As we approach the final month of the year, let’s take a look back on the highlights and lowlights of Counter-Strike in 2016. From the rise and fall of teams to the recruitment of new players, it has been an eventful year in the world of esports.
pyth joins NiP
Jacob “pyth” Mourujärvi, previously considered a decent player on the struggling Winterfox team, was recruited by Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP). Despite low expectations, pyth played exceptionally well and helped NiP improve as a whole.
THREAT joins NiP
Bjorn “THREAT” Pers, a legendary in-game leader, joined NiP and brought new direction to the team. His effective coaching and strategic skills made him one of the best coaches in CS:GO history.
s1mple and TL
Oleksander “s1mple” Kostyliev’s career took a turn for the better when he joined Team Liquid. Under his leadership, Team Liquid achieved great success, making it to the semifinals and then the finals of a Major.
Stewie2k joins Cloud9
The recruitment of Stewie2k by Cloud9 was met with criticism, but the young player proved his talent and potential. Stewie2k’s skills and dedication have been instrumental in Cloud9’s success.
New Nuke (minus Inferno)
The return of the Nuke map was initially met with excitement, but it quickly lost its appeal due to various issues. Despite its interesting changes, Nuke was considered broken by professional players. Additionally, Inferno, a popular map, was removed from the competitive pool.
TL pick up koosta and he fails
Kenny “koosta” Suen’s promising performances in the MLG Minor led to his recruitment by Team Liquid. However, his performance with the team did not live up to expectations, and he was eventually let go.
Fnatic breaks tournament win record by winning six titles in a row
Fnatic’s domination in 2015 continued into 2016, as they won six tournaments in a row. However, their streak was broken at the next tournament, and the team’s performance started to decline.
Fnatic falls off
Fnatic’s downfall began when Olof “olofmeister” Kajbjer suffered a wrist injury. The team struggled to fill the void left by olofmeister and eventually fell apart after the ELEAGUE finals.
Na’Vi fails at MLG due to GuardiaN’s wrist
Ladislav “GuardiaN” Kovács’s wrist injury had a significant impact on Na’Vi’s performance at the MLG Major. The team was unable to compensate for GuardiaN’s difficulties, resulting in a missed opportunity to win the Major.
Luminosity wins MLG Major Championship: Columbus
With Fnatic and Na’Vi’s decline, Luminosity seized the opportunity to win their first tournament and Major. This victory marked a turning point for the team.
Richard Lewis departs from By the Numbers and tournaments other than ELEAGUE to pursue ELEAGUE full time
Richard Lewis, a well-known journalist and host, decided to focus on ELEAGUE full time after facing criticism from the community. This move provided him with job security and a platform to continue his work.
Tyloo and Asia rise, but ultimately fail
Tyloo and other Asian teams showed promise with impressive performances, but ultimately struggled against Western talent. These teams are now reevaluating their playstyles and finding their place in the international scene.
CS:GO goes to Television (ELEAGUE)
ELEAGUE successfully brought CS:GO to television, overcoming initial skepticism from the esports community. The tournament series has been a model of professionalism and has served the viewers well.
SK-LG Debacle
The transition of Luminosity players to SK Gaming sparked controversy and led to the loss of a spot in the ELEAGUE playoffs for both organizations. The situation was complex and had a significant impact on the teams involved.
SPUNJ gets removed from Renegades
Chad “SPUNJ” Burchill’s removal from Renegades was met with emotional reactions from the community. He has since transitioned to casting and analyzing CS:GO, which has been well-received.
Sound changes
Valve’s updates to gun sounds received mixed reactions from the community. Some players felt that the changes improved the game, while others felt that certain guns sounded unrealistic.
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