The idea of the Hall of Fame for esports is not new. Various organizations have tried to establish their own Hall of Fames over the years, but the concept quickly lost legitimacy. The exception to this is the Hall of Legends from Riot Games, because the developer itself is invested in this concept and is able to ensure its longevity.

Counter-Strike is a great franchise that has turned 25 years old, but as we know, Valve prefers a rather detached approach to its own esports scene. For this reason, HLTV.org, a portal that has built authority and reputation within the community over time, takes center stage.

But who should be considered the greatest player in the history of Counter-Strike? A game that has seen multiple distinct eras, which are hard to compare to each other. Nevertheless, the first class of HLTV’s Hall of Fame might provide an answer. It's important to note that, according to HLTV’s rules, active players cannot be inducted. In the end, 11 candidates were proposed, but four Swedes made it into the Hall of Fame:

  • Forest and GeT_RiGhT – Two Swedes who created the legendary 87-0 streak at LAN tournaments as part of Ninjas in Pyjamas and were also major figures during the CS 1.6 era. Forest boasts a 20-year career, and for most of that time, he played alongside GeT_RiGhT. Two legends, no question about it.
  • HeatoN – The person most associated with the Ninjas in Pyjamas tag. A CS 1.6 legend, one of the game’s first true superstars. His induction is as deserved as it is predictable — HeatoN already has several achievements, recognising his impact.
  • Potti – The founder of Ninjas in Pyjamas and one of the brightest players of the early 2000s. A partner of HeatoN, so his inclusion alongside him is also not surprising.

It’s clear that the HLTV Hall of Fame will continue to grow over time, but being in the very first class is always the most prestigious. Fortunately, there are still several players in CS2 today who are guaranteed to deserve this honor.

Main image: reddit.com

Comment on this