Underrated Players in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive for 2016
Welcome back to “clootch unwraps 2016,” a series recapping the highlights of this past year in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. In this seventh installment, we’ll be discussing underrated players in the scene.
Underrated players are those who are more impactful, valuable, and skilled than they are given credit for. We’re not focusing on the best players or those who have improved, but rather on those who deserve more recognition.
Kamen “bubble” Kostadinov
Bubble is my pick for the most underrated player in the scene right now. Despite his consistent dominance in the lower tiers of the scene this year, he doesn’t receive the recognition he deserves for his skill level. Kostadinov excels with both the AWP and the rifle, and has proven that he can perform offline in important matches.
Bubble may be underrated because the teams he has been on haven’t won anything significant this year. However, during the ESL One Cologne Qualifier, bubble was the highest rated player on his team and consistently played a vital role in their wins. The team’s most prestigious win was the ESEA Premier Season 22 Finals, where bubble finished with a +59 kill/death ratio.
Dauren “AdreN” Kystaubayev
AdreN is the star player of the Gambit team and deserves more recognition for his skills. While his teammate mou is often in the spotlight, AdreN’s abilities are not recognized as frequently. AdreN started the year inconsistently, but has since improved and become a consistent performer at his potential. He played a vital role in Gambit’s success at ESL One Cologne 2016, and his impact is felt whenever he plays to his potential.
Valdemar “valde” Bjørn Vangså
Valde, the strongest player on Heroic, is often overlooked when discussing the hottest young talents. He has the potential to be a game-changing element with his rifle skills, but struggles with consistency. Despite this, he has shown his abilities in games like Heroic’s Mirage win over Team Dignitas in Power-LAN 2016.
Who do you think has been underrated this year? Let us know by commenting below or tweeting us @GAMURScom.