Since its public release back in 2012, Valve’s premier FPS title, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO), has evolved to become one of the top First Person Shooter (FPS) titles in the world. The game puts heavy emphasis on tactics, team play and individual skills. The top CS:GO players in the world are able to routinely eliminate their opponents in ways that look impossible to pull off for the average player. Playing at the top level of CS:GO requires dedication to practice and also making smart hardware choices. And, one of the most important peripherals for gamers is the gaming headset. For professional CS:GO players, sound quality isn’t just all about immersion; it can be the difference between getting lit from the back or timing the perfect prefire. With so much at stake on a pair of gaming headsets, we decided to take a look at, in no particular order, 10 of the best CS:GO players in the world and the gaming headsets they use.
Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev (Natus Vincere)
s1mple is a Ukrainian professional CS:GO player with Natus Vincere (NaVi). He’s known for a confident, aggressive playing style that has helped his team dominate championships. His single-minded dedication has consistently led him to top worldwide individual rankings, and is one of the reasons why s1mple is one of the best CS:GO players in the world. Also used by: Nikola Emil “Magisk” Reif (Astralis), “Niko” Kovač (G2 Esports), Daniil “headtr1ck” Valitov (Natus Vincere), Valeriy “B1T” Vakhovskiy (Natus Vincere), Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov (Natus Vincere Youth), Kenny “kennyS” Schrub (no team) Early in his career, he had short stints with Lane Dodgers, Courage Gaming, and HellRaisers. In 2016, he joined Team Liquid where he began to make a name for himself. He and his team made it to the MLG Major Championship Columbus 2016 Semifinals, but unfortunately, didn’t clinch the main prize. A few months later in 2016, s1mple signed with NaVi. He went on to triumph in tournaments like Intel Extreme Masters XIV, BLAST Premier Global Final 2020, DreamHack Masters Spring 2021, and ESL Pro League Season 14. But it was in November 2021 that s1mple finally brought home his first Major win at the PGL Stockholm Major 2021. He was also named the tournament’s MVP. All-time Quick Stats:
MVP Titles: 17 Role: AWPer, Rifler Rating 1.0: 1.25 ADR: 86.4 KPR: 0.85 Total Kills: 33,061 Headshot %: 41.4%
When it comes to gear, s1mple uses the Logitech G Pro X. These cans come with 50mm drivers and 7.1 surround sound that delivers clear, flawless sound quality. This helps achieve improved positional awareness that’s crucial for AWPers. The headphones also come with Logitech’s Blue VO!CE microphone technology. It applies noise reduction and real-time voice filters for clearer in-game comms. This ensures you’re always heard even in noisy environments.
Marcelo “coldzera” David (Complexity Gaming)
coldzera is a Brazilian professional CS:GO player with Complexity Gaming. He’s been gaming professionally for over 6 years and is one of the greatest CS:GO players of all time. Also used by: Casper “cadiaN” Møller (Heroic), Daniel “mertz” Mertz (no team), Kristian “k0nfig” Wienecke (compLexity Gaming), Philip “aizy” Aistrup (north), YuanZhang “AttackeR” Sheng (Flash Gaming), Helvijs “broky” Saukants (FaZe) From 2013 to 2015, coldzera played mostly in small semi-pro tournaments. It was in August 2015 that the young gamer landed his first pro contract with Luminosity Gaming. The following year, he and his team clinched the top prize at the MLG Major Championship Columbus 2016. He was also named the tournament’s MVP — a first for any Brazilian pro gamer. coldzera went on to play for SK Gaming, where he won in several big tournaments like ESL One: Cologne 2016 and Intel Extreme Masters XII Sydney. He then signed with MIBR, then FaZe Clan, where he helped dominate at BLAST Pro Series Copenhagen 2019. In September 2021, he joined Complexity Gaming as a stand-in for the injured Kristian “k0nfig” Wienecke. All-time Quick Stats:
MVP Titles: 2 Role: Rifler, Lurker Rating 1.0: 1.16 ADR: 79.6 KPR: 0.77 Total Kills: 27,380 Headshot %: 49.4%
coldzera uses SteelSeries Arctis Pro headphones as part of his gaming setup. These headphones come equipped with high-resolution speakers for ultra-immersive gaming. Their 40mm drivers have a frequency range of 10Hz to 40kHz and come with DTS Headphone:X V2.0 surround sound. They deliver accurate positional audio to ensure you’ll never miss a step. That can be especially helpful if your gaming style is all about stealth.
Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut (Team Vitality)
ZywOo is a French professional CS:GO player with Team Vitality. Early in his career, ZywOo played with teams like WySix Team and Against all authority. But, after completing his Bachelor’s Degree in 2018, he signed with Team Vitality. Also used by: Richard “shox” Papillon (Team Vitality), Florian “syrsoN” Rische (BIG), Nabil “Nivera” Benriltom (no team) He earned the nickname “Counter-Strike’s Chosen One” not only for being born on the same day the game was first released, but also for his godly CS skills. ZywOo established himself as one of the top CS:GO players in the world. With his superb AWPing skills, ZywOo has consistently produced impressive stats that have him ranking within the top 5 on multiple HLTV leaderboards, including their overall player ranking. ZywOo has helped bring home the main prizes at Esports Championship Series Season 7 Finals, EPICENTER 2019, and BLAST Premier Fall 2020. However, ZywOo’s most known for his exceptional performance at ESL One Cologne 2019, for which he was also named MVP. In 2020, ZywOo extended his contract with Team Vitality until 2024. All-time Quick Stats:
MVP Titles: 11 Role: AWPer Rating 2.0: 1.33 ADR: 88.8 KPR: 0.85 Total Kills: 20,035 Headshot %: 41.4%
ZywOo’s choice of gaming headphones is the Corsair HS80. They come with 50mm neodymium drivers with a frequency range of 20Hz to 40kHz. On a wired connection, they deliver detailed, high-resolution audio at 24-bits and 96kHz. This allows you to pick up even the subtlest of sounds to give you a competitive edge. The headphones also come with Spatial Audio by Dolby Atmos for more dynamic sound. This allows you to react faster and more accurately during clutch plays when it matters the most. You also get Slipstream Corsair Wireless Technology, which offers super low-latency audio. This ensures you hear all in-game sounds as they happen in real-time.
Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz (Ninjas In Pyjamas)
dev1ce is a Danish professional CS:GO player with Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP). With over 10 years of gaming experience, dev1ce has played with teams like the Copenhagen Wolves, Team Dignitas, and Team Solomid. Also used by: Nicolas “Plopski” Gonzalez Zamora (NiP), Fredrik “REZ” Sterner (NiP), Robin “ropz” Kool (mousesports) In 2016, he signed with Astralis. From there, he went on to establish his consistent domination in tournaments. dev1ce and his team secured wins at the StarLadder Berlin Major 2019, Intel Extreme Masters XIII Katowice Major 2019, and FACEIT Major London 2018, among others. He and his former Astralis teammates are the only CS:GO players who hold the record of winning 4 Major titles. In April 2021, dev1ce left Astralis and signed a three-year contract with NiP. The transfer deal was one of the most expensive in CS:GO, amounting to $1 million. With NiP, dev1ce hopes to “bring home some trophies” to Sweden where he currently lives. All-time Quick Stats:
MVP Titles: 19 Role: AWPer Rating 1.0: 1.16 ADR: 80.3 KPR: 0.78 Total Kills: 35,976 Headshot %: 35.0%
dev1ce uses the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro headphones for tournaments. These cans have Triforce titanium-coated 50mm drivers, for clearer sound definition across all frequencies. It also comes with THX 7.1 surround sound for immersive audio quality that improves your in-game response. Definitely handy for when you need to time those shots perfectly. A quick 2.4 GHz wireless connection makes sure there are no delays between audio and on-screen action. Lastly, breathable FlowKnit memory foam ear pads provide excellent passive noise cancellation and long-lasting comfort.
Dmitriy “sh1ro” Sokolov (Gambit Esports)
sh1ro is a Russian professional CS:GO player with Gambit Esports. He started playing CS:GO in 2018 and is one of 2021’s biggest breakout talents. Also used by: Jake “Stewie2k” Yip (Liquid), Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski (Liquid) In April 2019, sh1ro joined Gambit Youngsters, the youth training academy of Gambit Esports. And in October 2020, he was finally included in the main Gambit Esports roster. He and his team went on to claim the top spots at the Intel Extreme Masters XV World Championship, Intel Extreme Masters XVI Summer, and BLAST Premier Spring Finals 2021. sh1ro made his first Major debut at the PGL Major Stockholm 2021, where he and his team clinched the first runner-up spot. He currently ranks first on three different HLTV leaderboards, and is 3rd all-time. With only three years of pro-gaming under his belt, sh1ro is well on his way to surpassing veterans like s1mple and ZywOo if he keeps his current performance up. All-time Quick Stats:
MVP Titles: 2 Role: AWPer Rating 2.0: 1.26 ADR: 78.8 KPR: 0.77 Total Kills: 15,695 Headshot %: 28.0%
sh1ro’s headset of choice is the HyperX Cloud II. These headphones come with 53mm drivers and HyperX 7.1 Surround Sound. They deliver precision audio and unparalleled clarity. They also provide an excellent sense of space and depth that helps you easily identify where sounds are coming from. The noise-canceling microphone ensures you get clear in-game comms. It’s also TeamSpeak and Discord-certified. With built-in mic monitoring, you’ll come off loud and clear without having to scream into your mic. And that is certainly helpful if you don’t want the world to hear you call out strategic plays.
Nikola “NiKo” Kovač (G2 Esports)
NiKo is a Bosnian professional CS:GO player with G2 Esports. He’s widely known as one of the most mechanically gifted players in the CS:GO league today. Also used by: Aleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev (Natus Vincere), Daniil “headtr1ck” Valitov (Natus Vincere), Valeriy “B1T” Vakhovskiy (Natus Vincere), Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov (Natus Vincere Youth), Kenny “kennyS” Schrub (no team), Emil “Magisk” Reif (Astralis) He started his pro career with iNation in 2012 and mousesports in 2015. In February 2017, he signed with FaZe Clan where he eventually took on the role of In-game Leader (IGL). He and his team went on to dominate big tournaments such as ESL One New York 2017, Intel Extreme Masters XIII Sydney, EPICENTER 2018, and BLAST Pro Series Copenhagen 2019. After a series of losses in 2020, and lots of online criticism, NiKo decided to leave FaZe Clan in 2021. He currently plays alongside his cousin Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač in G2 Esports. All-time Quick Stats:
MVP Titles: 7 Role: Rifler, AWPer Rating 1.0: 1.15 ADR: 85.7 KPR: 0.80 Total Kills: 32,409 Headshot %: 50.5%
Like fellow AWPer and Rifler s1mple, NiKo’s also uses the Logitech G Pro X headphones. As mentioned earlier, they come with 50mm drivers and 7.1 surround sound audio from DTS Headphone: X V2.0. This gives you clearer and more dynamic audio quality that allows you to pick up subtle details like footsteps or gun reloading. With Logitech’s Blue VO!CE microphone technology, you’re also guaranteed clear in-game comms with noise reduction and real-time voice filters.
Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski (Team Liquid)
EliGE is a Polish-American professional CS:GO player with Team Liquid. He’s the first and only North American player to rank multiple times on HLTV’s Top 20 Players of the Year and holds the most placements (4) of any North American player. Also used by: Dmitriy “sh1ro” Sokolov (Gambit Esports), Jake “Stewie2k” Yip (Liquid) EliGE started off competing in StarCraft II tournaments in 2012. In 2014, he switched over to CS:GO and played with teams like Team JusTus and eLevate until 2015. He was eventually picked up by Team Liquid in that same year and has been with them ever since. With Team Liquid, he went on to play nine Majors. He also claimed the top spots at DreamHack Masters Dallas 2019, Intel Extreme Masters XIV Chicago, ESL One: Cologne 2019, and ESL Pro League Season 9 Finals, in which he was also named MVP. Quick Stats (All-Time):
MVP Titles: 4 Role: Rifler Rating 1.0: 1.09 ADR: 83.7 KPR: 0.76 Total Kills: 29,924 Headshot %: 49.1%
Like sh1ro, EliGE uses the HyperX Cloud II headphones. As previously mentioned, they’re equipped with 53mm drivers and signature HyperX 7.1 Surround Sound for clearer and more accurate audio. They render even the most distant sounds with excellent clarity, giving you a competitive edge in the game. It also comes with a detachable noise-canceling mic with built-in mic monitoring. This keeps your in-game comms clear and undisrupted while ensuring your voice isn’t coming off too loud. These wireless headphones also offer seamless, low-latency audio thanks to a 2.4 GHz connection.
Robin “ropz” Kool (MOUZ)
ropz is an Estonian professional CS:GO player with MOUZ (formerly mousesports). He started with Call of Duty, before switching over to CS:GO. He played with several semi-pro teams in 2016 and made a name for himself in FACEIT’s FPL Circuit. In 2021, he established his brand even more by becoming the first Estonian player to attend a Major at the PGL Major Kraków 2017 Offline Qualifier. Also used by: Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz (NiP) Nicolas “Plopski” Gonzalez Zamora (NiP), Fredrik “REZ” Sterner (NiP) His talent and skill got him a contract with mousesports in 2017. With them, he went on to claim the grand prize at ESG Tour Mykonos 2017, CS:GO Asia Championships 2019, ESL Pro League Season 10 Finals, and ICE Challenge 2020. Quick Stats (All-Time):
MVP Titles: 1 Role: Rifler, Lurker Rating 2.0: 1.15 ADR: 79.0 KPR: 0.74 Total Kills: 20,161 Headshot %: 51.9%
Like dev1ce, ropz also uses the Razer BlackShark V2 Pro headphones. As mentioned, they come with 50mm drivers that deliver crisper, clearer sound quality. These headphones combine THX 7.1 surround sound and passive noise cancellation for better in-game awareness. The combination helps you to zero in and focus during stealth plays so that you can react quickly and decisively.
Casper “cadiaN” Møller (Heroic)
cadiaN is a Danish professional CS:GO player with Heroic. He started out playing Counter-Strike: Source before switching over to CS:GO in 2012. From 2014 to 2016, he bounced between several different teams. These included mousesports, SK Gaming, Rogue, and North. In 2019, he finally signed with Heroic. Also used by: Marcelo “coldzera” David (FaZe), Daniel “mertz” Mertz (no team), Kristian “k0nfig” Wienecke (compLexity Gaming), Philip “aizy” Aistrup (north), YuanZhang “AttackeR” Sheng (Flash Gaming), Helvijs “broky” Saukants (FaZe) In Heroic, cadiaN went on to dominate in tournaments like DreamHack Open Atlanta 2019, ESL One Cologne 2020 Online, and DreamHack Open Fall 2020. He gained the most acclaim for his performance at the ESL Pro League Season 13. It was there that he executed a miraculous 1v4 clutch play with a knife and a p250 that won the team 200 grand. Quick Stats (All-Time):
MVP Titles: 0 Role: In-game Leader, AWPer Rating 1.0: 1.05 ADR: 73.8 KPR: 0.70 Total Kills: 25,517 Headshot %: 27.8%
Like coldzera, cadiaN also uses the SteelSeries Arctis Pro headphones. As mentioned, they come with high-resolution 40mm drivers with a frequency range of 10Hz to 40kHz. They also have DTS Headphone:X V2.0 surround sound that delivers life-like, accurate audio. Its ClearCast bidirectional microphone is also considered one of the best mics in gaming. It has superior noise cancellation, thanks to a bidirectional mic design. This ensures the mic only picks up sounds coming from your mouth while blocking out the rest. So, no matter how intense the action gets, your team will always hear your every call.
Emil “Magisk” Reif (Astralis)
Magisk is a Danish professional CS:GO player with Astralis. He showed a natural talent for the game at the young age of 8 years old with Counter-Strike 1.6. In 2015, he began competing in the semi-pros, starting with the King of Nordic (KoN) series. He would later go on to play for pro teams like SK Gaming, Team Dignitas, North, and OpTic Gaming. Also used by: Aleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev (Natus Vincere), “Niko” Kovač (G2 Esports), Daniil “headtr1ck” Valitov (Natus Vincere), Valeriy “B1T” Vakhovskiy (Natus Vincere), Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov (Natus Vincere Youth), Kenny “kennyS” Schrub (no team) After tough losses with North and OpTic Gaming, he was unexpectedly picked up by Astralis in 2018. And it was here that he immediately began to shine. With Astralis, he played in six Majors and triumphed in three. This included IEM Katowice Major 2019 where he was also named the tournament’s MVP. Magisk’s impact on Astralis was undeniable. As a more flexible support player, Magisk’s presence gave fellow teammate Dupreeh more leeway for aggressive plays, which ultimately helped the team’s overall performance. Unfortunately, Astralis benched Magisk after their loss at the PGL Stockholm Major Legends Stage. According to reports, he will not be renewing his contract with Astralis. Instead, he’s said to be joining Team Vitality’s new-and-improved CS:GO roster. Quick Stats (All-Time):
MVP Titles: 2 Role: Rifler Rating 1.0: 1.05 ADR: 73.8 KPR: 0.70 Total Kills: 25,517 Headshot %: 27.8%
Like s1mple and NiKo, Magisk uses the Logitech G Pro X headphones. They come with 50mm drivers and 7.1 surround sound from DTS Headphone: X V2.0, for a more immersive soundstage. With such crisp and detailed audio reproduction, these headphones can help you gain the upper hand in any gaming scenario. Logitech’s Blue VO!CE microphone technology also has you covered with customizable pro filters. They deliver clear, studio-quality comms, so you’re always heard above the noise and action.
Most Used Headsets of the Top CS:GO Players
Aside from obvious sounds like gunfire and explosions, there’s a multitude of other in-game sounds that can alert you or your opponent. For instance, the subtle sounds created while climbing a ladder, zooming in with a scope, or reloading a gun can be dead giveaways. It’s for this reason that most, if not all, pro-CS:GO gamers wear headsets with surround sound capability. This feature, along with clear sound quality, allows players to easily identify where specific sounds are coming from. That way they can be alerted of the enemy’s evert movement and make better plays. A low latency mic with excellent sound quality and noise cancellation is also essential. This ensures that players can communicate clearly with their teammates, without experiencing delays, interruptions, or distractions from unwanted sounds.
Bonus Section: What Are the Roles in a CS:GO Team?
Overall, there are five basic roles in a CS:GO team, and each comes with distinct responsibilities. However, these roles aren’t set in stone, nor are players limited to specific roles. For instance, some players can switch around depending on what’s needed in a certain round. Some teams can also have more than one Fragger or Lurker. Here’s what each position entails:
Entry Fragger
Entry Fraggers are often the first ones in the action. They’re aggressive playmakers whose main goal is to rush the opponent, secure an entry kill, or at least pave the way so that the rest of the team can make a play. They’re quick-thinking, decisive, and have solid reflexes. Since their role is to basically take one for the team, they’re also often the first to get killed in the game. Despite that, their high-risk moves can expose enemy weaknesses or positions, and help the rest of the team achieve their overall objective. Weapon of choice: If you’re entry-fragging, a good gun to go with is the AK-47 or the M4A4 for its ample amount of ammunition. Top Fraggers in CS:GO:
ZywOo s1mple NiKo Dupreeh FalleN
Support
Support players provide cover and assistance for Entry Fraggers during a push. These players take a more passive role and are usually the ones who clear the way with the help of utility (grenades, flashbangs, etc.). Riflers typically fall under this position as well. Support players are extensively familiar with the different CS:GO maps. They’re the ones who know exactly where the prime spots are for releasing HEs, flashes, and smokes. In contrast to Fraggers, Support players need to stay alive as long as possible. In fact, it’s these guys who are often left to make clutch plays. Weapon of choice: When buying weapons, Support players prioritize utility items. When it comes to guns, both Riflers and Support players can go for the usual automatic rifles such as the M4, AK-47, FAMAS, Galil AR, or whichever they feel most comfortable with. Top Support players in CS:GO:
Xyp9x s1mple Gla1ve NiKo ropz
In-Game Leader (IGL)
IGLs are the overseers and in-game shot callers. They strategize on what plays to make, what weapons to buy, and coordinate everyone’s movements or positions on the map. IGLs are also multifaceted players. They’re adaptable, cool under pressure, and have excellent in-game awareness that’s crucial to getting the upper hand on the opponent. Pre-game research is also an important part of an IGL’s responsibilities. By studying an opponent’s weaknesses and tendencies, IGLs can make better decisions that maximize each player’s strengths and help the team achieve victory. Weapon of choice: IGLs aren’t expected to rack in kills, as their main job is to coordinate the entire team’s performance. So, gun choice for IGLs is really dependent on personal preference. Top IGLs in CS:GO:
gla1ve cadiaN karrigan Magisk
AWPer
The AWPer is the player designated to handle the AWP (Arctic Warfare Police). This sniper rifle is incredibly powerful and can kill an opponent with a single shot to the head or torso, regardless of obstacles or armor. And in the hands of an effective and experienced player, the AWP can be devastating. Since this gun is the most expensive one in the game, AWPers need to be extremely skilled and strategic. They also need to be very discerning when pulling the trigger, as the rifle needs to be manually reloaded after every shot. Weapon of choice: The AWP. Top AWPers in CS:GO:
s1mple cadiaN dev1ce ZywOo kennyS
Lurker
Lurkers specialize in silent reconnaissance. These players operate in the background, usually taking a different route from the rest of the team. They gather info on enemy positions, pick off isolated opponents, and generally attempt to surprise or confuse the enemy. Lurkers have a thorough knowledge of the map and its vantage points. They also have excellent trigger discipline, outmaneuvering capabilities, and lots of patience. Lurkers can act defensively by simply flanking opponents, observing how they move, and relaying that info to the team. They can also be aggressive and cause diversions to help their team gain the upper hand. Weapon of choice: Usually suppressed weapons, or those that come with a silencer. Top Lurkers in CS:GO:
ropz olofmeister GeT_RiGhT
Conclusion
There really isn’t an ironclad rule regarding what weapon to use or what position to play to ensure success in CS:GO. Ultimately, it’s about perfecting your personal playing style, whatever it may be, and having the proper gear to help you stay ahead of the game. And a good gaming headset with excellent sound quality is a big part of that. Hopefully, this article has helped you learn more about what to look for in a gaming headset to make your CS:GO gaming experience even better. How’d you find our article? Got any questions for us? Drop us a line in the comments, we’d love to hear from you!
