We’re almost at the finish line of IEM Rio 2023, and there have been some remarkable individual displays that we’ll remember for some time. Some players have stood above the rest, those who would shine in even the best CS:GO team.
These are the candidates for MVP at IEM Rio 2023.
stavn at IEM Rio 2023. Credit: IEM on Twitter
stavn
With 184 kills and 140 deaths, stavn’s impact for Heroic has been huge. So far, stavn has shone during the final map of each series, showcasing how crucial he is in the big moments.
His consistency over such a huge amount of maps is impressive. Due to a loss against BIG, he’s fought his way through nine maps to reach the Quarter-Finals. He’s been resilient throughout, persevering as Heroic made IEM Rio news by replacing jabbi mid-game against The MongolZ.
At 21 years old, stavn still has plenty of growth in his game. But in the here-and-now, if Heroic can conquer IEM Rio 2023, he’d be a shoo-in for tournament MVP.
stavn’s Highlight
ZywOo
Source: @ESLCS
It’s impossible to not include ZywOo here. With Magisk, dupreeh, and apEX all struggling for form, nothing has stopped ZywOo from looking his incredible best. He boasts a +70 kill/ death ratio pre-Playoffs, the best of any player at IEM Rio 2023. When Vitality were faced with being part of Group Stage eliminations, he stepped up, delivering a clinic against MIBR.
The stakes only got higher from there, with FaZe and OG also a chance for an early Vitality elimination. He rose to the occasion, as he does so often. We normally don’t see this ZywOo until the second half of the year. What a treat it is, to have one of the best AWPers of all time in this form.
If Vitality can get IEM Rio 2023 over the line, the MVP of the tournament will almost-certainly go to either him or one of his teammates, who we’ll discuss shortly…
ZywOo’s Highlight
s1mple
The talisman of the NAVI CS:GO team, it almost feels like cheating to include s1mple in this list. So often, he’s head and shoulders above the rest when he steps onto the server. IEM Rio 2023 has been no different.
There’s something great about how unspectacular NAVI’s run has been. No dramatics – just clean wins against The Mongolz, NIP, and BIG, without dropping a single map. Yes, s1mple has been at the heart of it, playing with the staggering consistency we expect from the greatest.
NAVI are a rejuvenated unit, with electroNic finally comfortable as IGL. A Rio win could announce to the world that NAVI are the best CS:GO team in the world once again. If they do, s1mple would surely receive an MVP award.
s1mple’s Highlight
sh1ro
It’s odd to say about someone in the Semi-Finals, but we feel sorry for sh1ro. He’s had a tough time recently, with the heartbreak of the Paris Major RMR still stinging for Cloud9. Amidst it all, they’ve have had to continue proving themselves among the best CS:GO teams in the world.
Despite everything, sh1ro’s form hasn’t wavered, as Cloud9 romped to straight victories in the Group Stage. He top fragged in both best-of-three matches, massively outperforming his teammates. There’s a lot to admire about that, showing how well he handles adversity. Now facing either Vitality or BIG in the Semi-Final, sh1ro can make a huge statement, especially if he faces ZywOo.
“Sh1ro is doing everything within his power to get this win but how much more time can he buy for C9 until someone else wakes up?” – James Bank (@BanKsEsports)
Unless his team’s individual performance goes up a level, it’s unlikely sh1ro can do it himself. But if he does, it’ll be one of the greatest tournament performances we’ve seen in a long time.
sh1ro’s Highlight
Spinx
Finally, there’s Spinx, the other Vitality player here. Currently the highest-rated player at the event, Spinx topped IEM Rio news by single-handedly taming FaZe Clan. Across two maps, he went 73-34, with 42 in one and 31 in the other – an absurd performance that no one saw coming. For context, the record for LAN kills in a Tier-1 event is 44, so he came close to breaking records.
Beyond that, he’s kept up with ZywOo. But we expect greatness from ZywOo, whereas we don’t necessarily expect the same from Spinx. That’s why if Vitality pick up the trophy, Spinx is our pick for MVP of IEM Rio 2023.
Spinx’s Highlight
Up next: Keep up with the latest news at IEM Rio 2023
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