Five Potential Breakout Players for 2020
The players named in each HLTV.org ‘Top 20 Players of the Year’ list, make their own bold predictions for potential breakout talents in the upcoming year.
Based on those predictions, we’ve complied the following list of five young talents that are likely to make waves in Counter-Strike in the next 12 months.
Mateusz "mantuu" Wilczewski
The former ALTERNATE aTTaX star is the first player on this list.
Winning both Spring and Summer last year, mantuu has been a Meisterschaft MVP twice, and was a crucial part of the success aTTaX found.
While OG initially targeted Finnish player Jamppi as their young talent, mantuu is exceptionally promising and doesn't feel like a second-choice compromise.
As the OG roster establishes itself, mantuu will see opportunities to shine among the experienced players alongside him. Nathan "NBK-" Schmitt will be looking to invoke his title of Kingmaker, to once again crown a ruler of the seven maps of CS:GO.
An early showing at cs_summit 5 saw the European roster make a semifinal run against solid opposition, including mousesports and G2 Esports.
This debut saw OG hit the top 30 on HLTV and confirmed them as one of the starting 12 BLAST Premier teams. OG will be in action in Week 3 of the Spring Season, against Evil Geniuses, G2 and 100 Thieves.
Ignacio "meyern" Meyer
South America has its fair share of fiery young talent, but the vast majority hails from Brazil.
After impressively taking down Team Liquid in the online portion of ECS Season 8, and qualifying for ESL Pro League Season 10 through the domestic group, Sharks have shown that Argentine talent also exists within their region.
At only 17-years-old, meyern was recruited by MIBR within six months of his Sharks debut.
- Read More - Can Meyern Save MIBR
As MIBR seek to re-establish themselves as a contender on the international circuit, without former star Marcelo "coldzera" David, meyern will be under one of the all-time greatest in-game leaders, in the form of Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo.
Twistzz echoed this prediction after he was named as the nineth best player of 2019 by HLTV:
”I think meyern has the best chance to enter the top 20 next year. If MIBR can get their performance up, maybe make one more roster change to get their footing and if they have some good runs next year, I think he’ll be able to put up high numbers once he gets the experience. Right now, his numbers aren’t the greatest, but I believe he’ll be able to pick up his individual skill.”
David "frozen" Čerňanský
The mousesports organisation is no stranger to young up-and-coming talent. Robin "ropz" Kool made his professional debut on mousesports and placed 10th in the top 20 players of 2019, while Özgür "woxic" Eker placed 12th.
Click to enlargeBoth named their teammate frozen as their own bold predictions for 2020, with the Slovak prospect picked in 2017 by Emil "Magisk" Reif, and again in 2018 by two FaZe Clan veterans.
With a competitive history dating back to when he was just 13, frozen went from dominating low tier LAN events to becoming a crucial part in the mousesports machine during the final months of 2019.
If mousesports continue their form into 2020, frozen could easily have the best year of his career and be within the top 20 players.
Nicolas "Plopski" Gonzalez Zamora
Ludvig "Brollan" Brollin isn't the only young Swedish talent looking to add their name to the long list of legendary Swedish players in Counter-Strike history.
After missing the StarLadder Berlin Major due to roster locks, NiP will have numerous events in the opening months of 2020, including the first week of BLAST Premier: Spring 2020 and IEM Katowice.
Plopski has been with NiP since June but the incoming changes, that will see f0rest depart and nawwk join the prestigious organisation, should signal a fresh start and new era for the Ninjas.
Click to enlargeThe Swede was previously hyped up by André "BARBARR" Möller who claimed he was "better than Brollan" from what he had seen of Plopski on x6tence Galaxy during 2018.
With Brollan taking the #19 spot in the top 20 for 2019 and naming Plopski as his bold prediction, a solid 2020 could well see him on the next list.
Helvijs "broky" Saukants
While NiKo elected for Bymas as his own bold prediction this year, his Lithuanian teammate looks set to be in a stronger position by this time next year.
FaZe Clan seemed checked out of CS:GO following multiple stand-ins and no permanent fifth or IGL in sight.
The addition of broky and, later, coldzera seemed to dispel this belief and showed FaZe were still interested in contending in GO.
FaZe are not lacking in firepower thanks to these big-name stars, but teams need more than firepower to succeed and individuals to shine.
Previous Lithuanian talent EspiranTo was tipped for greatness, but attitude problems are often attributed to the player who has signed for a currently unknown North American organisation, following the buyout of CR4ZY.
Images via ESL & BLAST.
