6 Best In-Game Leaders (IGL) in CS2
The pro in-game leaders of CS2 are heavyweight champions of the game who have enough experience, skill, and tactical knowledge to lead teams into the deadliest of battles. IGLs are the captains, moral supporters, and main motivators of other players, helping unleash the right tactical potential of each unit (sniper, lurker, fragger, etc.) to the fullest.
Have you been looking to get inspired or learn from the success of the best team leaders in the game? Here are the five best IGLs in Counter-Strike 2 to date — based on their baseline stats, achievements, and highlights.
FalleN — Gabriel Toledo
Country: Brazil
Team: FURIA
A veteran player from Brazil, Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo, is known as an outstanding IGL in CS2 for a very dynamic style of playing and managing matches, with ranging tactics that often overload and swamp enemies. As the IGL for MIBR (Made in Brazil), FalleN has a storied career filled with memorable victories and innovative strategies that have left a lasting impact on the CS2 community.
FalleN's best matches include the grand finals of MLG Major Championship: Columbus 2016, where he led Luminosity Gaming to victory over Natus Vincere in an epic series to claim their first Major title. FalleN's crowning achievement, however, is undoubtedly his back-to-back Major victories with SK Gaming at ESL One: Cologne 2016 and ESL One: Cologne 2017.
Rating 2.0: 1.06
Kills per round: 0.69
gla1ve — Lukas Rossander
Country: Denmark
Team: ENCE
Probably the best IGL of CS2 that comes to mind first, Denmark’s Lukas "gla1ve" Rossander, is the IGL for Astralis, which is one of the most dominant teams in CS:GO/CS2 history. With impeccable strategic vision and a knack for making decisive calls under pressure, gla1ve has led Astralis to multiple Major championships and numerous other titles.
Some of gla1ve's best matches include the grand finals of the ELEAGUE Major: Atlanta 2017, where Astralis defeated Virtus.pro in an intense series to claim their first Major title. Another notable match is Astralis' victory over Team Liquid in the grand finals of IEM Katowice 2019.
As a whole, Astralis' dominant 2018 to 2019 years, where they won four Major championships and numerous other premier tournaments, stands as gla1ve's greatest reason for being among the best IGLs in CS2.
Rating 2.0: 0.98
Kills per round: 0.65
blameF — Benjamin Bremer
Country: Denmark
Team: Astralis
Benjamin "blameF" Bremer, a talented IGL from Denmark, has made waves in the CS scene with his aggressive and assertive leadership style. As the captain of Complexity Gaming, blameF has reignited his team's performance, guiding them to impressive victories and establishing himself as a force to be reckoned with in the IGL role.
blameF's greatest feat as an IGL is Complexity Gaming's triumph over BIG Clan in the grand finals of DreamHack Open Leipzig 2020, where his strategic calls and individual skill propelled his team to victory.
As for other standout performances, blameF played a crucial role in Complexity's upset win against Team Vitality at ESL One: Cologne 2020, showcasing his ability to lead his team to victory against top-tier opponents as the top IGL of CS2.
Rating 2.0: 1.22
Kills per round: 0.76
karrigan — Finn Andersen
Country: Denmark
Age: 33
Team: FaZe
Another veteran player from Denmark, Finn "karrigan" Andersen, is often considered the main rival of gla1ve in the race for the status of the best IGL in CS2. As the IGL for FaZe Clan, karrigan has led his teams to numerous championship titles and consistently demonstrates his ability to adapt to different playstyles and lineups.
Some of karrigan's best matches include FaZe Clan's victory over Team Liquid in the grand finals of ESL One: New York 2017, marking the organization's first premier tournament title. Besides that, karrigan played a crucial role in FaZe Clan's win over Astralis in the grand finals of EPICENTER 2018, sealing his reputation. And even though Finn’s rating has fallen off recently, you never know what to expect — he is still one of the best pro in-game leaders of Counter-Strike.
Rating 2.0: 0.90
Kills per round: 0.61
arT — Andrei Piovezan
Country: Brazil
Team: FURIA
Deemed “the most aggressive player in history,” Andrei "arT" Piovezan from Brazil brings a unique blend of aggressiveness and patience to the role of the pro IGL in CS2. Leading the charge for FURIA Esports, arT's bold tactics and fearless playstyle have guaranteed his team success on both domestic and international stages.
arT's standout matches include FURIA Esports' victory over Evil Geniuses in the grand finals of DreamHack Masters Spring 2020 North America, where his aggressive plays caught his opponents off guard. arT also played a key role in FURIA's win against Team Liquid at ESL One: Road to Rio — North America.
Rating 2.0: 1.08
Kills per round: 0.70
Aleksib — Aleksi Virolainen
Country: Finland
Team: Natus Vincere
Aleksi "Aleksib" Virolainen, representing Finland, has emerged as a rising star who was quick to grab his status as one of the best in-game leaders in CS2. As the leader of OG, Aleksib is noted for his ability to adapt to various playstyles and find ways to pawn formidable opponents in the most unexpected of ways.
Aleksib's standout matches include OG's victory over ENCE in the grand finals of BLAST Premier: Spring 2020 European Finals, where he masterfully outmaneuvered his former team to secure the championship title. Another memorable match is OG's upset win against Team Vitality at IEM Beijing-Haidian 2019.
Rating 2.0: 1.08
Kills per round: 0.70
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All in all, the best CS2 in-game leaders possess a combination of strategic brilliance, leadership acumen, and exceptional in-game skills that set them apart from their peers.
Whether it's gla1ve's masterful calls, FalleN's veteran experience, Aleksib's adaptability, blameF's aggression, or arT's fearlessness, each of the best in-game leaders in Counter-Strike brings a unique flair to the game and plays a pivotal role in shaping the outcome of matches.
As you delve deeper into the CS2 competitive arena, striving for those pro-player skills and knowledge, these IGLs will serve as endless sources of inspiration. Just make sure to learn from the best, and good luck!
