NiKo needs the Paris Major to secure his legacy as one of CS:GO’s best

No matter what, NiKo will go down as one of CS:GO’s great riflers. But for a player of his calibre, that won’t be enough. There’s one prize that currently eludes the G2 star, the one he wants the most – a Major. With the news that the BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023 will be the final CS:GO Major before CS2 takes over the competitive scene, time is ticking for NiKo.

Photo credit: Josip “brcho” Brtan / Radoslaw “MAKKU” Makuch | IEM Katowice 2023 photo collection for HLTV

One last chance is all he has. After a barren stint with MOUZ, his time with FaZe Clan and G2 have led to a strong trophy cabinet for NiKo, but over 11 appearances at Majors dating back to 2015, runner-up at PGL Major Stockholm 2021 is the best he’s been able to muster. In Paris, there’s more on the line for NiKo, who won’t want to go down as the greatest player to never win a CS:GO Major. That just won’t do for a player of his standard.

Make no mistake – NiKo needs the Paris Major to secure his legacy as one of the best CS:GO riflers ever. He wants to join elite company such as olofmeister, GeT_RiGhT, and coldzera, and it’s hard to include him in that conversation without it.

G2 Can Conquer Paris

He’s never looked better poised to achieve his goal. Until a surprise slip-up at ESL Pro League Season 17, his G2 team have looked like a dominant force. Consecutive competition victories at the BLAST Premier World Final and IEM Katowice 2023 still leave them favorites for every match they play. It’s an incredible time for them to hit irresistible form. With G2 declining an invite to IEM Rio 2023, May’s Paris Major is their next tournament. All focus now will be on preparation for the Major.

NiKo lifted IEM Katowice 2023 with his cousin, huNter-. Credit: G2esports on Twitter

The break could be a blessing and a curse. G2’s weakest performances recently have all come after extended breaks from the server, with the team taking time to recover from rust. If NiKo is to exercise his demons in Paris, that can’t happen again. HooXi’s calls must be pitch-perfect, and m0NESY’s flicks quicker than ever. Meanwhile, jks and huNter- must show the remarkable consistency they’ve been known for over the last six months. There’ll be no margin for error.

NiKo is not a man who projects any nerves he has into the world. His reputation as cool, calm, and collected precedes him, but if there are any nerves to be had, it’ll be on CS:GO’s biggest stage at the Accor Arena. This G2 roster has pulled through when it mattered, with a few months where they were enveloped in an aura of invincibility. Only time will tell if they can conquer that final summit, and cement NiKo’s place amongst the greats.

At 26 years old, NiKo will shave plenty of years to win a Major in CS2. But nothing would taste sweeter than a statement win in Paris to sign off CS:GO.

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