Top 10 Best Snipers in Counter-Strike History

The AWP is a weapon that can decide the fate of an entire round with a single hit. Difficult to master, but giving a huge advantage to a skilled owner. Since the days of CS 1.6, through the golden era of CS:GO, and up to CS2, many players have tried to master "the big green," but few have managed to establish themselves as legendary AWPers. What's more, the AWP is probably the weapon responsible for some of the most iconic highlights in Counter-Strike history.

Here's my subjective ranking of the ten greatest AWPers in competitive Counter-Strike history. In creating it, I took into account the player's titles and achievements, their impact on the development of the game, peak form, and the opinions of experts from the community. There won't be controversy for the sake of controversy here, but every fan will probably arrange this list differently. Let's begin!

The most decorated North American AWPer in history. His accuracy helped Cloud9 win the first Major ever claimed by a North American team at ELEAGUE Boston 2018. When it comes to pure versatility, some fans might point to Tarik or Autimatic as better players from the North American region, but in the context of a classic AWPer, Skadoodle remains unmatched.

A three-time world champion with Fnatic, JW became the youngest Major winner in history at just 18 years and 280 days old. The Swedish player defined the early era of CS:GO with his bold and aggressive style of play with the AWP. He wasn't afraid of unusual positions or reaching for a revolver instead of the starting pistol. More than anyone else, JW showed the Counter-Strike scene that an AWPer could play like an entry fragger rather than simply hold angles. The influence of that style can still be seen today.

(CS 1.6 / CS:GO) FalleN is more than just a two-time world champion. He practically built the Brazilian Counter-Strike scene from scratch almost single-handedly, combining the role of team leader (IGL) with being a top sniper. He started his career back in the CS 1.6 era, and reached the peak of his form leading Luminosity/SK Gaming to two world championship titles in 2016. Remembered, among other things, for a legendary 1v3 with the AWP against Liquid at MLG Columbus. His impact on the history of the discipline goes far beyond statistics.

The best player in history who never won a Major. He appeared in the HLTV top 20 ranking six times between 2013 and 2018, reaching a career-high ranking of No. 2 in 2015. He played for Natus Vincere, and later for the superteam FaZe Clan, where despite injuries he remained one of the most respected snipers in the world. Silverware eluded him, but his impact on the game and the respect of the community are beyond dispute.

One of the most mechanically gifted players the game has ever seen. There's a good chance he'll finish his career as one of the three best AWPers of all time. Nicknamed "The Flash" for his superhuman reflexes. At just 10 years old, m0NESY had already reached Global Elite in CS:GO. Within months, m0NESY established himself as a key player for one of the world's top teams, Team Falcons. He combines aggressive opening duels with exceptional impact throughout each round. For now, though, his historical body of work is clearly smaller than that of the players higher on this list, but that seems to be purely a matter of time. Talent has never been the question.

The definition of an AWPer from the CS 1.6 era. Markeloff played with a cool calculation and sense of the game that was hard for opponents to predict. He combined the calmness of device with a touch of the brilliance of kennyS, although both of them appeared on the scene much later. His performance with the AWP in the final of the IEM IV World Championship against Fnatic is considered one of the greatest individual AWP performances ever seen.

The player because of whom Valve had to nerf the AWP, that's probably the best summary of his status as a sniper. kennyS became famous for absurdly fast quickscopes and flicks, and his "Magic Stick" became a synonym for pure mechanics in Counter-Strike. A Major winner and MVP of DreamHack Cluj Napoca in 2015. At his peak in 2014 and 2015, he was one of the most spectacular snipers in the history of the game.

A role model for anyone who wants to learn how to play the AWP. Zero unnecessary risk, perfect positioning, and almost no "stupid" deaths. That disciplined approach helped Astralis win four Major titles, making device one of the most decorated players in CS history. In 2021 he moved to Ninjas in Pyjamas, and his legacy as one of the most consistent snipers in history remains unquestionable.

The wonder boy of the French CS scene, who debuted on the professional scene in 2018 and was in the world's top 2 from practically his very first matches. A three-time HLTV Player of the Year, Major MVP, and holder of dozens of MVP titles. Some rankings of the best snipers rate him lower only because he AWPs "too little" compared to specialists of this weapon. His level with the AWP is so extraordinary that it's impossible to leave him out of the very top tier. A pillar of Team Vitality.

s1mple is considered the best player in the history of CS:GO. Across the Counter-Strike community, many still regard him as the greatest AWPer of all time. The Ukrainian superstar paired incredible mechanics with outstanding tactical intelligence. Elite mechanics combined with exceptional game sense allowed him to produce multi-kills even in seemingly impossible situations. Unlike most legendary snipers, he was equally dominant with the AK 47 and the M4, which made him the most complete player of his era.

His double no-scope against Fnatic at ESL One Cologne 2016 became one of the most iconic plays in Counter-Strike history. Interestingly, that play still exists as graffiti in the game itself today. No player has won more HLTV MVP awards. His journey from a controversial young talent to the face of the entire discipline is one of the best stories in esports.