Before we step into the new season that will contain the first-ever BLAST run CS:GO Major, let’s first take a moment to reflect on the incredible year of Counter-Strike with the BLAST Premier World Team of the Year winners.
For 2022 World TOTY, experts among the CS:GO scene’s journalists decided who should be taking home the crown in each of our given categories, while some of our pros enlightened us on what makes a good player in each respective role.
According to Heroic coach Xizt, a good IGL needs a “good understanding of the game, as well as the ability to stay calm in critical situations”.
Needless to say, the long-established Counter-Strike legend Karrigan has both of these qualities maxed up, which he proved this year as he led FaZe to their first Major title in history. Captaining his team to a highly successful year with strong leadership and top-level tactical calling proves why he was the IGL of the year!
Team Liquid’s oSee put his finger on the qualities of a good AWPer:
“Knows how to throw grenades, also good positioning is very important, moving around the map, not over-peeking, and knowing what you can go for and what you can get away with. You don’t wanna play scared.”
Obvious choice. There’s no player more lethal than s1mple, the player of the decade and now the AWPer of the year. Winning the Maersk MVP award after NAVI won Spring Final showcases the impact s1mple brings to the server. Winning 2022 AWPer award makes him a back to back WTOTY winner. Will anyone displace him in 2023?
What makes a good Entry Fragger? “Getting the kills, especially as terrorists,” says sjuush from Heroic.
Indeed, YEKINDAR, the BLAST Premier Fan favorite of 2022, was remarkably generous this year when it comes to handing out kills. Narrowly missing out on this award in 2021 he's claimed the title in 2022, and his firepower has proved him a worthy addition to the Liquid core.
FaZe’s Twistzz explained that there are two types of lurking — passive and aggressive and the qualities that make ropz one of the best.
“What a lurker knows how to do best is react. A lurker pretty much knows every set of reactions on a map; what’s gonna happen, or what should happen and where, what person died, rotation causes…They know exactly when and where to go, when not to go, and when to stay with the team.”
Clearly, ropz’s reactions this year were absolutely on point, as we could see countless times in exciting FaZe plays. The ability to predict and read the game in 2022 was a standout reason ropz was so clinical on the lurks and why he picks up the 2022 award.
The most crucial aspects of playing the support role include excellent map knowledge, aim, utility usage, understanding of tactics, and overall game sense.
Similarly to his coach B1ad3, Perfecto has become the king of his role for the second year in a row, accordingly with his fantastic support skills and brilliant assistance that he showcased numerous times in 2022. His ability to set up his teammates for kills with perfect flashbangs and being there to trade is why Perfecto claims his second medal.
Heroic’s Jabbi thinks that a good coach should be “a good leader, a role model, someone you can rely on, and someone you can talk to if you have trouble in-game or outside the game.”
B1ad3’s victory in this category for the second consecutive year, along with the impressive list of achievements he has accomplished with NaVi so far, all show that he’s an exceptional leader that NaVi players can always count on. Being the voice to motivate, calm and strategise, B1ad3 coached NAVI to the Spring Final title in 2022.
FAN FAVOURITE - YEKINDAR, TEAM LIQUID
Picking up his second award of the year, YEKINDAR won the hearts of the BLAST.tv fanbase as they voted him the Fan Favourite of 2022. An impressive feat having only joined Liquid halfway through the year.
The vote was a close affair as YEKINDAR beat cadiaN by only 3% of the vote. If you were team cadiaN but didn't get a chance to vote make sure to make your BLAST.tv account to vote for 2023's Fan Favourite.
JOIN THE COMMUNITY
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