Best CS2 Players of All Time: Clutchers

You really can’t control who lives and dies by the end of the round, but if that choice could be made, then these guys are the ones you want when faced with the most impossible of odds. The best CS2 Clutchers of all time aren’t necessarily tied down to a role, but more on their overall performance on the big stage and in situations that no one else can get out of.

Check out our blog to find more CS2 Esports coverage.

CS2 Esports

These players are the backbone of every team and make up most of the legendary highlights that you can see when it comes to clutch performances on the server. From championship-securing plays to impossible 1vX clips, these are the most clutch players in Counter-Strike history.

Janusz “Snax” Pogorzelski

It would be criminal not to include the all-time record holder for clutches on this list. Janusz “Snax” Pogorzelski has been a household name in Counter-Strike for more than a decade, most famous for being a part of the legendary “Virtus Plow” lineup by Virtus.pro that won EMS One Katowice 2014.

Clutches in CS aren’t all that rare, which is why basing this list off numbers alone won’t cut it. But when it comes to Snax, he’s made the big plays when they truly matter. At 991 clutches won, he tops the list by a significant margin and can even cross the 1000-clutch mark at some point in the future.

An iconic player with so many great moments attributed to his name throughout CS history, but if one had to be chosen, his 1v4 against Natus Vincere at ESL One New York in 2016 definitely takes the cake.

Andreas “Xyp9x” Højsleth

It’s really a mystery how prime Astralis even lost matches in the first place. Not only did they have some of the best IGLs, Entry Fraggers, and AWPers in history, but they also had arguably the most clutch CS player that has ever lived.

Andreas “Xyp9x” Højsleth trails Snax by around 100 clutches won, but that doesn’t matter to a lot of people. Xyp9x is often considered the “God of Clutching” or the “Clutch Master”, especially on Counter-Strike’s biggest tournaments. He holds the record for clutches won at both Majors and LAN events in general.

One of the best at any 1vX situation, Xyp9x has 301 1v2 clutches won throughout his career, and a whopping 13 1v4s won dating from 2012 to 2023. His clutch performances have saved Astralis on multiple occasions, especially with championships on the line. He is always the strongest member of the team, even with momentum against them, and his composure translated into one of the greatest résumés of all time.

Richard “shox” Papillon

Richard “shox” Papillon might not have as many clutch performances as others on this list, but just like the case is with Xyp9x, his clutch performances came at the highest levels of play in the competitive scene. Majors, S-Tier playoffs, and everything else in between.

shox was one of the best players in the world during the mid-2010s, rising to popularity during a period where French CS was taking off. Primarily a rifler, he is extremely capable with other weapons, such as the AWP, and seems to only get better with pressure.

His numbers include 838 total 1vX clutches won, with 16 of them being 1v4s. One of his greatest and most well-known clutch plays is a post-plant 1v4 against prime Luminosity Gaming in 2016. Map 5 of a BO5 Grand Final, staring down near impossible odds to extend the series and the tournament, what does shox do? He wins.

Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo

One of the greatest in-game leaders of all time and arguably the most important Brazilian Counter-Strike player in history just so happens to have that clutch factor in his veins. Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo is the definition of showing up when it matters, and the numbers certainly back it up.

With 60 clutches at Majors (second only to Xyp9x), 304 clutches at Big Events (third on the list), and 440 clutches at LAN events (tied with device at second), The Godfather has always lived up to his status as one of the GOATs of the game.

FalleN’s tally falls under the 800-clutch mark, but it’s also important to note that his career isn’t over yet. He’s still a vital part of FURIA’s success championship runs as their IGL, AWPer, and all-time level clutcher.

Twitter Giveaways

Daily skin giveaways on our Twitter

Join