Robin “ropz” Kool celebrated his first EVP of 2024, while Danil “donk” Kryshkovets claimed his fifth MVP, capping off an electrifying Perfect World Major. With the HLTV Awards and top 20 player rankings approaching, this tournament gave players a final stage to prove their worth.
Danil “donk” Kryshkovets
Danil “donk” Kryshkovets delivered one of the finest rookie performances in Counter-Strike history in 2024. His exceptional play led Spirit to a Major championship, earning him his first Major MVP title. The Siberian prodigy averaged 0.99 kills per round and broke the record for most aces in a Major with four. Among these were unforgettable moments, including a 1v5 clutch against HEROIC and another decisive play against FaZe on Ancient in the final.
Robin “ropz” Kool
On the other hand, Robin “ropz” Kool turned his season around in Shanghai after a subpar 2024 by his standards. Ropz spearheaded FaZe’s unexpected victories over tournament favorites Vitality and G2. Adopting a more aggressive playstyle, he averaged 0.14 opening kills and 0.23 multi-kills per round. His consistency was unmatched, with 1.21 kills per round win and a 1.51 rating in FaZe’s playoff wins. Though a slow start on Dust2 in the final held him back from the MVP, ropz was named the top EVP of the event.
Nikola “NiKo” Kovač
Nikola “NiKo” Kovač, still chasing his elusive Major title, was pivotal in G2’s journey to the semifinals. The Bosnian star led his team through dominant group stage performances and a commanding quarterfinal victory over HEROIC, earning a remarkable 2.09 rating on Nuke. However, his form faltered in the semifinals against FaZe, leaving his teammates to carry crucial moments. Despite this, NiKo’s earlier brilliance secured him the second EVP, underscoring his importance to G2’s campaign.
Boris “magixx” Vorobiev
Boris “magixx” Vorobiev emerged as an unexpected hero for Spirit. Initially quiet during the group stage, magixx stepped up significantly in the arena matches. He finished with a 1.28 rating and 94 Firepower, occasionally outshining even donk. During the semifinals and final, his impact grew further, boasting a 1.41 rating and 1.20 kills per round win. While donk’s record-breaking performance stole the show, Spirit’s victory wouldn’t have been possible without magixx’s pivotal contributions.
Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut
Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut and Vitality had a shorter run in China, playing only 11 maps before their quarterfinal exit. While ZywOo posted impressive stats, including ratings of 1.40 and 1.44 in two maps against FaZe, his overall impact was limited. His round-win numbers closely matched Lotan “Spinx” Giladi’s, and he wasn’t consistently a decisive factor during group-stage matches. Despite his skill, he was below NiKo and magixx in the rankings.
Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov
Dmitry “sh1ro“ Sokolov earned an EVP despite a quieter performance in the grand final. Supporting donk throughout the event, sh1ro made key contributions, including two crucial 1v2 clutches—one with a Tec-9 on Nuke and another on Dust2 to seal the tournament victory. Earlier in the event, sh1ro achieved a 1.40 rating in the semifinals, with peaks of 1.70 and 1.69 against Natus Vincere and HEROIC. Although often criticized for being too passive, his fragging output of 0.74 kills per round and 0.19 multi-kills per round underscored his value to Spirit’s triumph.
The best five players from the Major include donk and magixx from the champion Spirit squad, with ZywOo narrowly surpassing sh1ro for the AWP role. Ropz took the spot as the top EVP, while Finn “karrigan” Andersen’s leadership was pivotal in FaZe’s underdog run, arguably more impactful than Leonid “chopper” Vishnyakov’s guidance for Spirit.
Additional Recognitions
Guy “NertZ“ Iluz nearly earned an EVP but fell short after struggling in a decisive quarterfinal against G2. Ilya “m0NESY“ Osipov came close as well, but his performance lagged behind NiKo’s, and his numbers didn’t stand out compared to Nemanja “huNter-“ Kovač or Mario “malbsMd“ Samayoa. Ludvig “Brollan“ Brolin had intense individual moments for MOUZ, but the team’s collective effort meant no single player stood out enough for an EVP nod.
