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Ever since Counter-Strike developed as a mod to Half-Life, it has caused a lot of noise in the professional gaming scene. Currently, a major E-Sport, Counter-Strike, has etched its name in gaming history.
Counter-Strike has had the 2nd largest amount of money given away as a prize in the history of E-Sports falling short of only Valve's sister E-Sport, Dota 2.
Although the difference between Dota 2 and Counter-Strike is over $85 million, it is largely owed to the extravagant prize pool of 'The International', the annual Dota 2 mega tournaments which are funded by the player-base.
The total prize money is given away in the history of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive stands at $51 million dollars. Although the next Dota 2 International is expected to break the $30 million dollar prize pool mark, Dota's success in E-Sports can largely be attributed to the viral success of Counter-Strike in the early 2000's which launched E-Sports as a serious field.
Let's take a look at 10 players who, as of now, made the most out of Counter-Strike in its nearly 20-year existence.
Note: All winnings from Counter-Strike 1.6 to Global Offensive are taken in the record and only the prize money and individual success awards have been counted. Salaries and sponsor deals have been left out as they vary independently of a player's success.
All figures have been collected from Liquipedia CS:GO.
#10 KRIMZ - $646,000
Freddy "KRIMZ" Johansson is a 23-year-old Swedish player who currently plays as a rifler for the Swedish powerhouse Fnatic. KRIMZ has won 2 back to back CS:GO Major tournaments as part of Fnatic's legendary squad winning ESL Katowice 2015 and ESL One Cologne 2015.
However, his biggest boost in earnings came a few weeks ago as Fnatic won the WESG 2017 tournament in China, which boasted a prize pool of $1.5 million, the largest in CS:GO history and took home $800,000.
At 23 years old, KRIMZ has a lot of potential in him and will certainly make a lot more for himself before finally ending his career. The victory at WESG may have pushed him into the list barely, but he deserves the spot.
#9 TaZ - $664,000
Wiktor "TaZ" Wojtas is the oldest player on this list at 31 years old. Part of the Golden Five of Poland, TaZ was a pioneer of 1.6 and, made a smooth transition to CS:GO, where he and the rest of his Virtus.Pro teammates showed no signs of slowing down.
Virtus.Pro had the longest standing active roster in CS:GO history at 4 years and 5 months with the same team. With TaZ as their in-game leader, the team managed a victory at the second ever CS:GO major in their home country of Poland at ESL Katowice 2014. Winning countless tournaments, his biggest paycheck came in E-LEAGUE Season 1 where Virtus.Pro won a total of $410,000.
TaZ was recently benched by Virtus.Pro after they crashed out of the most recent major without managing a single victory. Joining Team Kinguin, TaZ is looking for a career resurrection but age isn't on his side. It is unlikely his earnings are going to change much but whatever he has made, he earned it.
#8 JW - $665,000
Jesper "JW" Wecksell, is a Swedish AWPer currently playing for Fnatic and, is known for his aggressive AWPing techniques. The 3rd Fnatic mainstay on this list, JW had been with Fnatic ever since the organization ventured into CS:GO.
Winning the very first CS:GO major with the team at Dreamhack Winter 2013 and two more major victories later, JW established himself as one of the biggest names in the pro scene. His biggest earning came a few weeks ago at the WESG 2017 where his team took home $800,000.
At only 23 years of age, JW has a lot of years ahead of him and is one of the favorites to break the $1 million mark. His form has been consistent for over 5 years and is too valuable to any team he ever plays for. With a bright past behind him, JW expects an even brighter future ahead.
#7 Olofmeister - $676,000
Olof "Olofmeister" Kajbjer Gustafsson, is one of the greatest players to ever play the game. Olofmeister made his name for Fnatic's golden era winning 2 back to back majors with the previously mentioned KRIMZ.
The former Player of the Year (2015), has won uncountable tournaments both with Fnatic and his current team, FaZe Clan. With Fnatic, he won over 25 tournaments and, continued his amazing record. His biggest paycheck came in the E-LEAGUE CS:GO Premier 2017, where he and his FaZe teammates took home a total of $500,000.
Olofmeister has done about everything he can in the world of CS:GO. At 26 years old, he is showing some signs of slowing down and may not have much left in him. However, his experience and skills are an asset to any team he plays for. We can expect Olof to cash in a lot of big checks before finally hanging up his mouse and keyboard.
#6 flusha - $682,000
Robin "flusha" Rönnquist is the 4th Fnatic icon and Swede to make the list. The richest Swedish player of all time, Flusha has accumulated his enormous earnings throughout various tournament victories all over the world.
His biggest check was again in the WESG 2017 much like his teammates. One of the greatest riflers of all time, flusha has 3 major victories under his belt a record he shares only with pronax and the previously mentioned JW.
At 27 years old and being in the form of his life, flusha looks likely to win more in 2018. As Fnatic emerge as favorites to win the upcoming Major in London, flusha might be closing in on the $1 million mark much like his partner, JW.
#5 NEO - $692,000
Filip "NEO" Kubski is a Polish Counter-Strike player who can act as an in-game leader as well as a support rifler. One of the greatest 1.6 players ever, NEO has been equally impressive in Global Offensive.
Part of Poland's Golden Five, NEO is the richest Polish player in terms of prize money. Like his Polish brethren, Neo's biggest check came in E-LEAGUE season 1 where his team took home $410,000. Currently in transition with Virtus.Pro, Neo looks for more success as he switched to in-game leader after the departure of TaZ.
At 30 years old, NEO is the 2nd oldest player on the list, younger than his former teammate TaZ. Also at the ending part of his career, NEO hopes to write a successful final chapter with Virtus.Pro as the team goes through a makeover. A strong showing at the V4 Festival might be a signal of greater things to come. Only time will tell.
#4 TACO - $713,000
With Epitácio "TACO" de Melo starts a monotony on the list which you will catch up on as we progress. Benefiting from the boom of E-Sports in the mid-2010s, TACO and his Brazilian squad dominated the CS:GO scene for nearly 2 years.
Winning almost every big tournament from late 2015 to early 2017, his team won 2 back to back majors as well. Firstly, as part of Luminosity Gaming, TACO won the MLG Columbus 2016 and then won the ESL One Cologne 2016 as part of SK Gaming taking $500,000 home each time.
TACO was picked up by FalleN early in his pro career, he formed the core of the Brazilian squad that would define an era of Counter-Strike. Recently, however, TACO was the first member to leave the team owing to its poor performances in recent tournaments.
With teams consisting of superstar players becoming a thing with the advent of FaZe, TACO has options wide open for his future and very well might go on to break the $1 million barrier.
#3 coldzera - $723,000
Marcelo "coldzera" David is another member of the Brazilian core. Graduating from FalleN's Games Academy, coldzera was signed into LG during their early days. Soon it was evident that coldzera was one of the most promising players in the world.
He delivered becoming one of the greatest, if not the greatest player to ever grace the game. Named Player of the Year in 2016 and 2017, coldzera is known for his raw fragging power and incredible consistency. Winning the $500,000 majors in 2016, cold was named MVP for both tournaments.
There is not much to be said about coldzera that hasn't already been said. Although SK Gaming is in a bit of a flux as of right now, once they find a stable team, one can hope they will again become the invincible force they were. Only 23 years old, coldzera can be expected to break the $1 million mark quite easily.
#2 fer - $732,000
Fernando "fer" Alvarenga is the 3rd member of the Brazilian core on the list. One of FalleN's closest friends, the two have played together throughout their entire Counter-Strike career, be it 1.6 or Global Offensive.
One of the greatest entry fraggers to ever play the game, fer burst into his element in late 2016. Almost unstoppable while bursting into sites as a terrorist, fer helped SK Gaming, formerly Luminosity Gaming, to win the 2 majors in 2016. Named the second best player of 2017 just behind coldzera, fer truly stands up to his online nickname ferGod.
At 26 years old, he is one of the oldest members of the Brazilian core. However, considering how united the trio is, it is unlikely they will ever split. So, if fer is to achieve the $1 million mark, he will quite surely do so with his brothers.
#1 FalleN - $740,000
Known as the Brazilian Godfather of CS:GO, Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo is one of the household names in the gaming world. A rare exception to an AWPer and in-game leader, FalleN created the iconic Brazilian core of himself, fer, coldzera and TACO.
Along with another beast from Brazil, fnx, the team won a couple of back to back majors in 2016. FalleN not only kept the money for himself, he also uses his winnings to run Games Academy, an E-Sport academy in Brazil which teaches young players Counter-Strike.
Almost every single top-tier Brazilian CS:GO player we see today has graduated from FalleN's academy. Considered one of the most influential and important figures in CS:GO history, FalleN has helped the game's development in his home country more than any other player can dream of.
At 26 years old and already having amassed a fortune in earnings, it is almost a sure bet that FalleN will cross the $1 million mark sometime in his career, he is just that good. To put things in perspective, SK Gaming currently is the only top-tier team to not have a coach, just one in-game leader in FalleN.
