2017 in review #1: Favorite event, biggest surprise and best roster change

16-12-2017 14:10

As 2017 draws to a close, we put players and casters through a series of questions about the year in the Counter-Strike scene.

While at the ESL Pro League Season 6 Finals, in Odense, we had a chat with a number of players and analysts to get to know their thoughts on the year that is about to come to an end. In this first video, they discuss their favourite event of 2017, the biggest surprise and also the most impactful roster change.

You can find the rest of HLTV.org's videos by going to our Twitch channel here.

Sk year

2017-12-16 14:11

19 replies

eleague major best

2017-12-16 14:12

5 replies

Flair checks out

2017-12-16 14:35

1 reply

Flair is strawberry oreo

2017-12-16 14:40

sorry, ESL makes better major events. No doubt!

2017-12-16 16:48

2 replies

AUTIST

2017-12-16 18:51

2017-12-16 20:57

EPICENTER best event

2017-12-16 14:20

9 replies

2017-12-16 15:42

Oakland

2017-12-16 15:51

1 reply

flair checks out

2017-12-16 19:20

+1 but sad only 8 teams :c

2017-12-16 16:00

2017-12-16 16:42

2017-12-16 16:43

EPICENTER was EPIC! I liked the Blast Pro too, despite those tech issues.

2017-12-16 16:49

2 replies

Blast was the worst because Format and delays so stupid

2017-12-16 19:26

1 reply

2017-12-17 14:32

fucking love steel <3

2017-12-16 15:29

1 reply

Same !

2017-12-16 16:01

No major

2017-12-16 15:40

lol

2017-12-16 14:11

Nice

2017-12-16 14:11

Wow

2017-12-16 14:11

nvm rip

2017-12-16 14:11

TriHard 7

2017-12-16 14:11

1 reply

TriHard /\ GTChimp

2017-12-16 14:56

2017-12-16 14:11

2017-12-16 14:12

lol nice

2017-12-16 14:13

Sk top1

2017-12-16 14:13

FAVORITE EVENT: Eleague Major , Astralis ez <3 BIGGEST SURPRISE: SK still not banned for cheating AND BEST ROSTER CHANGE: SKs old coder swapped for new coder

2017-12-16 14:14

7 replies

Are u mad eurocuck?

2017-12-16 14:17

lol

2017-12-16 14:17

Plus fucking one to all. GG

2017-12-16 14:18

Ofc the muslim woudnt like sk... Not even surprised

2017-12-16 14:27

Are you mad dude? The year's least surprise, you still on silver ranks...

2017-12-16 15:22

1 reply

brazilians says someone is silver HAHAHAHAHA

2017-12-16 15:33

Best comment on hltv 2017

2017-12-16 17:56

Results?

2017-12-16 14:15

steel hahaha

2017-12-16 14:16

The winners: Best tournament - IEM Sydney The biggest surprise - Gambit winning the major Best roster change - Olof and guardian to FaZe

2017-12-16 14:17

13 replies

+1 but I don't know if we can count two players. If it's only one, I'd put -felps +boltz, which will still happen officially but we all know

2017-12-16 14:39

7 replies

Best tournament - IEM Sydney The biggest surprise - Gambit winning the major Best roster change - Naf to Renegades

2017-12-16 14:44

2 replies

The biggest surprise: Renegades NOT winning a major* Here, fixed it for you :)

2017-12-17 00:10

I agree, naf and nifty have both made the gades a whole lot better

2017-12-18 08:09

Nah Hobbit to Gambit is a better roster change if we do one person

2017-12-16 15:14

3 replies

Mb u right,but hobbit went to gambit in 2016,and pick up first mvp too(DH winter)

2017-12-16 17:25

1 reply

Technically he was on loan the entire time until a few months ago, so if that's the case boltz can't be either since he was on loan

2017-12-16 17:31

Yeaaa and Zeus too! They won the major with it

2017-12-16 17:31

The biggest factor for Faze was Niko's transfer, easiest the best roster change of the year.

2017-12-16 15:30

I think the biggest surprise was imt getting to finals on their first major

2017-12-16 15:32

1 reply

Not really. Gambit were losing to teams much weaker than IMT and Astralis, on ESEA Premier. They almost got demoted, facing even some tier 5 teams. Seeing them on the finals was like... wtf

2017-12-16 15:38

epicenter gambit winning pgl -shroud -nothing +rush +tarik

2017-12-16 16:29

1 reply

I also liked the C9 moves! Pretty good for the team. I think Ska also needs to leave now.

2017-12-16 16:56

steel <3

2017-12-16 14:17

4 replies

yo wtf we posted that at the same time

2017-12-16 14:17

3 replies

ikr lol

2017-12-16 14:17

2 replies

now kiss :D

2017-12-16 14:33

1 reply

awwwwwwwwwww

2017-12-16 18:04

steel <3

2017-12-16 14:17

FAVORITE EVENT: ESL One Cologne <3 BIGGEST SURPRISE: Gambit winning a major BEST ROSTER CHANGE: -allu -k1o +GuaridaN +Olofmeister

2017-12-16 14:19

4 replies

Faze was top 2 and still is? So how was that The best roster change?

2017-12-16 16:34

3 replies

i mean, i was suprised by guardian and olof join FaZe, so, for me was the best roster change

2017-12-16 16:37

2 replies

Surely Niko going to Faze was better as it actually made them top 2 from tier 2 team lol

2017-12-16 16:38

1 reply

yeah, agreed

2017-12-16 16:41

FAVORITE EVENT: Epicenter BIGGEST SURPRISE: FaZe 0-3 a Major, Gambit won Major BEST ROSTER CHANGE: SK -felps +boltz

2017-12-16 14:20

1 reply

Ah, yes. IEM Sydney was amazing, but EPICENTER is the tournament that made everything else look bleak. They had the final of the year for sure. We got SK v Astralis Bo3 and Sk v FaZe Bo3 as well. boltz proving himself and SK winning without any practice with him. Not to mention the whole tournament was in a Bo3 format. We had a lot of amazing matches.

2017-12-16 14:39

Noice

2017-12-16 14:25

nice

2017-12-16 14:28

nice guy steel

2017-12-16 14:32

Very sick

2017-12-16 14:34

Best event: IEM Oakland Biggest surprise: Steel joining Liquid Best roster change: SK +boltz

2017-12-16 14:34

3 replies

Flag checks out lol

2017-12-16 15:05

2 replies

I'm actually fakeflagging but nt

2017-12-16 15:19

1 reply

Nice life

2017-12-16 16:08

steel at the end :))

2017-12-16 14:34

1 reply

<3 Best roster change, no doubts

2017-12-16 15:33

EPICENTER 2017; Immortals in PGL Krákow Finals; FaZe Clan changes with Olof and Guardian.

2017-12-16 14:35

5 replies

@129?

2017-12-16 16:36

4 replies

Can't find this comment anymore. What was it?

2017-12-16 20:45

3 replies

Why would you rate +Olof +Guardian higher than +Niko. Other one made them just stay top2 and other made them top2 from tier 2

2017-12-16 21:04

2 replies

I actually thought NiKo was in the end of 2016. I agree with you

2017-12-16 21:17

Actually if we pay attention, FaZe won 2 of their 3 tournaments this year with olof and GuardiaN. Possibly 3 of 4, if they win ECS. So yeah, maybe olof and GuardiaN have more impact. It's arguable. It's tough to compare two players vs one player. They'd probably have one tournament only without these two. But the same could be said for NiKo

2017-12-16 21:25

Best tournament = IEM Sydney Biggest surprise: Gambit, almost got demoted on ESEA Premier facing tier 3 ~ 5 teams, major winners Best roster change = -felps +boltz. If we can count more than one, +GuardiaN and olof on FaZe

2017-12-16 14:40

1 reply

#129 ?

2017-12-16 16:38

nt steel

2017-12-16 14:38

Nice video.

2017-12-16 14:41

STEEL AND WOXIC AHAHAHAHAH

2017-12-16 14:44

Too bad Blast Pro failed on the first day, or else it would had been best tournament of the year. Had so many things, the other tourneys didn't, but ofc. 1 day delay, ruins that impression.

2017-12-16 14:47

8 replies

Biggest Surprise: Gambit Major-Winners Best roster change: Glaive to Astralis

2017-12-16 14:59

3 replies

Glaive to astralis was last year.

2017-12-16 15:19

1 reply

Oh yeah was end of last year, my bad..Was just thinking he joined for the major win at start of this year

2017-12-16 16:05

Gla1ve was definitely the most impactful change, but it was in 2016 :)

2017-12-16 16:05

Blast Pro worst event of the year and will be remembered as the worst event since Gaming Paradise for a long time to comw

2017-12-16 17:33

3 replies

what was bad besides the annoying first day delay?

2017-12-16 17:38

2 replies

3 games at the same time made it awful to watch on stream (wasn't even three official streams, wtf?). absolutely horrible overlay. only one BO3. technical issues even on the second day with some streamed maps being near unwatchable

2017-12-16 17:41

also, "annoying delay" is the most ridiculous understatement i've heard lmao. the games literally didn't even start and people wasted their entire evening without getting any info for hours

2017-12-16 17:43

Best event: Epicenter Biggest surprise: Zeus to navi Best roster change: NiKo to Faze

2017-12-16 14:48

1 reply

This. People think that The last roster change If Faze was better Even thought they remained at top2

2017-12-16 16:37

Best Event: Cologne/Epicenter Biggest Surprise: Zeus to NaVi/Gambit-Immortals Major Final Bets roster change: NiKo away from botsports

2017-12-16 14:51

STEEL <3

2017-12-16 14:51

Steel with the banter lul love him

2017-12-16 14:55

Forgot about PGL crowd?????????????

2017-12-16 14:56

1 reply

PGL crowd was amazing bro! Really liked it

2017-12-16 16:57

steel lol xd

2017-12-16 14:56

Best Event: IEM Oakland Biggest Suprise: Olof leaving fnatic lol Best roster change(s): NiP adding REZ and draken as well as new FaZe lineup

2017-12-16 14:57

woxic'in heycandan agzi yuzu ters donmus bembeyaz olmus cocuk aq afasdafweqdfasd

2017-12-16 14:59

lul "boltz a worse individual player". Not true.

2017-12-16 14:59

IEM Sydney? Imo that was one of the worst

2017-12-16 14:59

1 reply

Cause of fallen masterpiece on train? LUL

2017-12-16 15:29

Steel <3 Love u bro, the best interview ever! "ahhh man". We smart, we loyal, we friendly, we are from BRAZIL! Kreygasm

2017-12-16 15:00

Yeah man

2017-12-16 15:00

IEM Sidney was really amazing

2017-12-16 15:02

woxic <3

2017-12-16 15:03

i love steel, he is so cute.

2017-12-16 15:04

Best event for sure epicenter !

2017-12-16 15:09

Best move: NiP +REZ, Faze +Olof and Guardian and def SK +Boltz Surprise of 2017: For me personally ofc CIS to win the Major, NiP to win Oakland in a way they did and fucked up Dust II

2017-12-16 15:09

3 replies

#129?

2017-12-16 16:38

2 replies

Why are you searching the comments to try to get everyone in line with your opinion :thinking:

2017-12-17 11:16

1 reply

It was My comment about Niko to Faze being The best transfer of 2017

2017-12-17 12:01

god damn steel you cute boi

2017-12-16 15:11

steel the man

2017-12-16 15:12

Get right: The best rooster move LMAO

2017-12-16 15:15

Best event was Blast xd

2017-12-16 15:16

2016 = SK year 2017 = SK year 2018 = 100 Thieves year oh yeah

2017-12-16 15:17

15 replies

oh kys briandead favela

2017-12-16 15:19

11 replies

static.hltv.org/images/team/logo/6667 Being mad against the br checks out lul

2017-12-16 15:29

10 replies

2017-12-16 15:35

stfu na scrub lul

2017-12-16 16:14

8 replies

You seem mad... Should be happy, finally faze can win a tournament since sk is not playing

2017-12-16 17:03

7 replies

ekhm ekhm 15-0 on ESL NY and ELEAGUE while sk couldnt get out of groups LUL

2017-12-16 17:41

6 replies

I'm glad you have two or three arguments to defend your team toward the whole year lul. Please do, just accept it, like i did with liquid, faze are just one more choker team that will never beat SK overall.

2017-12-16 17:42

5 replies

''whole year'' playing with this roster since august means whole year for you? expected from 3iq brainless fat americana liquid fan kek

2017-12-16 18:12

4 replies

Why so defensive? Teenager can't act civilized? FaZe is the most overrated team rn and you know it, you're just strugling to accept

2017-12-16 18:41

3 replies

i wont waste more time on braindead burger fangay, cya

2017-12-16 20:02

2 replies

Aww, it's sad, i honestly feel sad for you, it's easier when you accept u like a bad team

2017-12-16 20:07

You are pathetic

2017-12-17 00:17

I just cant remember SK winning major in 2017?

2017-12-16 15:36

2 replies

Who cares about major when you are as dominant and consistent as SK? Astralis won major and then what? Gambit won major and then what else? SK played 9 finals this year and won 8!! Other teams can have the major. And personally, events like ESL One Cologne were way better than the major.

2017-12-16 15:37

1 reply

Astralis also won IEM Katowice and had a number of good placements. Obviously they didn't have as good of a year as SK, but let's not downplay their success either.

2017-12-16 21:12

Best event was summ1t, funniest event ever.

2017-12-16 15:19

1 reply

+1 Best event summ1t Best host change : olof + guardian Surprise: Krakow Major

2017-12-16 16:46

Fuck yeah, Up the Sydney. Go Aus

2017-12-16 15:21

1 reply

i are agree with olddogstarky

2017-12-16 16:39

ESL Cologne/IEM Kato Gambit winning major, NiKo to FaZe

2017-12-16 15:21

No roster change had a bigger impact than NiKo to FaZe.

2017-12-16 15:33

IEM Oakland 2 shit teams in final NiKo to FaZe

2017-12-16 15:35

i like steel, very positive person

2017-12-16 15:51

coldzera logic : it was really surprise cuz they really deserve it static.comicvine.com/uploads/original/13..

2017-12-16 15:54

w0xic XD

2017-12-16 16:01

Krakow 2017 best event in cs history

2017-12-16 16:15

Steel and FalleN only good brazilians

2017-12-16 16:18

2 replies

I think taco is as good as both of them but he is a bot

2017-12-16 16:49

1 reply

Taco is a decent person too but a little slow in the brain :DDd

2017-12-16 18:16

Best event for me: ESL New York 2017 Biggest suprise: Gambit winning Major Best roster change: FaZe adding GuardiaN and Olofmeister :D

2017-12-16 16:34

2 replies

#129?

2017-12-16 16:39

+1 good comment

2017-12-16 17:33

You've spelt favourite incorrectly in the title but it's correct in the body, that really triggers me.

2017-12-16 17:02

steel join Liquid ma man <3

2017-12-16 17:16

1 reply

2017-12-16 17:28

Favorite event: eleague premier but summit was amazing to watch Best roster change: niko to faze Biggest surprise: gambit winning major, VP at epicenter, or NiP at Oakland

2017-12-16 18:01

steel xD

2017-12-16 18:31

hobbit best roster change

2017-12-16 18:32

I'm surprised no one in the video said NiKo to FaZe. They made it to 4 grand finals after the roster move and he had an overall rating of at least 1.21 in all of them.

2017-12-16 20:33

favorite event: cologne 2017 best roster change: -shroud -n0thing +tarik +rush biggest suprise: cloud9 finally removes shroud and n0thing

2017-12-16 21:46

biggest surprise : -seized +seized -seized best roster change : -seized +seized -seized

2017-12-16 22:35

cs_summit Gambit winning Major NiKo to FaZe

2017-12-17 00:22

steel is the kindest guy in the scenery

2017-12-17 00:42

2 replies

Yeah, he is awesome. Im so happy he and boltz leave those stupid brothers and kng. Now they are on way better teams.

2017-12-17 00:48

1 reply

No doubt!

2017-12-17 07:39

Steel is amazing and kind guy :)

2017-12-17 00:48

1 reply

the best move evah

2017-12-17 05:18

FaZe roster was obviously the biggest one, and then boltz. But steel just made me smile at the end, I'm happy for him that he can play on Liquid and hope he does well :)

2017-12-17 02:18