That time of year is nigh ladies and gentlemen. We approach the end of 2016 and boy was it a year in CS:GO. We saw ups and downs, peaks and valleys, all of which were a crucial part of the journey for our beloved eSport title. Despite a few negativities throughout the year, I feel the scene has positively evolved in many ways.
At the end of 2016 we are looking at increased competition between organising bodies, with the creation of Esports Championship Series, ELEAGUE, WESG and EPICENTER. Prize pools have gone up, creating a more secure and sustainable future for our favourite players and teams. We have seen various improvements towards the game, both aesthetic and mechanical. An evolving map pool has kept the professional players on their feet. All of the aforementioned is not to say that we didn't see the questionable introduction of coaching restrictions, numerous betting website scandals that effectively erased skin betting as we know it, amongst other issues pertaining to CS:GO. Ultimately, our industry is still evolving and these issues that the scene faces are lessons to be learned. These experiences, both positive and negative, diversify our experiences and help us create a better future for CS:GO.
With the prior in mind, we invite you to cast your votes for both the most outstanding and disappointing feats attained over the course of 2016 in CS:GO. Make sure to think carefully prior to voting, as it could be the distinction from a loss and a victory for any of the nominees in the lists below.
I will also take this opportunity to thank every viewer that has stuck to our website over the year and continues to support us by browsing the news we publish. We are very proud of the content we produce and wish for you to enjoy reading it as much as we enjoy producing it for you, our beloved viewers.
- Aleksei "Aleksei.L" Louchnikov, Editorial Lead of GosuGamers CS:GO
A prize awarded to the individual you found to be the most impactful of them all. The player that you look out for on every tournament stream you watch, one that consistently delivers on the performance front.
Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev
One of the brightest CIS representatives in the scene, s1mple is truly a world class player. Having joined Na’Vi in August 2016, he led his new team to a victory at ESL One: New York 2016, as well as producing a series of very strong performances throughout the year on various teams.
Marcelo "coldzera" David
The star player of SK Gaming, coldzera has on many occasions shown his vast capabilities as both a rifler and a secondary AWPer. He is truly one of the crucial cogs in the Brazilian machine known as SK Gaming, which in turn makes him one of the most valuable cogs in the scene.
Patrik "f0rest" Lindberg
A veteran of the Counter-Strike scene, f0rest remains one of the most celebrated professional players to date. Throughout the year, Ninjas in Pyjamas have shown vast improvement in comparison to last year and it’s safe to say Patrik Lindberg had contributed greatly to their progress as a team.
Janusz "snax" Pogorzelski
2016 has been an up and down year for Virtus.pro, however one player stood out in particular throughout it - Janusz "snax" Pogorzelski. He has consistently demonstrated strong performances for his team, in good times and bad, retaining his title as one of the finest players in the CS:GO scene.
Awarded to an individual that was less known and burst onto the scene in 2016, demonstrating capabilities worthy of recognition from CS:GO enthusiasts across the world.
Jake "stewie2k" Yip
Jake Yip, the current in-game leader of Cloud9, is an individual the scene has been following closely ever since he joined the roster in January, having only started playing in late 2014. Since then not only has stewie2k proven to be an incredibly valuable addition to the team performance-wise, but also alleviated the pressure on existing members by assuming the in-game leader role.
Emil "Magiskb0Y" Reif
After joining Team Dignitas in July 2016, Emil Reif has demonstrated his impressive capabilities to the CS:GO scene. On many occasions his performances have been the difference between a win and a loss for the Danish roster. Magiskb0Y has definitely been a key part of the much improved roster and remains a strong performer on the team.
Oscar "mixwell" Cañellas
Prior to joining, Oscar had been playing for various Spanish organisations that couldn’t offer quite the same level of support, a factor that proved to be crucial in his development as a professional CS:GO player. Having joined OpTic Gaming in April of 2016, mixwell had finally got the break he needed to become a star player for his team. Lately the team has been demonstrating excellent results, in no small part thanks to the versatility this individual brings to the roster.
Markus "Kjaerbye" Kjærbye
Kjaerbye has proven to be one of the most solid Danish CS:GO players over the course of 2016. His transfer to Astralis in May 2016 proved to be the catalyst for his evolution, whereby he had consistently topped the leaderboard for his team and left audiences in awe with his fascinating plays, combining immense mechanical capabilities with highly intelligent decision making.
This award is granted to the sole best performing team of 2016. A team that withstood the hardships of the current state of the scene and managed to emerge as the strongest.
SK Gaming
SK Gaming are an incredibly strong contender for the title, as the team has proven on two separate occasions why the roster is indeed one of, if not the best team in the world. The team has repeated a feat only the Fnatic roster of 2015 had accomplished - two consecutive Major titles at MLG Columbus 2016 and ESL One: Cologne 2016 chronologically.
*One of the titles was attained under the Luminosity Gaming colours, however the core roster was unchanged for both of the events. For simplicity the core roster is represented under their current organisation’s name.
Natus Vincere
The CIS representatives had a year composed of consistently strong performances at LAN events. They kicked off with a 2nd place finish at the StarLadder i-League StarSeries XIV Finals, shortly followed by a first place at DreamHack Leipzig 2016. A couple of months down the line they secured first place at the CounterPit League Season 2 Finals, shortly followed by a 2nd place finish at the MLG Major Championship: Columbus. Add to that the 3rd-4th place finish at ELEAGUE Season 1 and strong first place at ESL One: New York 2016, and it’s been a good twelve months for this outfit.
Virtus.pro
Virtus.pro had a sluggish start to the year, followed by a streak of strong performances throughout the middle and end of 2016. Over the course of May through December, the Poles managed to secure a first place finish at StarLadder i-League Invitational, 3rd-4th place at ESL One: Cologne 2016, a first place finish at ELEAGUE Season 1 and DreamHack Bucharest 2016. In the last couple of months the Poles managed to secure 2nd place finishes at ESL One: New York 2016 and EPICENTER 2016, bringing 2016 to a successful culmination.
Ninjas in Pyjamas
Sweden’s Ninjas in Pyjamas saw a strong 2016, where the team managed to consistently secure top placements at various large tournaments. The year kicked off with a home victory at DreamHack Masters: Malmö 2016, followed by a 3rd-4th place finish at the ESL Pro League Season 3 LAN Finals. During the summer season the Swedes landed a 2nd place finish at DreamHack Summer 2016, followed by a tame period until September, where the team conquered StarLadder i-League StarSeries Season 2. The team closed out as runners up at the ESL Pro League Finals Season 4 and a strong first place at IEM XI - Oakland.
A team that has demonstrated dramatic improvement over the course of 2016. One that has truly risen from average performances to giving the "crème de la crème" of CS:GO teams a run for their money.
Team Dignitas
The Danes of Team Dignitas saw a slow start to the year, where the results weren’t particularly astounding. In 2015 they were essentially non-existent in terms of exposure at the top level of the scene. By the end of 2016, however, the team was considered a favourite going into some of the most anticipated events of the year. They secured first place at EPICENTER 2016, a top eight finish at ELEAGUE Season 2 and fifth place at the ECS Season 2 Finals. The Danish roster will, without a doubt, be a team to keep an eye out for during 2017.
OpTic Gaming
Having been conceived in January 2016, OpTic weren’t looking too hot initially. The team was developing gradually, at its own pace and fixed issues as they came, whether they pertained to individuals or the group as a whole. In the second half of the year the team went through restructuring that saw the addition of two new team members “tarik” and “stanislaw”. Fresh blood reinvigorated the thirst for victory and OpTic were on their A game for the remainder of it, securing a first place finish at Northern Arena: Montreal 2016, ELEAGUE Season 2 and second place at the ECS Season 2 Finals. The improvement is drastic, making the team a strong contender for the title.
Ninjas in Pyjamas
The Ninjas have vastly improved when comparing to the second half of last year. The team was in a bad spot and everyone knew it, whether it was the roster members or the fans supporting the Swedish team. 2016 saw consistent top placements, with the most memorable being first places at DreamHack Masters Malmö 2016, StarLadder i-League StarSeries Season 2 and IEM XI - Oakland. The Ninjas are definitely back and will be looking to score some more top finishes in 2017.
FaZe Clan
FaZe Clan has gone through various roster iterations, with the latest iteration featuring Finn “karrigan” Andersen. Overall the team has had a mixed bag of results throughout the year, with the positive ones skewed towards the second half of 2016. Despite the late bloom, improvement is apparent and hopefully the team will have much to show in the upcoming year.
An award given to a team that on paper you would expect better results from. The team that didn't quite live up to the expectations of the fans or community.
mousesports
Mousesports have had a rather unstable roster throughout 2016, swapping out players and coaches like gloves. This instability has definitely been a contributing factor towards their lacklustre performance over the year. Despite having amazing talent on the team, coupled by a new capable coach, mousesports has a lot of development and synergising to do before the team can start attaining international results on a consistent basis.
GODSENT
The Swedish team composed of three members from the legendary Fnatic roster of 2015 has unfortunately been a let-down for fans and CS:GO enthusiasts alike. The initial addition of flusha, JW and KRiMZ excited the scene, with great expectations among their supporters. After three months of average results the team swapped out KRiMZ for Lekr0, presenting the current roster. Whilst the team was able to secure first place at the European Minor Championship, in turn securing a placement at the major qualifier, the contention is that the team could amount to significantly more and will hopefully do so in 2017.
Team EnVyUs
2016 has not been a particularly fruitful year for the French roster - during both major tournaments they finished 13th-16th, contrary to the previous year’s performance where the team managed to secure a top four placement at ESL One: Katowice, 2nd at ESL One: Cologne and 1st place at DreamHack Cluj-Napoca. There is no denying that all members of the roster have the capacity to perform at a higher level than the team is currently at, the only issue is finding the catalyst to make it a reality.
Echo Fox
Although the CS:GO roster for the team is currently comprised solely of Ryan “fREAKAZOiD” Abadir, there is no getting away from the fact that the team severely underperformed throughout its existence in 2016. With a world class leader in Sean Gares and some of North America’s finest fragging power the team was projected to perform significantly better, if not at the top level of American CS:GO. Now all of the members of the initial roster are free to explore their options, and perhaps it is for the best, considering things didn’t work out too well for Echo Fox.
The event that truly stood out in your eyes. Many of 2016's events were wonderful, but we're asking which one you absolutely fell in love with.
ESL One: Cologne 2016
Another successful iteration of the prominent ESL One series, hosted in the familiar Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany. ESL One: Cologne is like your local pub, you’re happy to visit every single time, you know what you’re getting and you’re greeted warmly by familiar faces. The event was nothing short of perfect, something we’ve grown to expect from events hosted by ESL.
EPICENTER 2016
A newcomer to the scene, EPICENTER: Moscow truly surprised viewers with a grandiose arrangement for the LAN portion of the tournament. Hosted at the VTB Ice Palace in Moscow, Russia the organisers of the event were very meticulous in detailing the venue, going as far as hiring performers to recreate a skirmish between Ts and CTs. Truly a marvellous event, more of which we’d like to see in 2017.
ELEAGUE Seasons 1 & 2
ELEAGUE saw a much more traditional approach to tournament organisation. It was a great depiction of what CS:GO could look like given sufficient amounts of investment, and in spite of scepticism from esports enthusiasts, proved that such a model can work. The organisation and production of the tournament was spotless, landing ELEAGUE a nomination.
/ ECS Seasons 1 & 2
A highly anticipated tournament series hosted in the UK and U.S, ECS Seasons 1 & 2 have proven to be a success. For the first iteration of the event the organisers secured the Wembley SSE Arena, making for a memorable event, especially for the UK CS:GO community. Season 2 saw the grandiose Anaheim Arena, with the capacity to contain over 18,000 people. As a newcomer, ECS have outdone themselves this year and the future is looking bright for the organisers.
Two individuals whose casting you have enjoyed the most over the course of the year. Unfortunately there isn't a large pool to choose from, so make your decision extra carefully.
Anders Blume & Auguste "Semmler" Massonat
Anders and Semmler are by far the most recognisable voices in CS:GO. Their style of casting would best be described as two friends that happen to be gifted at delivering emotions through working together and having a blast. Whether it’s analytical or emotional casting, these two gentlemen are half the reason you’re watching CS:GO matches.
Henry "HenryG" Greer & Matthew "Sadokist" Trivett
The loveable casting duo comprised of an Englishman and a Canadian has proven to be one of, if not the finest in the scene. HenryG and Sadokist bounce off each other so well, whilst each of them retain their distinct style of casting. Truly a fantastic duo which we look forward to seeing more of in the coming years.
Daniel "ddk" Kapadia & James "JZFB" Bardolph
FACEIT gang ddk and JZFB have their niche way of casting which works incredibly well. The occasional pauses, random jokes and hilarious interactions between these two has brought us one of the most celebrated casting duos in the scene.
Lauren "Pansy" Scott & Jason "moses" O'Toole
Despite not technically being branded a casting duo, moses and Pansy showed great synergy where we saw a golden equilibrium between play-by-play casting provided by pansy and deep analytical casting brought by moses. The two bounced off each other exceptionally well, landing them a spot in the nominations.
An award for the most knowledgeable and interesting analyst present at the panel of various events. One that truly stood out above all the others consistently.
Janko "YNk" Paunovi?
yNk went from a professional Counter-Strike player to an observer, and finally realised his role as a full-time analyst in 2016. His addition to the broadcasting talent pool has not gone unnoticed, as the Serbian analyst has been invited to panels at over 25 events during the course of the year. His first-hand expertise and vast knowledge of the game allows for a very detailed analysis of matches, frequently pointing out subtle plays that don’t cross the mind at first glance.
Jason "moses" O'Toole
moses has proven to the one of the most versatile of talents in CS:GO. Not only is his knowledge of the game is vast, due to a professional past in earlier iterations of the game, he also presents the information in a digestible and simple way, reaching to people that aren’t necessarily fanatics of Counter-Strike. These two factors make for a well-rounded analyst, the main reason Jason O’Toole is featured as a nominee.
Duncan "Thorin" Shields
Known as the “eSports historian”, Thorin brings great analytical skills and extensive background to the table. He is unique in that he can bring up past results, team compositions and performances on-demand, whether from the last tournament the team participated at or from six years back when an individual was playing Counter-Strike 1.6 in a mix with their mates. This ability, coupled with his attitude towards work landed Duncan Shields a spot on the nominees.
Vince "metuz" Hill
metuz is a newcomer to the broadcasting scene, initiating his career at the end of 2015. His breakout moment was when he was spotted casting at Multiplay Insomia 56, impressing some serious organisers. The rest is history, as in 2016 Vince was invited to participate at a grand total of eighteen events. His voice, coupled with an interesting delivery and uncanny resemblance to Anders Blume gave the community no choice but to love him. The newcomer has done a fantastic job over the year and for this he has been placed on the nominees.
An award granted to the individual that was able to elevate the broadcast with interesting interactions and presentation at the panel, stage or commentary desk.
Alex "machine" Richardson
At this point it is fair to say that Alex Richardson is by far one of the most familiar broadcasting faces and voices in CS:GO. He’s presented tournaments from various organisers - ESL One: Cologne 2016, EPICENTER: Moscow 2016, DreamHack Summer, Bucharest and Winter. His light-hearted and entertaining delivery makes for an enjoyable viewing experience, one celebrated by CS:GO fans all over the world.
Sue "smix" Lee
Sue Lee stormed the scene in 2016, stage hosting at events such as the StarLadder StarSeries XIV Finals, DreamHack Masters: Malmö, DreamHacks Summer & Winter and ECS Season 2. Smix has been busy all year and she has proven to be a well-rounded host, both from an analytical and entertainment point of view.
Richard Lewis
Over the course of 2016 Richard Lewis has been busy hosting various events, including the MLG Columbus 2016 qualifiers, European Minor Championship 2016, the Americas Minor Championship 2016 and ELEAGUE Seasons 1&2. During all of these events he has managed to produce interesting and entertaining broadcasts through engaging the analyst panel with interesting and insightful questions.
Scott "SirScoots" Smith
Scott Smith has been around the eSports scene for as long as it has existed, allowing him to provide insight very few people can offer. In 2016 we saw SirScoots host the Americas Minor Championship, MLG Columbus 2016, ECS Season 1 Finals and the Asian Minor Championship 2016, all of which were a pleasure to watch, in large part thanks to the cheery, knowledgeable and insightful gentleman known as Scott Smith.
The announcement that had the largest impact on the scene in 2016. One that truly shifted the way we look at events.
ESEA LAN anti-cheat
One of the most contentious topics in professional Counter-Strike is how to address the issue of cheating among players, not only in online matches but even in a LAN environment. So when ESEA announced that they had developed a open hardware platform for event organizers, fans were understandably elated; the initiative earns a nomination due to its importance in introducing the first-ever hardware standard for cheat detection.
De_Inferno removed from active duty rotation
The removal of de_Inferno from the competitive rotation turned out to be one of the most impactful changes of the year due to the number of teams that relied on the classic map as a staple in their map pools.
MLG acquired by Blizzard Activision
With the buyout of Major League Gaming by one of the largest video gaming companies, Blizzard Activision, the popular tournament organizer now has the assets of a multi-billion dollar conglomerate behind them. Having already hosted one of the best CS:GO majors in recent memory, who knows what MLG will have in store in the coming year?
Coaching restrictions at Valve-endorsed events
Mid-August 2016 saw an unexpected announcement from Valve, whereby the publishers of CS:GO introduced severe limitations on a coach’s participation at LAN events. The gist of the announcement stated that coaches would only have a total of two minutes per half to communicate with their team, along with warm-up and half-time. This greatly diminished the value of the role at Valve-endorsed CS:GO events.
The roster change that proved to be the most successful and positively impactful throughout 2016. A truly influential addition to a given roster.
Natus Vincere add Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev
The arrival of s1mple marked a new era for Natus Vincere. His individual skill paired with an insatiable thirst for victory that young professional players have has contributed to great change within the roster. Firstly, it alleviated all of the pressure on GuardiaN’s shoulders, as the team usually hinged on his AWPing performances. Secondly it introduced a new mind-set regarding strategizing and calling, as we saw Denis “seized” Kostin step in as in-game leader, changing the dynamic of the team. Natus Vincere went through a significant re-haul in the end of 2016, and so far it’s looking good.
FaZe Clan add Finn "karrigan" Andersen
The European mix of FaZe Clan were lacking one thing - vision. The firepower was undeniably there, however something to tame it and focus in on a particular goal wasn’t. This is where Finn “karrigan” Andersen steps in, a strong in-game leader, capable of addressing issues and improving on them. Prior to his arrival in October 2016, FaZe Clan were on the whole unable to produce notable results. Having introduced Finn to the roster, the team saw multiple top four placements within just two months of him joining. The addition of Finn “karrigan” Andersen signals a new start for FaZe Clan that will no doubt develop into something awesome over the course of 2017.
Astralis add Markus "Kjaerbye" Kjærbye
Nominated as one of the breakout players of the year, Markus “kjaerbye” Kjaerbye has proven himself to be by far one of the most impressive operators in 2016. Since his departure from Team Dignitas/addition to Astralis in May 2016, he has consistently produced an impactful performance for the Danish team, cementing himself in the higher positions of the scoreboard. An outstanding team player and individual performer, adding Markus to the roster may have been one of the best decisions Astralis have made to day.
OpTic Gaming add Óscar "mixwell' Cañellas
Óscar joined OpTic Gaming in April 2016, and since then he has been at the top of the leaderboard for the team. Despite having limited experience playing at the highest level of Counter-Strike, mixwell has proved that he deserves his spot on the roster, not through assertion, but through action. At the time OpTic Gaming took a risk, one that has completely turned the roster around in the most positive of ways.
A roster change that disappointed not only fans but the roster itself, one that negatively impacted performances and in hindsight could have been dealt with differently.
Team Liquid lose Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev
One of the most surprising additions to Liquid’s struggling CS:GO lineup was the the legendary Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev, a player many considered one of the best in the world. When the young Ukrainian star was revealed to have left the team, the loss in terms of firepower from Liquid was enormous.
Natus Vincere lose Daniil "Zeus" Teslenko
The strongest CIS contender in the scene lost their long-standing member, captain and in-game leader, Daniil “Zeus” Teslenko. Filling in the role will be seized and starix, however the expansive knowledge and experience of this individual will definitely be missed.
Fnatic lose Jesper "JW" Wecksell & Robin "flusha" Rönnquist
The Swedish powerhouse took a major hit when the team decided to swap out the majority of their players in their controversial trade with GODSENT, so much so that Fnatic ended up bringing back Freddy "KRiMZ" Johansson after abysmal results from the reworked roster.
Team EnVyUs lose Fabien "kioShiMa" Fiey
Team EnVyUs had been going through rough times and seemingly the only way to address them was to introduce fresh bodies and see how it worked out. One of said bodies was Fabien “kioShiMa” Fiey, an able French pro player. The roster disagreed with the sentiment, which was exposed through comments from Fiey, whereby players didn’t grant him respect and cited communicational issues. Now that kioShiMa has departed, EnVyUs are still struggling for results, despite his absence, bringing up questions as to whether he was “the problem” in the first place.
The tournament organiser that produced the most interesting and intriguing events over 2016. A true standout amongst many.
ESL
ESL bring the CS:GO scene another year of spectacular events. Katowice, Cologne, Pro League Finals, Meisterschaft and many others turned out to be a great success, something we have grown to expect from the tournament organiser. The excitement, whether visiting or viewing from home is overwhelming, creating a unique experience for the spectators.
ELEAGUE
Turner Sports and WME have brought a grandiose tournament series to CS:GO. Boasting an aggregate of over $2,500,000 in prize money and featuring a custom-built studio, the project has proven to be a success not only amongst endemic viewers, but also those browsing TBS looking out for a fresh viewing experience.
ECS
A FACEIT and Twitch.tv partnership that culminated as one of the finest series’ to grace CS:GO. The aggregate prize pool for the two seasons boasted over $3,500,000 in prize money. Such a sum coupled with the production and organisation presented by the partners made for two of the most celebrated events of 2016.
EPICENTER
As a newcomer, EPICENTER presented the CS:GO scene with a fresh interpretation of event organisation. The aim of the tournament was to produce an experience like no other, something we can confidently assert they were able to do. Whether the top notch production or the stage entertainment, this is one people will be looking out for in the future.
DreamHack
DreamHack are veterans of their graft, consistently creating events that attract eSports enthusiasts from across the planet. Be it the BYOC events or LAN tournaments, you are sure to find entertainment when visiting events organised by this organisation.
StarLadder
A representative of the CIS region, StarLadder have managed to produce a lot of spectacular events over the year. One that was particularly bold has to be the StarLadder i-League Invitational #1, a tournament hosted in an open-roof stadium. The organisation is not afraid of trying out new things, a feature not many of their peers can relate to.
Only the ultimate wielder of the AWP deserves this title. An individual that is capable of impacting a match solely based off their performance with the weapon.
Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo
FalleN has proven to be by far the most consistent AWPer in the CS:GO scene. Not only is he the in-game leader and captain of the team, he also happens to be one of the largest contributing factors on it, particularly with the AWP. His consistency, explosive nature and ability to show up on demand is comparable to none.
Ladislav "GuardiaN" Kovács
GuardiaN is widely considered to be one of the best AWPers in the scene. On several occasions opponents from various teams have outlined in interviews their discomfort playing against Ladislav, as he has proven to be a formidable foe time and time again. His contribution to Na’Vi’s victories is immense, crowning him a top contender for the title.
Marcelo "coldzera" David
The secondary AWPer for SK Gaming, coldzera has proven to be a menace with the AWP. Whether we look at particular plays, like the monumental 4K on de_Mirage during MLG Columbus, or his consistent performances when SK run a double AWP setup, Marcelo has demonstrated that his knowledge and capabilities with the rifle are simply put, vast.
Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyliev
Despite not currently being the main AWPer of Na’Vi, s1mple has shown great capabilities with the one shot wonder weapon. His precision and ability to flick is immense, complementing this are his countless hours in the game, allowing for an intimate knowledge of the mechanics of the AWP. This was seen numerous times, the most spectacular of which would have to be his double no-scope on de_Cache against Fnatic.
This title goes to the strongest leader. An individual able to compose and stabilise a team in times of strife and conversely elevate a team's performance in times of success.
Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo
In-game leader and captain of the core roster behind the last two major Champions’ titles, Gabriel Toledo has proven to be an outstanding leader for his team. Whether it’s keeping their in-game cool, strategizing outside of the field or performing on the server, Gabriel delivers consistently. His remarkable ability to orchestrate the game via perfect reads and intelligent player placement has indefinitely contributed to the team’s match record in 2016. For this, FalleN is added to the list of nominees.
Daniil "Zeus" Teslenko
One of the most experienced in-game leaders, Daniil Teslenko boasts a whopping 14 year career in Counter-Strike. Over these years he has played with a vast pool of professional players, both from the CIS region and the world, culminating in the fountain of knowledge that we know today. Zeus joined Na’Vi in December 2010 and was part of the core roster until his recent departure to Gambit Gaming. Over these years he has proven to be a strong, vocal and determined leader. Prior to departing from Na’Vi he stated that he would “not give up before winning a major” and this is precisely the mentality one expects from a true leader.
Robin "flusha" Rönnquist
Since the departure of Markus “pronax” Wallsten from the 2015 roster of Fnatic, there has been a void in his place. Filling this void was flusha, through adapting to the role of in-game leader in FalleN’s stead. Reminiscent of FalleN, Robin was able to perform individually to a very high standard, as well as leading and calling in-game, which takes incredible amounts of focus and composure. For these precise reasons he has made it to the list of nominees.
Mathias "MSL" Lauridsen
The in-game leader behind one of the most improved teams of 2016, MSL has greatly contributed to the furthering of his team. Mathias Lauridsen has been through an evolution of sorts, starting out in Team Dignitas back in March 2015. Over the course of nearly two years, he has gained sufficient knowledge and experience to lead a roster from an average placement in rankings, to one of the best in the scene. This kind of perseverance and determination is by definition what it means to be a leader, and this is precisely why we nominate MSL as one of the finest of 2016.
The sixth man that was able to have a strong impact on the team morale and performance through meticulous research and mentorship. A figure respected by the roster for their ability to help in times of need.
Luis "peacemaker" Tadeu
peacemaker has proven to be a very capable coach over the course of 2016, nurturing the former Tempo Storm, now Immortals roster to a point where the team was capable of reaching top 4 placements at international tournaments. Following his departure from the Brazilian organisation he joined Team Liquid, where much like in his previous organisation he helped the roster attain top placements, securing a 2nd place finish at ESL One: Cologne 2016, as well as multiple others. Many praise Luis Tadeu for his meticulous work ethic, GosuGamers included - for this he makes the nomination list.
Sergey "starix" Ischuk
A nominee that is known for his professional playing career, perhaps more so than his current coaching role. For those that have been following the Counter-Strike scene since its early competitive days back in 1.6, many will know of starix and his performances in the starting roster of Na’Vi. In May 2015 he decided to transition to a coaching role, which he has fulfilled successfully, leading one of the finest teams in the CS:GO world to many a victory. Over the course of his stay, starix has contributed to the team both tactically and as a mentor, aiding the team in times of stress and tilt. His first-hand experience of the game and ability to instil composure secured him a spot on the list.
Wilton "zews" Prado
The coach behind a roster responsible for taking the only two major titles of 2016, Wilton Prado has truly proved himself to be one of, if not the most impactful of coaches in CS:GO. Coming from a professional background, zews has a vast reserve of tactics and information, as well as the ability to defuse electric situations, something that has been pointed out multiple times by captain of his previous teams, Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo. All of the aforementioned has landed Wilton Prado a spot on the nominees.
Casper "ruggah" Due
Having played at various CS:GO and CS:S tournaments, Casper Due, much like previous candidates brought insight both from an internal and external perspective. He understood the in-game mechanics, as well as the role of being a coach. With this information he was able to essentially revolutionise the way Team Dignitas approached matches, creating an environment of vast improvement within the team. Since the arrival of ruggah and Magiskb0Y Dignitas have indefinitely seen better results, the most recent of which would be first place at EPICENTER: Moscow 2016. On top of the aforementioned, the team saw top four placements throughout his stay, whereas in the past these results were unheard of.
The GosuAwards committee for 2016 consisted of the following individuals:
Aleksei "Aleksei.L" Louchnikov
Ali "Maxxie" Or
Seth "sshogun" Sawant
Tim "Fatalt1m" Masters
The winners of the polls will be announced on Friday, Decemeber 30th. Voters have until 00:00 of December 29th to vote for their favoured nominees.
