CS2 esports in 2026 so far: best tournaments, players, transfers and shocks

Mghamer Editorial Team · 18 October 2026

2 min read

An editorial ranking through 18 October: Cologne leads the events, ZywOo leads the player race, and Falcons’ Major win changed the season.

This is an editorial ranking of CS2 in 2026 through 18 October, not an official HLTV ranking. It weighs event stature, field strength, results under pressure and season-wide impact.

Best tournaments so far
1. IEM Cologne Major 2026 — the clear number one. Falcons beat FURIA 3-0 in the final, and ESL FACEIT Group says the Major became the most-watched Counter-Strike event ever. It had the Major stakes, a packed arena and NiKo’s long-awaited first Major.
2. IEM Kraków 2026 — Vitality beat FURIA 3-1 in the final and placed ZywOo’s team at the centre of the early-season race.
3. ESL Pro League Season 24 — another Vitality statement, capped by ZywOo’s MVP.

Best players so far
1. ZywOo — our number one for sustained output against elite opposition and an ESL Pro League Season 24 MVP.
2. donk — the highest individual ceiling. His Cologne Major level reinforced why he is the most dangerous mechanical force in the game.
3. m0NESY — the star AWPer of the Major-winning Falcons, whose presence changes how opponents build rounds.

Most impressive thing
NiKo finally winning his first Major on his 17th attempt, then lifting the Cologne trophy with Falcons. It is more than one highlight: a player adapting, persisting and closing the only major gap in an extraordinary career.

Most shocking story
FURIA’s run to the Cologne final was the year’s best positive surprise. The negative surprise has been how far prominent rebuilds remain from regular tier-one finals; name value has not been enough.

Best transfer
karrigan to Falcons has had the clearest impact. The veteran IGL added leadership to a roster with NiKo and m0NESY, and the project delivered a Major.

Worst transfer? Too early to name one fairly
A single player should not be labelled the season’s worst move before the final stretch. Rebuilds such as 100 Thieves have not yet converted investment into regular title contention, but that is a project-level disappointment, not a final verdict on one player.

Bottom line
Cologne is the season’s benchmark, ZywOo leads the player race and Falcons are the clearest example of a superteam turning potential into a title. With major events still ahead, every ranking remains movable.