Proven Stars in their Roles

#1

Ultia

Why does Americas have so many more proven, world-class players than the other regions? Is it because the other regions are rather top heavy and send the same rosters to represent them at internationals? Is it because the region is just overrated because of clout? What are your thoughts?

Americas (26)

Duelists: Aspas | Zekken | Jawgemo | Keznit | Oxy | Cryo
Initiators: Ethan | N4rrate | Eeiu | Trent | Cauanzin
Flex: Mazino | JonahP | Zellsis | Asuna | Rossy
Smokes: KiNgg | s0m | Valyn | PaNcada | Demon1
Sentinels: Less | Leaf
IGLs: Valyn | JohnQT | Saadhak | Boostio

EMEA (20)

Duelists: Derke | Sayf | Miniboo | cNed
Initiators: Leo | Riens | Trexx | Shao | Cloud
Flex: Chronicle | wo0t | Patitek | Sheydos
Smokes: Boo
Sentinels: Benjyfishy | Alfajer | Suygetsu | Nats | Yetujey
IGLs: Boo | Boaster

Pacific (18)

Duelists: T3xture | BuzZ | Jingg | Something
Initiators: Stax | Lakia
Flex: F0rsaken | Munchkin | d4v4i | rb
Smokes: Mako | Karon | Mindfreak | Monyet | Sugarz3ro
Sentinels: Meteor | Flashback
IGLs: Munchkin | Stax | Benkai

China (13)

Duelists: KangKang | Life
Initiators: S1mon | nobody | AAAAY
Flex: Autumn
Smokes: Smoggy | LuoK1ng | BerLIN
Sentinels: Chichoo | Vo0kashu | Kai | Lysoar
IGLs: Nobody

Edit: Removed Laz because he’s retired.
Edit: Removed Invy because I misremembered him at a LAN.

#2

kanyefan4238173

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Well you consider half the players in Americas to be world class

I mean u even called patitek world class I think the word lost meaning

#9

nobody___100

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he put boo as a good smokes but not grubinho
something tells me that this guy only watches americas

#13

Ultia

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No I straight up considered grubinho. He has no international experience though and he’s only ever been on the worst rosters historically — TH in 2023 and KOI in 2024. He’s probably EMEA’s best smoker but he’s completely unproven on the international stage and even the best players choke.

#14

nobody___100

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okay then what is rossy or invy doing here

#20

Ultia

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Ah, I thought I remembered him on TS’s roster when they qualified to an international but it seems like the last time was Champs 2021 with a slightly different roster. I’ll remove him shortly.

As for Rossy, he’s been T1’s most consistent player and fried at Shanghai despite the team crashing out. I suppose he has even less of a right to be on the list than Patitek though.

#11

Ultia

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I counted pretty much any player that can hard carry a map at an international. Patitek proved himself at Shanghai but I suppose you could disqualify him because he didn’t have prior history? I don’t really believe in flukes because every round is a slugfest at that level.

Americas has had at least 8 different teams represent them at internationals with at least top 4 finishes. There’s also the 2 imports in other regions that respectively carried their teams to internationals. EMEA by contrast has had 6 teams with lower average placements except from FNC. Pacific has even fewer representatives at 4 and China has 1.

#15

kanyefan4238173

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I think you gotta be way harsher or change your wording

If I were to list world class players I am listing at most 30 players (5 per role, including igl)

#19

Ultia

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Fair enough. I just think the talent pool has grown enough that a lot of players could punch up if in the right system or environment. It wasn’t so much as a top 5 in every role list as much as a way to highlight players that I could see as keystones to a trophy-contending team based on prior performances.

My Top 5 would probably be:

Duelist: Zekken | T3xture | KK | Sayf | Aspas

Initiator: Leo | Riens | Ethan | N4rrate | Trexx

Flex: Chronicle | F0rsaken | JonahP | Mazino | Munchkin

Smokes: Karon | Smoggy | KiNgg | Mako | Valyn

Sentinels: Meteor | Benjyfishy | Chichoo | Leaf | Alfa

IGL: Boo | Valyn | nobody | Munchkin | JohnQT

#3

Azzelastia

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Demon1 also on Jett.
Bro tried to sneak Pathetic in 😹😹😹😹

#4

zyonick

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eeiu, cryo , trent zellsis bruh

#6

kanyefan4238173

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Yeah calling Trent, life, laz (literally retired), sugarz3ro and patitek world class is crazy

#16

Ultia

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I didn’t realize Laz retired. I wanted to give Sugarz3ro some credit though since he literally carried ZETA to their only top 3 finish. Patitek has also shown he has the potential to be a star flex but he’s only had one opportunity (Shanghai). Trent isn’t much different when you remember that he was literally G2’s best player all of 2022-2023.

Life is a bit of a stretch but his showing at Shanghai was good and it seems disingenuous to deny fpx their flowers when they’ve had the absolute worst luck in playing tournament finalists in groups every time.

#18

kanyefan4238173

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Life is an insane player

Sometimes looks like an actual ranked player and sometimes looks like the pride of china

I like Fpx and watching him is so stressful because u don’t know what ur getting

#5

nobody___100

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if benkai is world class in 2024, then surely fns is as well

#17

Ultia

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Pacific just doesn’t have many proven IGLs. You could argue FNS should be there but his firepower disqualifies him from ever being considered a star player. I could also remove Benkai too huh

#7

exxSenpai

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where is leo, for emea?

#8

Asunas_Chinese_Teacher

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Asuna - best contract re-newer in the world, and no one is even close.

#10

DBStudios

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No Dep, Biank, Tuyz, or Tex?

#12

leboi

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This list is absolute cancer

Considering u only put active players I assume you mean world class atm, in which case half of these shouldn’t be here

#21

dort

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there's no way u just called miniboo a world class duelist
and zellsis world class flex? 😹😹😹😹😭😭😭😭😭

#22

teilwal

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"trent" "jonahp" "zellsis" "sheydos" "benkai" in 2024...

#23

Ultia

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JonahP was G2’s most impactful player at Shanghai and Zellsis carried Sen over that Madrid finish line. Trent was also widely considered TGRD’s best player from 2022-2023 and he’s just been uncharacteristically off form this year.

Also, proven players rarely fall off a cliff just because they’re on new rosters. Sheydos and Benkai absolutely still have it in them if you use an eye test but they’re on some of the weakest rosters in VCT history. It’s not like they abused a broken agent during their prime and now can’t keep up like a certain Chamber Merchant.

#29

hawktuah

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there are some bums you named but off JonahP

#24

Break_Bread69

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benkai in big 2024

#25

danii1

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IGLs: Nobody
Is too funny to me

#27

aspassonjiezounb

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he is the IGL indeed

#26

Kleinz17

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benkai???

#28

aspassonjiezounb

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china list should be:
duelist:+whzy +fengf
smokes:-berlin +haodong +chichoo -smoggy(just because most he did gives out from his aim)
initator:-AAAAY +biank
sentinels:+yosemite -kai(not the main sentinels) -lysoar(bad as fuck and most of his highlights comes from his omen)
flex: +heybay(this man is actually insane)
IGLs: +haodong +berlin +heybay

AIM DEMONS: SMOGGY,AAAAY