It is the final stretch now. We are in the playoffs of the BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023. Counter-Strike:Global Offensive had started as the new kid on the block that was trying to make its way into a world dominated by Counter-Strike 1.6 and Counter-Strike: Source. It took some time, but it was not long before it became one of the most fabled FPS titles of all time. Now, just over a decade later, we are standing on the brink of a new dawn in the world of Counter-Strike. Counter-Strike 2 is just over the horizon, and this is the last Major being played on CS:GO.
So, as we bid our favourite game adieu and welcome its successor with open arms, I wanted to sit back and have a look at some of the best and most memorable moments in Counter-Strike Major history. And trust me, when compiling this list, I shed a tear, and I am sure that by the end of the article, you will too. Let’s get started –
The Fire Angel
Olof Kajbjer Gustafsson aka “olofmeister” is one of the legends of the game. And, for him, Overpass seems to be the favourite map to execute some mind-boggling plays on. First was the infamous olof-boost, which earned him the name of ‘boostmeister’. However, that isn’t the play I am talking about here. The play that I am talking about here was during ESL One: Cologne 2014.
Playing for fnatic at the time, olof and crew were on Overpass facing off against Team Dignitas. The scoreline was 14-14. Fnatic needed to win that round to keep their hopes alive. As the game inched towards its closing stages, it happened. The bomb had been planted, and with three of his teammates alive against two on the opposing team, olof jumped in to diffuse the bomb. A molotov was thrown by dev1ce to stop the diffuse right as olof started it. And, being the fire angel that he is, he stuck to the diffuse, completing it right in time and then succumbing to the fires.
This play by olofmeister is etched in golden letters in the history of CS:GO. To commemorate this play by one of CS:GO’s finest, Valve added a graffiti to the map, depicting olof on the diffuse, two angel wings emerging from his body surrounded by flames, and a diffuse hit replacing the angelic halo over his head.
The Flying No-Scopes
Yes, I am talking about Oleksandr "s1mple" Kostyljev. He is arguably one of the best players to have ever played the game. A literal god with the AWP in his hands, since his debut, and return to the European scene, s1mple has cemented his legacy like no one else. He has a Major win under his belt and has given us some of the best plays to cherish for years! One of his many jaw-dropping plays, the one which earned him a spot on this list, took place on Cache.
S1mple at the time, was trying out his luck in the North American Counter-Strike scene, motivated by the guidance of another CS legend, Hiko. They were a part of Team Liquid, playing against fnatic at ESL One: Cologne 2016. The scoreline was 9-4, the round was the penultimate round before half-time. Liquid, having the upper hand on fnatic, and were one win away from securing a place in the finals. Liquid were on the brink of an economical teardown.
Two players were alive on fnatic’s side, while s1mple stood in heaven. And, then, he dropped. While falling down from that high spot, s1mple fired a shot that landed on dennis, and took him down. From B-main, KRIMZ swung out to trade his team mate, but s1mple, being the gifted player he is, took down KRIMZ as well, effortlessly with a noscope. Valve decided to immortalise this play as well by adding graffiti under heaven, which s1mple later got tattooed on his shoulder.
Thank you my brother for this gift pic.twitter.com/ltKnyul11M
— Sasha (@s1mpleO) October 7, 2016
It’s a jumping double for cold
If you have watched CS:GO montage videos or have played Mirage, you’d instantly know what I am talking about here. It is the jumping jack play by coldzera, where he took down four opponents, winning his team one of the most important rounds for them in the match.
coldzera was playing for Luminosity gaming, who were pitted against Team Liquid, who were on match point. Cold was holding off B-site with an AWP from van. As Liquid players group closer to B-site, everyone held their breaths. Cold was the only player on B-site. It looked like it’d be easy pickings for Liquid. However, as history has it, it was not going to be the case.
As soon as coldzera spotted the first player, adreN, he fired his shot, took him down, and called for backup. He jump-spotted more players, went double-dipped, jumped again, and fired a shot, which took down two more players, EliGE and s1mple. Not knowing what hit them, Hiko and nitr0, in a desperate bid to take down cold, rushed him. However, fate had decided something else for cold. He took down a jumping nitr0 with another no-scope and his teammate, TACO took down the last man standing, Hiko.
This play by cold was etched on the walls of Mirage. And, as the caster rightly remarked at that time – “…unthinkable scenes there on the B apartments”, the play was unthinkable, and is a happy memory for many fans of the esport.
Having gone through three of the best moments that were etched in history books by Valve, here’s to hoping that the last three days of the last CS:GO Major ever, also leave us with memories that are etched in our minds for ever and ever.
To get all of our coverage of the BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023, check out this page.
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Satvik Pandey
Satvik Pandey, is a self-professed Steve Jobs (not Apple) fanboy, a science & tech writer, and a sports addict. At Digit, he works as a Deputy Features Editor, and manages the daily functioning of the magazine. He also reviews audio-products (speakers, headphones, soundbars, etc.), smartwatches, projectors, and everything else that he can get his hands on. A media and communications graduate, Satvik is also an avid shutterbug, and when he's not working or gaming, he can be found fiddling with any camera he can get his hands on and helping produce videos – which means he spends an awful amount of time in our studio. His game of choice is Counter-Strike, and he's still attempting to turn pro. He can talk your ear off about the game, and we'd strongly advise you to steer clear of the topic unless you too are a CS junkie. View Full Profile
