In our previous edition, we tried to cover everything that happened during the break, but a few things either changed or happened right as we published. So here we are to finish the job:

To start off, in our “Cut your Support”-Special we talked about KaiR0N being n0rb3r7’s replacement on Outsiders, and guess what; It’s official!

Although, someone should tell him saying he “plays for Virtus.Pro” won’t help him get into ESL/BLAST events. He’ll just be an Outsider.

Speaking of people who are on the Outside of things: CeRq. We covered CeRq leaving EG in depth already and all that’s changed is that he’s now officially a free agent and he isn’t alone. He’s joined in the realm of teamlessness by fellow AWPer, mantuu. It’s funny how alike they are. Both have eastern European roots spent but have spent most of their time in English-speaking countries, both are bad, and both were benched!

Last but not least, fnatic has decided that academy CS just ain’t it and has released their “rising” roster… who could’ve seen that coming? Well, Peppzor who left the team to join Flusha and JW at EYEBALLERS a short while back, was never replaced which probably should’ve been a red flag.

fnatic themselves claim it’s only a “pause” on the project. Still, we’re skeptical, as they’ve struggled to hold on to talent like regali and the aforementioned Peppzor, so how could they ever use it as a development tool for their main roster? Ultimately you want to improve your own team and not your tier 2 competitors - no matter how good the buyout cash is.

That’s it for us playing catch up, you should be as up-to-date as Ropz’s utility.

Those darned HLTV’ers are at it again. Stealing our top 20 ballers of the year idea from a few years ago.

Or something like that.

The top 20 is in motion, and they’ve so far at least, left s1mple out. That would be a story. Maybe he’s in the top 8. It does seem, however, that they have left NAF and degster out which seems to have upset some people.

Not us, though. We’re more upset that blameF got all the way up to 12th. While NAF might not have won any trophies this year, blameF can barely win a map.

b1t being in the top 20 has been one of the more controversial topics; despite his mediocre rating overall, he’s been very good in playoffs and earlier in the year. People always forget what happened in the first few months of the year.

We can’t really blame them. aizyesque has forgotten his own birthday before because it’s in February. That might be unrelated.

HLTV kicked off with Jame at 20 - the Major MVP was largely unimpressive during the rest of the year — yuurih at 19, Spinx at 18, and frozen at 17.

b1t coming above frozen and Spinx did annoy some people, but he was crazy in Antwerp and early on during sdy’s time on NAVI. YEKINDAR was NA CS’ highest-rated player, hilariously, at 15, with huNter- and rain coming in next.

blameF made 12, with Twistzz at 11. Seems harsh on the eye test, but as ever, HLTV have their reasons.

stavn and KSCERATO made their appearance on the top 20, with eight players left to go. The last few will be on Saturday, with HLTV’s first award show.

It’s like the Oscars, but infinitely sweatier. The best players in the world will be there, as well as blameF, to receive their awards, and we’re just hoping there’s an award for ‘best competitor to our website that we wish we could be’ so that we can get one.

Only joking. We’re not competing with HLTV. We’re much, much better.

❓ What

• Okay, G2 social media manager, there’s this thing called “the line” and boy: you’ve crossed it. Although NiKo’s reaction is pretty funny.
• It’s Minecraft, but it’s CS, but it’s also Minecraft. Oh, and cold’s jumping double is there too I guess.
• Okay “birdfromsky” (if that’s even your real name) what’s this picture supposed to mean huh? The next Danish superteam? Well, joke’s on you: you can’t have more than five players so…

💫 America’s Got Talent

• We’ve been told by our resident NA expert and podcast host Logan that this CoJoMo kid is pretty good. Keep an eye on him. Or don’t, we’re not your mum.
• ESEA Season 43 had 42% of its blind time come from teammate’s flashes. Must be those NA nades.

📊 Steamy Stats

• Yeah baby, CS is alive and kicking! Also, what the H-E-double-hockeysticks is a “Mobile Legends”?
• Some of you really have nothing to do at the start of this new year huh? All the more reason to give us another update, Valve.