After a fairly quiet couple of years, the professional CSGO circuit is finally back on track. With more major tournaments abandoning online-only models and returning to live venues in full force, 2022 is set to be an extra-special year for Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. This coming year is also set to be one packed with standout talent. While newcomers to the game are making their mark in A-Tier tournaments, a handful of established players look set to steer their respective teams to glory.
Fredrik “Rez” Sterner
Fredrik Sterner has been a firm fixture of Ninjas in Pyjamas since 2017. Currently, Sterner is the longest-serving member of the team and serves as a rifler. His tenure with the team has been marked with several victories. Ninjas in Pyjamas secured first place at the Intel Extreme Masters XVI Fall championships. Also in 2021, the team walked away with an impressive first-place finish at the BLAST Premier. Many of his contemporaries named him a breakout player to watch after his debut in 2017 and he’s continued to impress industry insiders since. Expect big things from Sterner in 2022 and beyond.
Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin
Ludvig Brolin is fairly young, but this Swedish esports professional is quickly emerging as one to watch. He debuted with GODSENT back in 2017 at the tender age of 15, making him the youngest person ever to sign up with a professional team. Since then, he’s joined the ranks of Fnatic, putting him front and center at some of the biggest CS:GO championships on the planet. In the past few years, he’s consistently placed in Top 20 Player lists. In 2020, HLTV named him the 15th best player in the world. That same year, he was also named MVP of the ESL Pro League Season 11. Brolin currently serves as a rifler, but don’t be too surprised to see him emerge as an in-game leader in a few years.
Freddy”KRiMZ” Johansson
Another firm favorite from Fnatic, Freddy Johansson has been active in esports since 2013. He’s also one of the longest-serving members of Fnatic, having occupied a rifler role across two stints from 2014. His time on the team has been marked with successive victories at S-Tier tournaments. He’s also enjoyed personal commendations for his performance. In 2014, he was named the 9th best CS:GO player in the world. The following year, he inched up the rankings to be named the 7th best player. His ranking may have slipped in recent years, but with Fnatic all but certain to secure a spot in the final rounds of many major championships, he’ll have another chance to showcase his talents to the world in 2022.
Florian “syrsoN” Rische
German professional Florian Rische is a living legend in professional esports circles. Since 2012, he’s played for more than half a dozen teams, but it’s his tenure with BIG that has brought him the attention of international audiences. BIG has secured some impressive victories in recent years, with a chain of first-place finishes at A-Tier and S-Tier tournaments. He’s also recently placed in the Top 10 player rankings, making him the first German player ever to land a spot on the shortlist. Rische’s star is definitely on the rise, so expect to see him land a couple of MVP nods during the 2022 playing season.
Benjamin “blameF” Bremer
Finally, we shine the spotlight on Benjamin Bremer. This Danish player has been part of the Astralis line-up since 2021, although he’s been playing professionally since 2017. As with Florian Rische, Bremer has placed high in best player rankings recently. In fact, he’s secured Top 20 rankings during the past two playing seasons. It’s almost a guarantee that this legendary rifler will secure further nods in 2022.
Keen to see who comes out on top in 2022? Check for updates and insights into the best CSGO pro teams here.