After several months and major events, CS2 has integrated effectively into the professional scene. Prominent players have maintained their strong presence, and the landscape of AWPer is no different. Many well-known gamers have effortlessly moved into the new ecosystem, continually delivering stellar performances.
Even though the AWP has lesser value in CS2 compared to CS:GO, having a player that specializes in sniping is crucial. With that said, let’s take a glance at the top five AWPers in the CS esports 2023 calendar.
Note: This article considers performances from both CS:GO and CS2 in 2023
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ZywOo, m0NESY and three more noteworthy CS2 AWPers of 2023
1) ZywOo
Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut had a successful year in 2023. The French AWPer stood out in both the CS:GO or CS2 scenes. He regularly posted impressive numbers, a feat that is nearly impossible for any tier-1 professional to replicate.
ZywOo played a significant role in Team Vitality’s spectacular year, during which the organization claimed five major event trophies, including the final CS:GO Major. At 23 years old, ZywOo is poised to secure the top spot in the HLTV Top 20 of 2023 with a 1.30 rating over the year, making him the most excellent AWPer of 2023.
2) m0NESY
Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov had a great debut year, much like ZywOo did in 2018. The Russian AWPer continued to showcase his prowess this year with G2 Esports. While G2 had an inconsistent year, m0NESY rose to the occasion to secure victories at IEM Katowice and Cologne for the team.
m0NESY’s exceptional skills mixed with his growing comprehension of pro CS makes him one of the industry’s brightest prospects. After a brilliant 2023 season, fans eagerly anticipate m0NESY’s performance in 2024.
3) dev1ce
Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz’s career saw a significant upsurge after rejoining Astralis. The Danish veteran has taken center stage and, along with IGL Benjamin “blameF” Bremer, has been a leading force for Astralis. Spotlights shone on him at numerous major events in 2023.
While lack of title wins might have impacted dev1ce’s 2023 journey, his consistency and the four Majors he has won make him one of the year’s standout players. With a rejuvenated Astralis team, dev1ce’s current form might propel them to significant events.
4) sh1ro
Dimitri “sh1ro” Sokolov continued to be one of the world’s top AWPers in 2023. Despite a brief struggle at the first CS2 event, IEM Sydney, and a subsequent self-imposed benching, sh1ro’s impressive 1.23 rating throughout the year made him the most consistent player on Cloud9.
Despite his absence in CS2 and missing the Paris major, sh1ro still had a stellar 2023 CS:GO. It will be intriguing to see if sh1ro can perform at the same level with Team Spirit in the new CS2 meta, considering the AWP’s decreased influence in the game.
5) s1mple
Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev is regarded as one of the greatest Counter-Strike players of all time. However, s1mple’s 2023 performance did not meet expectations set by his past excellence. Despite his pivotal role in Natus Vincere’s efforts, the team didn’t secure a single trophy.
s1mple had to adjust to playing with an international roster after a long stint with Ukrainian-Russian teams. Taking a break from CS2 also has caused him to rank lower than other AWPers. Despite this, the “Undertaker of Counter-Strike” was undoubtedly the soul of Natus Vincere, although his performance in 2023 did not meet his fans’ high expectations.