Top 20 players of 2024: m0NESY (2)

m0NESY takes second place in the Top 20 Players of the year ranking by 1xBet and SkinClub as the best arena and big match player of 2024.

Top 20 players of 2024: Introduction

Ilya "⁠m0NESY⁠" Osipov has been a mainstay in the Top 20 players of the year ranking ever since breaking out in 2022. He has topped his previous ranking every year, from his seventh place in his rookie year to fourth in 2023, and now, for the first time, he is in the top three.

In Danil "⁠donk⁠" Kryshkovets’s breakout year, the Russian AWPer was the best of the rest, and he also squeezed past Mathieu "⁠ZywOo⁠" Herbaut, relegating the Frenchman to a spot outside of the top two for the first time since he went pro in 2019.

Back then, m0NESY hadn’t even signed for NAVI Junior, where he was recruited by Amiran "⁠aMi⁠" Rehviashvili in 2020 and given a chance to compete in the WePlay Academy League. The young talent’s obsession with CS ever since he was a teenager paid off and he shined in the minors until the end of 2021, ending his tenure in NAVI’s development team with a 1.29 rating.

The Russian phenom had a rookie year for the history books, bested only by a very small group of elite players who have had better debuts in the pros. He finished in the Top 10 players of the year in seventh place and secured an MVP medal at BLAST Premier World Final 2022, the first top-tier event he ever won in what became a Rookie of the Year campaign.

m0NESY didn’t slow down in 2023 and added two Super-Elite trophies to his cabinet, IEM Katowice and IEM Cologne, winning two of the most coveted trophies in Counter-Strike in the same year. Still a teenager and already budding as one of the best big match and arena players in the world, m0NESY did one better and finished that year’s Top 20 players of the year campaign in fourth place.

“Switching to cs2 was not easy for all the AWPers,” m0NESY says of changing games in late 2023. “I just took a step forward and challenged to improve even further with this weapon. It’s still strong, I dont think it got nerfed or anything. I think everyone had to get used to wide peeks against riflers. That was the most annoying part, but it stays the same and everything depends on you how you use this strong gun.”

For more of m0NESY's early career, see his previous Top 20 players of the year appearances:
- Top 20 players of 2023: m0nesy (4)
- Top 20 players of 2022: m0nesy (7)

From seventh on this list in 2022 to fourth in 2023, m0NESY made no sign of slowing down when the year turned to 2024. Proof of m0NESY’s elite status as one of the most steady performers no matter the setting came in the first two events of the year. Be it in a studio group stage like BLAST Groups or at IEM Katowice, the 19-year-old was at the top of his game recording 1.33 ratings at both.

To kick things off in Katowice, m0NESY had two 2.00 rating maps in a three-map series against HEROIC and only one map in the red out of the 12 played. G2 only had one playoff match before being eliminated in 5-6th place by FaZe, in a one-sided affair, but m0NESY still put up a 1.30-rated map in the arena series (1.13) and was awarded his first EVP of the year.

m0NESY then destroyed at the Copenhagen Major’s RMR, averaging his highest rating of the year, 1.52, as G2 blitzed through the tournament, even getting one back on FaZe in a 2-0 pool grudge match.

Such a high standard didn’t translate to the Major proper, but m0NESY was still the highest-rated player at the event with a 1.35 across a staggering 14 maps, 0.02 rating more than the MVP, Justinas "⁠jL⁠" Lekavicius, while playing six more maps. A 2.01-rated lambasting of FURIA was followed by two poor showings against Natus Vincere and Cloud9 in the group stage best-of-ones, but m0NESY came online and didn’t drop the ball once.

m0NESY was his team’s best player in the 2-2 and 3-2 matches against ECSTATIC and Virtus.pro, topping the charts in both series’ decider maps, and had a 1.39 playoff rating at the Royal Arena in Copenhagen with a 1.27 in the quarters against MOUZ and a scoreboard-topping 1.46 in the semi-final loss to Natus Vincere as his team crumbled around him. This, of course, earned him another EVP.

From the get-go, m0NESY was already showing a quality of play in big moments that would last throughout the year, ultimately making him the best arena, big match, and elimination match player of 2024.

m0NESY made it three for three EVPs at IEM Chengdu, where G2 again made the semi-finals. He once again kept it in the wheelhouse, this time with a 1.32 rating (1.29 in the playoffs), and he was the highest-rated player on the server in the semi-final loss, this time to MOUZ, with a 1,25 — the rest of the team crumbled, with no other player averaging a positive rating.

Win or lose, m0NESY was showing up, although he showed signs of his humanity at ESL Pro League Season 19, the drawn-out studio tournament played in Malta, which lacked the high-octane environment of the previous events. He had rare negative showings against The MongolZ and M80 in the group stage, but even then he had a highlight against the former which put him in the running for the Highlight of the Year award.

G2 ended up falling to MOUZ in the quarter-finals, and once again m0NESY was back to leading his team in the fragging department with a 1.17 rating in the series, the only playoff match he played that tournament, which was higher than his overall 1.11. m0NESY was awarded a VP mention for his efforts.

There would be no slump after ESL Pro League. Quite the opposite, in fact. m0NESY bounced back at a strange event for G2, IEM Dallas, which they played with Jake "⁠Stewie2K⁠" Yip standing in for Rasmus "⁠HooXi⁠" Nielsen. He was back to his regular self in the group stage, where had a 1.33 rating, but he was at his best in the playoffs.

m0NESY put up a 1.57 rating in the arena, starting with a 1.98 in G2’s dismantling of FaZe, followed by a 1.23 against 9z in the semis and an MVP-winning 1.59 in the grand final against Vitality. In that last series, he was also the hero in the Nuke decider with 120 ADR, 25 kills, and a 1.87 rating.

“The atmosphere in the team was the key to win,” m0NESY says of G2’s trip to Dallas. “And the second key was NiKo. He was an IGL in his prime on this event . I think he has a natural talent for being a leader. He is outstanding player and amazing person in life. He possesses strong leadership qualities and people follows him. Also people dont realize how many key rounds Stewie won for us. Legend!”

It was also m0NESY’s favorite moment of the year. “It was so special and uncommon tournament with Stewie and NiKo as captain. Everyone was cheering for us, maybe 99% of the people in the arena. NiKo calling, making a comeback in the grand final, Stewie lifting a trophy after years, it’s insane.“

Before the summer break m0NESY already had one VP, three EVPs, and an MVP to his name. Sadly, he stumbled before heading out on holiday at the BLAST Premier Spring Final. He had his only event in the red in London, putting an end to an amazing streak. To be fair, m0NESY flew in halfway through the event and only played three maps, all against Vitality, and lost all three. That was the last event for Nemanja "⁠nexa⁠" Isaković and HooXi in the team, who would be replaced by Mario "⁠malbsMd⁠" Samayoa and Janusz "⁠Snax⁠" Pogorzelski after the break.

m0NESY’s start to the year's second half was not as explosive as the first. It started at EWC, and the Russian averaged a respectable 1.12 in his team’s run to the grand final. What was out of character, however, was his struggle in the grand final against Natus Vincere, which he finished with a 0.86 rating in the 1-2 loss. He was still awarded a VP for his positive contributions against The MongolZ, Spirit, and Virtus.pro.

m0NESY’s dip to good from world-beating didn’t continue, and he got a 1.50 at another warm-up before getting the meat and potatoes of the season, the BLAST Fall Groups, and was in fine form with IEM Cologne looming on the horizon.

An opening loss against SAW was a hard blow, and m0NESY had an event-low 0.96 rating in the series, but from there on out, it was the m0 show as G2 trounced Spirit and Astralis with the AWPer posting 2+ ratings twice — once in each series.

G2 brushed paiN aside in the lower bracket finals, but once again fell short in the playoffs. It was no fault of m0NESY, though, who once again showed he’s already a master on the biggest stages, and he topped the scoreboard with a 1.35 rating while the rest of his team floundered in the 0-2 loss against MOUZ in front of the crowd at the LANXESS Arena. The effort was worthy of a fourth EVP award.

Next up was the second Pro League of the year, and this time around G2 made it all the way to the semi-finals. In large part, thanks to a team-leading 1.30 rating by m0NESY. Uncharacteristically, though, he dipped down to a 1.03 in the semis against Natus Vincere, although he was still best in his team, and still maintained a 1.26 in the playoffs, after which he earned his fifth and final EVP of the year.

It wasn’t m0NESY’s last award of the year, though, as he spearheaded G2’s championship run at the BLAST Fall Final. He finished the event with a 1.29, but what makes is a truly impressive number is that he only faced teams in the big six of 2024 at that event: FaZe, Natus Vincere (twice), Spirit, and Vitality. His group stage 1.29 was bested in the playoffs (1.30), and in the grand final (1.35).

It didn’t come easy, though. “I think playing against NAVI in the BLAST Fall Final,” he said when asked about his most challenging moment of 2024. “I just told to myself I will not lose to them again in that grand final.“

G2 stumbled in Rio, losing to HEROIC and Eternal Fire in back-to-back group stage matches. m0NESY, the only positive player on the team at the event, didn’t bat an eye, coming out with a 1.28 rating in three maps and still managing to get a VP nod.

m0NESY and his teammates bounced back stronger than ever, and once again, the young AWPer was at the fore against the best teams in the biggest matches. By now, G2 had established themselves as the bane of Spirit, and they beat them twice in their run in Singapore, including the grand final. m0NESY ended the tournament with an impressive 1.30 rating in the group stage, but went atomic in the playoffs, averaging a 1.50 to secure his third and final MVP medal of the year.

“At the beginning of the event we struggled in the first game against Liquid,” m0NESY recalls, “and I think that 0-13 loss on Ancient only improved us. I felt confident, I felt we could beat any team at that tournament.”

Not only that, m0NESY left an incredible quad-kill B defense in overtime on Anubis against Spirit, making it his second shortilsted Highlight of the Year play, which made him the only player to have two highlights in the top 10.

m0NESY’s end of the year quieted down after the BLAST World Final, as he posted a 1.00 in the Shanghai Major’s RMR, and he had a quiet 0.90 game in the qualifying match over Spirit, where Nikola "⁠NiKo⁠" Kovač was carrying the torch.

There was an improvement at the Major and m0NESY went back to posting higher numbers in the Elimination Stage, although he still wasn’t at his peak. A 1.01 in the opener against The MongolZ gave way to a 1.93 against BIG and a 0.97 against 3DMAX.

m0NESY then really got going against FaZe, with a 1.65 rating, and HEROIC in the first round of the playoffs, with a 1.45. Still, he uncharacteristically went missing in the semi-finals against FaZe, the team he had just ran circles around in their last two meetings in the Major’s Elimination Stage and the BLAST World Final.

“I dont really know what happened,” m0NESY says. “I didn’t feel good at that Major. I learned a lot from the experience, and I’m looking to use that to improve myself. I made a lot of mistakes!”

The loss was an emotional one for m0NESY, as it marked the end of a long month in China and the period in his early career shared with NiKo. “I cried a lot that day after the game. I couldn’t believe we lost like that. Being in one tournament for more than a month and losing like that is heartbreaking,” he says.

“I looked at everyone after we lost and everyone was just looking empty. I will remember this game forever. I want to always remember it and be stronger. We just made a lot of mistakes, basic mistakes. We could’ve played better as a team and individually. But you can’t always win, these loses will always exist in a career.”

A 1.19 rating (1.09 playoff rating) was still enough for a VP mention, but m0NESY fell short of putting the cherry on top of an incredible year, and even without his top performance in China, he still managed to take second place in the ranking to set his own personal best after upping the ante two years in a row. If he continues to rise, there’s only one place to go.

“It’s an incredible feeling to see the hard work paying off year after year,” m0NESY says. “It is not just a reflection of my performance, but also the sacrifices, and constant desire to improve. I just wanna say thanks to my team, to my organization and family.

“This is a reminder for me that success doesn’t come alone. This is the result of a collective effort. My team who always try to help me to improve. Organization who makes everything for you to make you feel the best and family who will always support you and be with you! And also thank you to all the fans, you guys were amazing in 2024.”

Why was m0NESY the 2nd best player of 2024?

Improving on his 2023, m0NESY entered contention for Player of the Year off of an outstanding year full of standout performances at the most competitive tournaments and the highest-pressure environments.

Just like his two biggest rivals, he outperformed everyone outside of the top three by a mile in every aspect with a 1.27 overall rating that held up at the Big Events and was even improved on at the Elites and further up, and with incredible contribution to wins - a 1.08 KPRW and 103.1 ADRW.

He underlined his best-ever year with three Big Event MVPs from IEM Dallas, BLAST Premier Fall Final and BLAST Premier World Final, and five more EVPs from IEM Katowice, PGL Major Copenhagen, IEM Chengdu, IEM Cologne and ESL Pro League Season 20.

When it comes to his case in the top three conversation, m0NESY may have had the lowest overall rating but more than made up for it when it came to play in the most competitive and high-pressure environments. His 1.30 rating at Elites, 1.31 at Super-Elites and 1.29 at the Majors was only outdone by donk and it was significantly better than ZywOo.

He outperformed both of his rivals deep into tournaments as by far and away the best arena player (a staggering 0.08 improvement on his average rating to 1.35 on stage) and still the best in big matches overall (1.28) and joint-best with ZywOo under threat of elimination (1.28). That contextualizes the rating gap, especially to the Frenchman, whose numbers advantage mainly came from studio, non-award event performances, and group stages.

“I don’t think about anything when i join the server,” m0NESY says of being the best arena player in the world. “I dont think about losing or other shit that can affect my game. It’s only Counter-Strike in my head. I love calmness and I’m looking forward to being even better in this way. And the most important thing everyone forgets is to enjoy the moment. If you get the opportunity to play on a big stage, don’t lose it.”

Had donk's and m0NESY's fortunes in Shanghai flipped, or had ZywOo made a similar end-of-year Major push for his case, the top three order may very well have gone differently. But without the other-worldly peaks to challenge the 17-year-old phenom's Katowice and Shanghai as well as his ridiculous round win numbers, m0NESY couldn't quite reach for the Player of the Year title.

“My goal for 2025 is to be the best team and work even harder than I did in 2024,” m0NESY says. “I have no limits in pushing myself to the next level.”

Bold prediction by 1xBet

m0NESY joins his top three competitors, donk and ZywOo, as well as Dmitry "⁠sh1ro⁠" Sokolov, David "⁠frozen⁠" Čerňanský, Lotan "⁠Spinx⁠" Giladi, and Robin "⁠ropz⁠" Kool in naming Spirit Academy’s up-and-comer Maxim "⁠kyousuke⁠" Lukin, making the 16-year-old Russian the most predicted youngster in this Top 20 players of the year ranking by a long shot with six selections (while donk gave him a shout as a bold prediction, he went with the bolder Ivan "⁠zweih⁠" Gogin.)

---

The Top 20 players of 2024 ranking is now complete, but you can go back to the Introduction article to learn more about how the players were selected.