12 Best CS:GO (CS2) Clutches of All Time

Despite being a team game, what could be better than winning a 1v5 clutch in Counter-Strike? A pretty intriguing report was made in 2021 that analyzed more than 200,000 professional matches and came up with approximate statistics for winning 1vX situations:

1. 1v2 clutch — about 19%;
2. 1v3 clutch — about 4%;
3. 1v4 clutch — about 0.6%;
4. 1v5 clutch — less than 0.1%.

Of course, clinching a 1v5 clutch can happen even among amateurs, but what about taking down an entire professional team? Not only do you have to face opponents who know their stuff, but you also feel the pressure of the high-stakes tournament atmosphere, sitting on stage with thousands of supporters cheering and screaming. And let’s not forget the relentless timer ticking down, cutting your chances every second. All these facts make clutches even tougher, but when they happen, they bring the incredible emotions we all seek when tuning into a stream.

That is the topic for today’s article — we’ll look back at the best CS clutches of all time that defied the odds during the final stages of popular tournaments. With no ranking in mind (as it’s a matter of personal taste) and setting aside the clutch Minister in the face of “Xyp9x” (who deserves a separate piece)), let’s go in chronological order.

Rain (G2) vs 5 (Envy) | Cluj-Napoca Major 2015 (November 1), Semifinal

Yes, those were the days when “rain” played not for FaZe, and this clutch showcased why the US organization signed him in the initial squad and didn’t let him go. The semifinal of that Major between G2 and Envy was a nail-biter, and everything came down to the third map, Cache. The French squad, featuring legends like “kennyS” and “apEX” was leading comfortably 10-4 on the CT side, leaving  “rain” as the last man standing before the sides switched.

However, the Norwegian beast proved that Majors aren’t a place for relaxation, even when the odds favor you. He cleverly whittled down Envy’s advantage into a series of equal 1v1 duels, anticipating their pushes and holding patterns, dispatching them like smurfs usually do in matchmaking. Unfortunately, this didn’t save an international G2 roster, who couldn’t convert one of the best CS:GO clutches ever into a victory.

NEO (Virtus.Pro) vs 5 (Dignitas) | DreamHack Zowie Bucharest 2016 (September 18), Semifinal

The player from the first decade of Counter-Strike, Filip “NEO” Kubski, was sharp enough to pull off incredible clutches even in 2016. Virtus. Pro faced a tough semifinal matchup against Dignitas, with things heading to the third map, Overpass. Although the Polish squad led 15-13 and had a better weapon on the T-side, CTs managed to catch VP off guard. The Danes eliminated all NEO’s teammates, leaving him alone against the whole team armed with grabbed AKs, demanding the best CS:GO clutch ever from the veteran.

Filip demonstrated unbelievable game sense. After taking out one opponent nearby, he simply grabbed the bomb and moved toward the A-side, not even checking all the corners. Lucky timing allowed him to catch the only enemy on the site and plant the bomb, slightly boosting his chances of winning the game. However, one by one, “NEO” eliminated all of them, saving his team’s nerves by converting a map point, with VP ultimately winning the entire event.

GuardiaN (FaZe) vs 5 (Fnatic) | IEM Katowice 2018 (March 4), Final

Katowice has always been a hotspot for the best clutches in Counter-Strike history, and the one delivered by “GuardiaN” deserves a special mention. The best-of-five final was a true test of endurance, with both FaZe and Fnatic deserving the win that day. Teams entered Overpass tied, and things were looking good for the Swedish side, who led 6-2.

Even after the first 1v5 kill by the Slovak sniper, commentators declared the round a done deal, but they didn’t clarify for whom. Ladislav Kovács, known for his aggressive AWP play, faced Fnatic as they tried to push him near the Monster, only to lose four players because of miscommunication and some insane flicks by “GuardiaN.” Dealing with the last man standing, “KRIMZ,” was just a matter of daily play at the office for the Slovak AWPer, taking him out on the A site. Unfortunately, FaZe lost Overpass but pushed things to the wire in the fifth map, narrowly losing Train only in the overtime.

chrisJ (MOUZ) vs 5 (NAVI) | ICE Challenge 2020, Final

One of the most underrated CS players, Chris “chrisJ” de Jong, delivered some crazy clutches in his time. The best-of-five (bo5) final of the ICE Challenge was no easy feat against Natus Vincere, but MOUZ stood tall, and the Dutch player was a key factor in keeping his team’s confidence high.

Despite losing 2-0 in maps, NAVI started Train with a bang, leading 5-1, keeping MOUZ away from any hopes of clinching a round. But “chrisJ” had other plans, even when he found himself the last one standing. Without any panic and blind spraying, Chris planted the bomb on the B-site and eliminated every opponent in the 1v1 duels, expending a few bullets for each kill. It looked incredibly stylish, especially taking into account the grand final’s pressure, but that’s how iconic CS:GO clutch moments typically unfold.

s1mple (NAVI) vs 4 (Team Liquid) | IEM Katowice 2020 (February 20), Quarterfinal

Playoffs of the Katowice are always a time for jaw-dropping moments, and what everyone misses in the new game version are the legendary plays from “s1mple,” who can pull off the best CS2 clutches. During the quarterfinals at Katowice 2020, he showcased his incredible AWP reload speed, flipping the script in a 4-2 round gap and turning Team Liquid's confidence upside down.

Here’s what went down: the NA team executed a well-prepared retake on A site and transformed a 4v3 post-plant situation into an impossible 1v4 for Oleksandr. Moreover, Kostyliev was left in the middle of the Long with no chance to hide, and with AWP in his hands — a weapon notorious for its lengthy reload — things looked grim.

Interestingly, TL actually did everything right, attempting to push “s1mple” together, but the Ukrainian once again proved why he’s considered a GOAT, landing no-scopes even from long distances. That round might’ve changed the course for Liquid, but alas, “s1mple” crushed any hopes for the NA team’s comeback. NAVI then defeated Astralis and G2, claiming the trophy with a predictable MVP nod.

ZywOo (Vitality) vs 4 (NAVI) | IEM Beijing-Haidian 2020 Europe (November 22), Final

The end of 2020 was a unique era in Counter-Strike, bringing regular battles between “s1mple” and “ZywOo” — a duo that stood head-and-shoulders above the rest of Pros for about 5 years in a row. They faced off again at the IEM Beijing grand final, a five-map marathon, with Mirage deciding the winner.

The very first round set the tone for the map. Vitality executed an A-side and planted the bomb but found themselves in a 2v5 against pushing CTs. Although Mathieu "ZywOo"  Herbaut took out “electroNic,” he quickly lost his only teammate and was left with 9 HP on the Tetris. With world-class players on the other side, NAVI made the right decision — pushing “ZywOo” simultaneously while he was in an exposed position after his second kill. However, the French beast needed only three bullets from his P250 to finish off his opponents, completing the ace and one of the all-time great CS clutches.

cadiaN (HEROIC) vs 4 (Gambit) | ESL Pro League S13 (April 11, 2021), Final

The COVID online era opened the door for new teams and characters, with Casper “cadiaN” Møller emerging as one of the most emotional and charismatic IGLing AWPers to ever touch the game. Unsurprisingly, the Dane delivered one of the best clutches in CS history, combining a few impossible feats in one round.

The bo5 final is always an endurance test, and maintaining composure under such pressure is remarkable. In one unforgettable moment, “cadiaN”  found himself in a 1v4 with only a P250 pistol and no armor, his teammates having dropped the bomb on the Mirage’s A site. He snuck up and knifed “sh1ro” on the Stairs, as he later revealed, just to secure more cash for the next round. Picking up an AWP, cadiaN was left with only 2 HP against three fully armored opponents, all nearby. He landed an easy shot on a pushing CT, followed by two wall-bang kills to eliminate the second one, and finally coolly picked off the last opponent at the Tetris. It was, without a doubt, an impossible and unrepeatable way to close out the map and secure the trophy.

s1mple (NAVI) vs 4 (G2) | BLAST Premier Spring Final 2021 (June 20), Consolidation Final

Map-closing clutches that come down to the wire are what make them historic compared to the MM matches or even qualifiers. One of the most electrifying matchups in CS history is Natus Vincere vs G2, and who else but “s1mple” could single-handedly close out a map and a match solely?

The third map of the Consolidation Final on Nuke was on the brink at 13-15, with G2 playing on the stronger CT side. Left in a 1v4 with 16 seconds on the clock and three opponents closing in, it seemed like an impossible task for Oleksandr. But  “s1mple”  quickly killed three opponents, all from different directions, and was able to plant the bomb with seconds to spare. Even “s1mple” couldn’t believe he had pulled it off, though NAVI would go on to lose to Gambit in the final.

refrezh (HEROIC) vs 5 (Team Liquid) | ESP Pro League Season 14 (February 6, 2022), Quarterfinal

The name of Ismail “refrezh” Ali might not ring any bells for those who only started following the game after the CS2 release. At the same time, we firmly believe that he pulled off one of the most unforgettable CS clutch plays. Picture this: the playoffs of a prestigious tournament, third map (after two closely contested 16-12 games), your team is down 14-15, and you are left alone against the entire enemy squad with just a Galil in hand. No time to make up for any lost ground in other rounds or maps—the pressure is immense, and the odds of success seem far less than the statistical 0.1%.

As you might have already guessed, “refrezh” pulled it off. He seized on his opponents' uncertainty taking down the first two players, outplaying the remaining enemies with nerves of steel. HEROIC pushed the game into overtime and closed out the map 19-16, though they eventually lost to NAVI in an incredibly tight bo3 semi-final.

m0NESY (G2) vs 4 (mibr) |  BLAST Premier Spring Groups 2022

The new generation of talents leading the recent charts is also full of surprises, and “m0NESY’s” clutch against Mibr is one of the best examples. Ilya Osipov didn’t even need to switch into superhero mode, as G2 was already cruising with a 7-1 lead. However, he showed what he’s capable of and delivered one of the most iconic CS2 clutch moments since the game’s latest iteration.

In this scenario, “m0NESY” was left against four opponents, armed with a bit of info, and only 16 seconds on the clock to plant the bomb on Inferno B-site. What makes this clutch stand out is how his opponents were playing proactively and correctly, holding crossfire angles and keeping themselves hidden. These correct tactics should have made things almost impossible for Ilya, but he broke through, navigating the situation with calm precision. While “Aleksib” and “NiKo” may have seemed relaxed, Ilya’s moves and micro-decisions in this clutch were nothing short of exceptional at that moment.

m0NESY (G2) vs 5 (NAVI) | BLAST World Final 2023 (December 15), Quarterfinal

Despite Counter-Strike 2 being comparatively a new Esports scene, dozens of remarkable 1v4 and 1v5 clutches have already unfolded on the pro stage. However, as we mentioned earlier, our focus is on the decisive moments in prestigious tournaments during their final stages. Among all the best CS2 clutches, the one that truly stands out is “m0NESY’s” heroic play against NAVI on Anubis at the BLAST World Final 2023.

At 0-5, G2 was struggling, and Ilya was left alone near the B site. Although he quickly took down two opponents, he was left with just 27 health HP against three fully armored enemies who had all the information they needed. In a tense third duel, “m0NESY” was whittled down to only three HP, without a bomb, and 25 seconds left on the clock. Against all odds, he dodged the bullets and grenades, outsmarting the remaining opponents to pull off the clutch. What makes this moment even more remarkable is its psychological impact of this clutch — G2 turned their T-side from 0-5 to 6-6 and won the map, though they eventually lost the series 2-1.