Counter-Strike is a game that has been popular in the gaming world for over a decade. During this time, we’ve witnessed performances from numerous outstanding players. Many of them, starting from the CS 1.6 era, successfully transitioned to CS:GO, carving their own story there. Some decided to end their careers, while others became coaches or founded their own clubs.
With the news about the upcoming release of Counter-Strike 2, the community eagerly awaits the return of renowned athletes. Some have long been out of the active scene, but others continue to play, stream, and stay in the limelight. Will the legends return? Only time will tell.
We’ll try to speculate who we should anticipate the most. Also, note that Betpawa UG accepts bets on competitions in many esports disciplines.
Patrick “f0rest” Lindberg
One of the most anticipated figures is Patrick “f0rest” Lindberg. He’s known not only by veterans of the game but also by the younger generation. f0rest has been at the top since 2003. His achievements in CS 1.6 have left a mark in history, but his successes in CS:GO are also hard to overestimate.
After a long stay in Ninjas in Pyjamas and a brief time in Dignitas, he decided to pause his active career in 2022. However, Lindberg continues to actively stream on Twitch and recently expressed a desire to return to the professional level. Will he get such an opportunity? The community eagerly awaits developments, but chances of his return look quite promising.
Filip “NEO” Kubski
When we talk about Counter-Strike masters and team leaders, the name NEO always comes up among the first. It’s impossible not to acknowledge him as one of the most outstanding players in the world, as he has showcased his talent for 20 years.
NEO began his journey in 2000, playing for STER-Prokekt. Over the years, he became part of the best CS 1.6 teams, such as Meet Your Makers. In CS:GO, he represented Virtus.Pro and HONORIS colors. His last club was HONORIS, where he played for 7 months before leaving the active roster.
As of July 2023, NEO has been acting as a coach for FaZe Clan, but given his recent activity as a player, we hope to see him in action in CS2. Recently, he was seen in the company of TaZ, GeT_RiGhT, and other famous players, hinting at possible plans for the future. Undoubtedly, NEO has a wealth of experience to share with the younger generation.
Christopher “GeT_RiGhT” Alesund
It’s impossible to discuss the legends of Counter-Strike without mentioning GeT_RiGhT. This Swedish star has always been emblematic of the game. Starting in 2007 (7 years later than NEO), he quickly became a prominent figure in the game. GeT_RiGhT played for the world’s top teams, including SK Gaming, Fnatic, and Ninjas in Pyjamas in CS:GO. Like f0rest, he was with NiP for a long duration and later moved to Dignitas.
From August 2022, Christopher began streaming for his team, playing casually. However, with the release of CS 2, we anticipate his stance might change. He has often expressed his desire to return to professional gaming. Many fans dream of seeing GeT_RiGhT and f0rest together in the game. Whether this dream will become a reality remains to be seen.
Olof “olofmeister” Kajbjer Gustafsson
Next on our list is olofmeister. While other Counter-Strike legends began their careers earlier, olofmeister became a genuine star during the CS:GO era, joining the H2k team. However, most players remember him for his successes with Fnatic and FaZe Clan.
Interesting fact: olofmeister has stepped down from the active FaZe Clan roster five times, with the last occurrence in January 2022. During his peak, both Fnatic and FaZe Clan were at the pinnacle of the CS world, winning many tournaments.
Should olofmeister decide to come back in CS 2, he might opt for a new team or return to his old trustworthy squad. However, his plans regarding the new game remain unknown.
Ladislav “Guardian” Kovács
Ladislav, known as Guardian, was an exceptional sniper, once considered among the world’s best in CS. His career has been a rollercoaster, with a meteoric rise with Natus Vincere followed by a decline.
Will the Slovakian player have a chance to revive in CS2? It’s entirely possible, given he’s just 32 years old.
Guardian began his CS:GO journey in 2012, playing for several teams before joining Virtus.pro. Later in 2013, he moved to Natus Vincere. But after four years of collaboration, he transitioned to FaZe Clan. Despite claiming that FaZe would be his final team, he returned to Natus Vincere in 2019. Yet, by 2020, he was relegated to the bench. Subsequently, he had brief stints with Dignitas and some lesser-known teams.
We hope CS2 will rejuvenate the glory of this outstanding player.