s1mple Named a Potential Top-20 CS2 Player of 2026 in Mauisnake Ranking
s1mple Named a Potential Top-20 CS2 Player of 2026 in Mauisnake Ranking
CS2 analyst Alex “Mauisnake” Ellenberg has released an early prediction of the Top 30 Counter-Strike 2 players of 2026, and one of the biggest talking points is the return of Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev to the elite conversation.
Mauisnake placed the legendary AWPer at #16, suggesting that a full comeback season in CS2 is still realistic.
Mauisnake Top 30 CS2 Players of 2026 (Prediction)
Top 10
-
donk
-
ZywOo
-
m0NESY
-
frozen
-
sh1ro
-
molodoy
-
ropz
-
KSCERATO
-
w0nderful
-
makazze
11–20
11. Spinx
12. kyousuke
13. NiKo
14. flameZ
15. HeavyGod
16. s1mple
17. tN1R
18. mezii
19. Wicadia
20. phzy
21–30
21. XANTARES
22. Twistzz
23. matys
24. ryu
25. b1t
26. xiELO
27. YEKINDAR
28. zweih
29. Grim
30. dziugss
The ranking is not based on full-year statistics. Instead, it reflects form, potential and expected impact throughout the 2026 season.
Why This Ranking Matters Early in 2026
At the time of the prediction, only two major CS2 events had taken place:
BLAST Bounty Winter 2026
IEM Krakow 2026
This makes the list more of a future outlook than a results-based leaderboard — and highlights players who could dominate the rest of the year.
s1mple’s Comeback Narrative in CS2
The biggest headline from the ranking is the inclusion of s1mple inside the Top 20.
The Ukrainian star continues his journey with BCGame, and early 2026 has already sparked discussions across the pro scene about his return to top-tier form.
What s1mple said about BCGame’s results
After IEM Krakow 2026, s1mple admitted the team still needs time to reach its potential:
“Results could have been better — we made a lot of mistakes, but we’ll learn from them.”
He also emphasized in interviews that once the roster spends one or two months together, his level should improve significantly.
What Other Pro Players Say About s1mple in 2026
Several top pros have recently commented on s1mple’s form and future.
HeavyGod (G2)
HeavyGod believes s1mple can still return individually, but the roster needs time to build synergy.
apEX (Vitality)
The Vitality captain praised s1mple’s legacy but warned the comeback won’t be easy:
“He has always been a great player. It will be hard for him to reach the same peak again.”
sh1ro (Team Spirit)
sh1ro highlighted the potential of the BCGame lineup:
“I like the s1mple and electroNic duo. Making the stage shows they can play good CS.”
These comments reinforce the idea that the scene still sees s1mple as a potential elite player in CS2.
ZywOo vs donk: The Early 2026 MVP Race
Mauisnake’s prediction also fuels the biggest rivalry in CS2 right now — donk vs ZywOo.
ZywOo dominates IEM Krakow 2026
Team Vitality won the tournament, with ZywOo named MVP.
He posted a 1.59 rating, the second-highest in the history of IEM Krakow/Katowice events.
After the victory, ZywOo wrote:
“Nice to lift our first trophy in 2026 — we’re going to win others.”
Vitality captain apEX called it:
“Without a doubt the best tournament of ZywOo’s career.”
HLTV Awards Context: The Benchmark for 2026
The latest HLTV Player of the Year ranking (for 2025) looked like this:
-
ZywOo
-
donk
-
ropz
Mauisnake’s list suggests a possible shift in 2026, with donk predicted to take the No.1 spot — and s1mple potentially re-entering the Top 20.
What This Means for the 2026 CS2 Season
Key takeaways from the prediction:
donk and ZywOo remain the main contenders for world No.1
Young stars continue to dominate the Top 10
s1mple’s comeback is one of the biggest storylines of the year
If BCGame finds stability and s1mple regains peak form, the race for the HLTV Top 20 in 2026 could become one of the most competitive in CS history.
