MaiL09 CS2 Profile: Why Pros Call the 16-Year-Old Swedish Player the Next Big Star

Liam “MaiL09” Tügel has quickly become one of the most talked-about young players in Counter-Strike 2. At just 16 years old, the Swedish rifler has already achieved what many aspiring pros never do: dominance on FACEIT, public praise from tier-1 superstars, and a place in the long-term plans of a professional organization.

After the HLTV Awards 2025, MaiL09’s name started appearing repeatedly in “bold prediction” lists — a sign that the professional scene views him as more than just another high-Elo pub star.

FACEIT Dominance: MaiL09 Breaks Records in CS2

One of the biggest reasons behind MaiL09’s rise is his performance on FACEIT.

Winner of FACEIT Season 6 leaderboard

Ended donk’s streak at the top of the rankings

Reported peak FACEIT Elo: 5,415 (November 2025)

These numbers instantly placed MaiL09 among the most discussed CS2 young talents in Europe. FACEIT performance has long been one of the main indicators scouts and organizations use to identify future stars — and MaiL09 passed that test convincingly.

What Pro Players Say About MaiL09

MaiL09’s hype is not driven by statistics alone. Several HLTV Top-20 players have publicly highlighted him as a future breakout star.

NiKo on MaiL09

“I’ve played a couple of FACEIT games and scrims against him. He’s really sharp and has great potential — it all depends on how he develops.”

XANTARES on MaiL09

“There is something different about him. He is still very young, but if he works hard, he can achieve great success.”

Spinx on MaiL09

“I’ve played a couple of FACEIT games against him, and he was really good and sharp.”

frozen on MaiL09

“If he stays on the right track, he could definitely be one of the next players to break through.”

According to Cybersport, six different HLTV Top-20 players mentioned MaiL09 in their predictions — an extremely rare level of attention for a 16-year-old.

MaiL09 and Metizport: Why He’s Currently Benched

In 2025, Metizport signed MaiL09 as part of their long-term development strategy. However, at the end of the year, the organization announced that MaiL09 was moved to the bench, while Plopski returned to the active lineup.

Both Metizport and HLTV explained the decision as a role and structure issue, not a lack of confidence in the player. The organization emphasized that MaiL09 remains an important asset and that options such as:

rotation,

loan to another team,

or a full transfer

are being considered to ensure his continued growth.

MaiL09’s Mindset: No Rush to Become “the Next donk”

Despite the comparisons, MaiL09 himself has taken a realistic stance.

In a FACEIT video, he revealed that he stopped attending school to focus entirely on Counter-Strike, setting a clear professional goal: qualifying for a Major within the next 2–3 years.

At the same time, he openly rejected the idea of instant superstardom:

“I won’t be the next donk in one or two years. I need time.”

This measured mindset is often highlighted by analysts as a positive sign for long-term development.

Why MaiL09 Matters for the CS2 Scene

MaiL09 represents a new generation of CS2 prodigies who emerge through FACEIT dominance before transitioning into structured professional teams. His story combines:

• elite mechanical skill,

• endorsement from top professionals,

• and a realistic approach to career growth.

While his short-term future depends on finding the right team environment, his long-term potential is already recognized at the highest level.

MaiL09’s current rating: ⭐ 8.7/10
Talent: undeniable
Risk: team fit and development path