NiKo Wins BLAST Bounty Winter 2026 MVP: “Every Tournament Might Be My Last”

Team Falcons star Nikola “NiKo” Kovač has shared emotional thoughts after being named MVP of BLAST Bounty Winter 2026, revealing a new mindset about his career longevity.

Despite Falcons losing the grand final, NiKo still earned the Most Valuable Player medal thanks to his consistent tournament-wide performance and elite individual impact.

“Every event that I play or every MVP I get, I always think nowadays that it might be my last one, so I really wanna enjoy it.”

The statement immediately sparked discussion among Counter-Strike fans, highlighting the veteran rifler’s changing perspective after years at the top of the scene.

Why This MVP Means More Than Previous Ones

NiKo admitted that earning individual awards has become harder than ever since joining Falcons.

The reason: a stacked roster featuring elite stars like m0NESY and rising prodigy kyousuke.

“It’s definitely harder to get MVPs in this team.”

This comment underlines how competitive the modern CS2 era has become — even for one of the greatest riflers in Counter-Strike history.

NiKo on Comparisons With s1mple and ZywOo

The Falcons star also addressed comparisons with all-time greats Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev and Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut.

“I know I cannot put myself on the same list as ZywOo and s1mple… but it brings me joy that I can still play at a very high level.”

The quote resonated strongly with fans, emphasizing NiKo’s humility despite joining the 10-MVP club — a milestone reached by only a few players in Counter-Strike history.

Why HLTV Chose NiKo Over nota for MVP

The MVP decision became a hot topic because PARIVISION defeated Falcons 3-0 in the grand final.

However, HLTV clarified the reasoning:

NiKo delivered the highest overall impact across the entire event

He maintained elite stats throughout playoffs and earlier stages

PARIVISION’s Emil “nota” Moskvitin surged mainly in the grand final

As a result, nota received the only EVP (Exceptionally Valuable Player) award of the tournament.

BLAST Bounty Winter 2026: Tournament Overview

Event: BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
Location: Malta (LAN)
Dates: January 22–25, 2026
Prize Pool: $772,500 total

Grand Final result:

PARIVISION 3-0 Falcons

Even though Falcons fell short of the trophy, NiKo’s performance remained the tournament’s standout storyline.

What PARIVISION Said After Winning the Title

PARIVISION captain Jame delivered a surprisingly modest reaction after lifting the trophy:

“This one is like a regular CCT event… I’m proud of the guys. We have broken through many walls.”

Meanwhile, coach dastan explained the team’s strict discipline:

“Every bad situation will cost us in the future.”

These quotes highlight the team’s long-term focus and growth mindset following their breakthrough win.

What This MVP Means for NiKo in CS2

Key takeaways:

NiKo now has 10 career MVP medals

Falcons remain a top contender in CS2

The rifler still performs at elite level in the CS2 era

His comments hint at a late-career perspective rather than retirement

The BLAST Bounty MVP may not have come with a trophy — but it reinforced NiKo’s legacy as one of Counter-Strike’s most consistent superstars.