deliberation. Back when he played for G2 Esports, it was amazing to watch the speed of his flicks, but he often missed back then. Now his gameplay has become much more balanced and versatile.