Top 20 players of 2022: Ax1Le (4)

Sergey "⁠Ax1Le⁠" Rykhtorov goes one better than 2021 in this HLTV top 20 players of the year ranking by 1xBet after delivering monstrous performances against the strongest opposition and earning an MVP in his first-ever Big Event win.

Top 20 players of 2022: Introduction

Ax1Le makes a return to the top 20 players of the year for the second time in a row since Gambit's rise to the top accelerated in 2021. They even became the team to beat, but their online success did not immediately translate to LAN when offline play returned in the latter half of the year despite the youngsters still holding their own.

"Regarding young teams, I think the most important thing is to gather in one place the right kind of people and give them everything that they need to grow: good conditions, good PCs, devices, good coaching staff that is fully interested in their project, and, of course, full support from an organisation. All that gave us an opportunity to grow into men that fought for a place in the top 30 with blood and sweat and become the players we are today."

Gambit's highlight of the year was playing at the PGL Major in Stockholm, where they made it to playoffs before the pressure got to them in the semi-finals. Their online matches against Natus Vincere were usually close affairs, but they were stomped 16-8 and 16-3 in the Avicii Arena. Ax1Le, who had an impressive year otherwise, had just a 0.53 rating in that series, and later said that "he wasn't used to lights, flashes, shouting, big matches, vibrations and so on." Arena CS was a different ball game for all of Gambit, and it showed.

Gambit's overall LAN results were still good, including a Major semi-final and a BLAST World Final second-place, and Ax1Le even bagged his first top five finish in the Top 20 players of the year ranking. But for a side that had been the best in the world in early 2021 expectations had been set high — perhaps too high for a squad with so little experience. In his Top 20 interview last year, Ax1Le made it clear that those expectations were not any lower for 2022. "I'm committed to making the Top 5 players of the year, earning at least 3 MVPs, and becoming the No. 1 team."

For a more in-depth look at Ax1Le's early career, read the article about his first top 20 appearance from 2021

Find out everything about the HLTV Award Show here.

Gambit began 2022 in their comfort zone, with a dominant performance online at FUNSPARK ULTI 2021 Finals. Dmitry "⁠sh1ro⁠" Sokolov ended it with a 1.43 rating, and Ax1Le an EVP-worthy 1.25 as all were swept aside. It was just a warm-up, however, for IEM Katowice.

Ax1Le kicked off the Polish event in strong form with a 1.47 series rating against Vitality as Gambit qualified for the playoffs. But in the Spodek, the demons of Stockholm returned. Gambit were stomped by the emerging FaZe superpower, once again going down in a big arena match without too much of a fight.

That collapse, as had been the case in the Major, was team-wide. Ax1Le's form before the quarter-final was electric though, meaning he still ended Katowice with a 1.26 rating and a second EVP. Next up was ESL Pro League Season 15, where Gambit competed under the neutral Players banner and were once again eliminated by FaZe.

Ax1Le performed admirably once again, with a 1.33 group-stage rating, but Players could not get over the hump in playoffs. What had made them win online was simply not working in the big games on LAN.

"Before the Major we just had a lot of problems. We didn't have a real place to bootcamp, to practice. We moved around the world and it was really hard."
- Ax1Le in Dallas

Regardless, their potential was clear enough for North American organisation Cloud9 to acquire the ex-Gambit roster in April. Previous iterations of Cloud9 embodied their region, with American representation and a fast-paced style that was entirely different to Ax1Le and company. For the organisation's pivot to make sense, Cloud9 needed success.

This meant Cloud9 went into PGL Major Antwerp with newly applied pressure. Initially, this had consequences. Cloud9 bombed out in groups, eliminated 1-2 by Imperial after an embarrassing 16-3 defeat on Mirage. What was initially labelled as inexperience was now termed as mental weakness, a fragility in the biggest games for foes to exploit.

"We practised a lot against Imperial before the Major and they were an uncomfortable opponent for us, the games were tight. Many things did not go according to our plan at the Major, it was like everything was falling apart and going against us. That match wasn’t an exception and, perhaps, not every one of us managed to handle the pressure."

IEM Dallas was a chance for redemption and Ax1Le bounced back stronger than ever. He recorded a 1.22 rating in groups, with a strong series to eliminate Liquid on home soil. That elimination meant that Cloud9 became the crowd's favourites due to their organization and as the cheers came in, the pressure was relieved. Ax1Le was invigorated.

"It’s always a pleasure playing for [Cloud9]. We feel strong support behind our backs; a shoulder we can lean on in a difficult moment, one that does as much as possible to help us achieve results. This kind of support is what is needed in esports and we are receiving it, that’s why we try to do our best to make our management happy and give them great victories and cool memories in return."

Another bout with FaZe was scheduled, but Cloud9 did not fold so easily this time. They stood tall, with Ax1Le chief among them: The star rifler finished the series with a 1.42 rating, and ratings above 1.50 on the two maps Cloud9 won. It was a Herculean effort, almost single-handedly defeating the best team in the world.

After that, Cloud9 were favourites and they acted like it. They dispatched of BIG in the semi-finals before convincingly sweeping the grand final 3-0 over ENCE. Ax1Le maintained his level to take one of the most convincing MVPs of the year, an award that was all but secured after the series against FaZe. Cloud9 finally tasted success in an arena.

No doubt, [IEM Dallas] was the most vivid memory from that year. We went to the tournament with huge confidence, we knew that fans would support us, and it gave us more confidence in ourselves, which is very important. After the match against FaZe the feelings were incredible. It’s when you take great pleasure in playing the game, feel the energy inside the arena, and you go with the flow and take everything from the moment.

After the win in Dallas Cloud9 went into IEM Cologne with a puncher's chance. The favourites were still Natus Vincere, fresh off a win at BLAST Premier Spring Final, and FaZe, but Cloud9 were right behind the two heavyweights. There was a real hope that IEM Dallas was a new dawn for the young squad, that they had overcome their mental fragility for good.

Yet they stumbled again. Losses to Astralis and Liquid saw Cloud9 unceremoniously sent home. Ax1Le played reasonably well in both series, but it was not enough; the team had collapsed just like they had in Antwerp, Düsseldorf, and Katowice. IEM Dallas had not gotten Cloud9 over the hump just yet.

Cloud9 returned from the summer break knowing that they would play just two or three events: ESL Pro League Season 16, and the IEM Rio Major. An invite to BLAST World Final was available should they win either of those events, but that only made it more important for them to have success. Without being BLAST partners, the year shrunk for them; there were less opportunities to gain all-important stage experience, and to back up their IEM Dallas win.

"Indeed, the fact we missed BLAST tournaments played a big part this year. We always lacked these tournaments and we were losing HLTV ranking points each month, while the rest could earn more. We feel that the year wasn’t complete due to this reason, but that’s their position; we will try to qualify on our own."

ESL Pro League arrived in September, with Cloud9 topping Group D after four 2-0 victories. Their reward for placing first was a match against FaZe, but Ax1Le did not mind.

It was not lightning that struck in Dallas' quarter-final, but the result of hard work. Ax1Le put FaZe to the sword once again with an even better 1.54 series rating. He found gaps in FaZe's armour that others could not, exposing flaws in the juggernaut that had dominated the first half of 2022. Cloud9, at this stage, were the only team to have beaten FaZe in front of a crowd in 2022, and thanks to Ax1Le they had done it twice.

"I think [my good performances against FaZe] was about preparation and what you feel inside the game when facing a certain opponent. I prepare a lot for FaZe and watch out for all sorts of things that can help me in a game against them. They play great CS, the type you always strive for. Sometimes it’s harder against lower-tier teams because some things in their game look completely different and their vision is different to mine, but that’s never the case with FaZe."

Just as Cloud9 confirmed themselves as FaZe's bogey team, they had uncovered their own kryptonite in Team Liquid. Mareks "⁠YEKINDAR⁠" Gaļinskis's new side had already beaten Cloud9 twice since his arrival, and they made it three out of three by knocking Cloud9 out of ESL Pro League in the semi-final. Ax1Le's heroics against FaZe counted for nothing, as did his 1.22 rating in their semi-final defeat.

Cloud9 had consolidated their year with another top-four placing, but their sights were aimed higher. Vladislav "⁠nafany⁠" Gorshkov made that clear going into the IEM Rio Major: "We don't want any result except a win." There was not only pressure from outside to match their feats from the online era, but internally too.

This pressure made its presence known, too. Cloud9 began the IEM Rio Challengers stage down 0-2, losing in overtime to fnatic and, more shockingly, to Grayhound. An elimination match against Imperial followed, where sh1ro was once again in tip-top form — and Ax1Le was quiet.

Ax1Le did warm up, with a 1.70 rating against Natus Vincere as the highlight. Overall, though, he just could not match sh1ro. In the quarter-final against MOUZ, Ax1Le regressed to his Challengers Stage form, posting a 0.92 rating as Cloud9 suffered yet another collapse in a big moment.

The Major had been blown open by upsets, leaving a gap for Cloud9 to exploit. MOUZ were no slouches, but Cloud9 had to be favourites. With a geared up Ax1Le, who knows how the Rio Major could have ended?

"I think the worst memory for me was the Major we lost [in Rio]. It was a great chance that we could take advantage of, all the favourites were eliminated and everything was in our hands. The fans were against us, they cheered for MOUZ, and I think it helped them a lot. They felt great and could handle stressful situations easier. One way or another, it’s not a reason for us to give up. There will be many more Majors and I promise that we will win one sooner or later, but it won’t be easy.

"I think there was no pressure during the group stages, but we could feel it in the playoffs. We had to go through a crowd that didn’t want us to win, so of course it was harder because we could hear fans from everywhere, and it’s hard to deal with such an atmosphere for some. I think we need more composure and to be able to ignore it and fully focus on the game."

That quarter-final proved to be the final match of Ax1Le's 2022, Cloud9's year cut short by failing to qualify for BLAST Premier World Final. IEM Dallas would be their only trophy, and the year ended in palpable disappointment in Rio with roster moves on the horizon. Hovering around the top five for most of the year was respectable, but Cloud9 expect more from themselves. They expect trophies.

And yet it is hard to pair the notion of 2022 being a disappointing year for Cloud9, with how the year went for Ax1Le. He consolidated his status as one of the very best riflers in the world, securing his first LAN MVP and single-handedly destroying FaZe on two occasions. It was a year of undeniable growth — and all signs point to this just being the beginning.

"There were many cool moments and emotions this year, it’s a shame that we didn’t have as many tournaments as in 2021. I’m happy with my game nonetheless, yet there is always room for growth."

"Each year I move forward and my goal for 2023 is to keep pushing myself and make the top 3 players of the year. I will do everything I can to become the #1 player sooner or later. With the team, I want to achieve bigger victories, dominate and at the end of the year make everyone say 'yes, this is the best team in the world at the moment.'"

Why was Ax1Le the 4th best player of 2022?

Ax1Le's statistics for 2022 are simply elite. He averaged 82.4 ADR and 1.22 Impact, with a 1.21 rating overall. He was awarded a VP or higher at every single event he attended, with 3 EVPs and a very strong MVP at IEM Dallas. That MVP is especially important, given that he was the driving force behind Cloud9's peak of 2022.

Where he really ensured 4th place, however, was his big match play. He did go missing occasionally, such as against MOUZ in the Major playoffs, but Ax1Le's 1.26 Big Match rating overall is second only to Mathieu "⁠ZywOo⁠" Herbaut, with 11 more maps in Ax1Le's sample size. Against top-five opposition he is even more outstanding, a 1.29 rating over 27 maps that is 0.07 clear of Oleksandr "⁠s1mple⁠" Kostyliev and ZywOo.

Part of that comes from his ability to perform against FaZe (1.23 rating), earning high ratings in matches that usually ruin a player's tournament match list. But, he also impressed against Liquid (1.26), Vitality (1.47, two maps), and had a 1.70 rating in his only map against Natus Vincere.

"I think I earned [HObbit calling me the best rifler in the world]. I’m the highest-ranked rifler of 2022 and I’m very happy about it, the fact that my hard work pays off. It also boosts my confidence, which helps me in big matches. There is no limit to perfection, so I will keep on perfecting myself and improving my individual game."

Ax1Le still fell short of the top three, going fairly quiet at both Majors and IEM Cologne and with more reliance on his CT play compared to those above him. He was by no means inconsistent, but he was a good chunk short of the top three in most stats. For example, he finished 77.5% of maps above 1.00 rating; impressive usually, but still a good 5-10% short of those above him. There is a similar story in other metrics, reflected in his overall rating — especially on T-side.

Bold prediction by 1xBet

Ax1Le joined Kaike "⁠KSCERATO⁠" Cerato and Yuri "⁠yuurih⁠" Santos in picking 00NATION's new AWPer Lucas "⁠nqz⁠" Soares as his bold prediction. Ax1Le hopes the 17-year-old can "learn everything" from teammates like Marcelo "⁠coldzera⁠" David and Epitacio "⁠TACO⁠" de Melo. If he can do so, he could become the world-class AWPing presence Brazil has lacked for the last years.

If 2022 was anything to go by, he's already part of the way there; nqz averaged a 1.21 rating for the year, adding a 1.17 rating at the Americas RMR to help 9z qualify for the Rio Major's Challengers Stage.

"I think nqz has a good chance to prove himself at a good level. It’s very important to be on a team with experienced players at his age, he should learn everything from them and then he will be in the top 20. There is enough time for him to achieve this goal."

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Stay tuned to our Top 20 players of 2022 ranking and take a look at the Introduction article to learn more about how the players were selected.