Former CSGO pros are winning most Valorant tournaments

The competitive landscape of Valorant esports reveals a fascinating trend: professionals from Counter-Strike: Global Offensive have captured nearly all major tournament prizes since the game’s competitive debut. This migration pattern demonstrates how established FPS talent can successfully transition between tactical shooters.

Statistical analysis shows that players who switched from Valve’s iconic shooter now constitute 88% of Valorant’s highest-earning competitors. Among the top ten teams ranked by prize earnings, 44 out of 50 roster spots are filled by individuals who built their professional foundations in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

G2 Esports currently dominates the earnings leaderboard with $94,373 accumulated since their inaugural tournament appearance on July 12th.

Team SoloMid follows closely with $73,000 in winnings, demonstrating how organizations strategically recruit from CSGO’s extensive talent reservoir. TSM’s emerging stars like Yassine “Subroza” Taoufik and Matthew “Wardell” Yu benefit from the guidance of seasoned Counter-Strike veterans, including James “hazed” Cobb whose professional career spans back to 2007.

Which Games Fuel Valorant’s Competitive Pipeline?

While Counter-Strike: Global Offensive serves as the primary talent source for organizations building competitive Valorant rosters, other major titles contribute valuable expertise. Overwatch supplies four former professionals across the ten highest-earning teams, while Fortnite contributes two competitors with unique skill sets.

• G2 Esports – $94,373
  • David “Davidp” Prins (CSGO)
  • Ardis “ardiis“
    Svarenieks (CSGO)
  • Oscar “mixwell” Cañellas (CSGO)
  • Patryk “paTiTek” Fabrowski (CSGO)
  • Jacob “pyth” Mourujärvi (CSGO)
• TSM -$73,000
  • Yassine “Subroza” Taoufik (CSGO)
  • Matthew “Wardell” Yu (CSGO)
  • Taylor “drone” Johnson (CSGO)
  • James “hazed” Cobb (CSGO)
  • Stephen “reltuC” Cutler (CSGO)
• Sentinels – $54,000
  • Shahzeeb “ShahZaM” Khan (CSGO)
  • Hunter “SicK” Mims (CSGO)
  • Michael “dapr” Gulino (CSGO)
  • Jay “sinatraa” Won (Overwatch)
  • Jared “zombs” Gitlin (Overwatch, Apex)

• Absolute JUPITER – $52,000
  • Koji “Laz” Ushida (CSGO)
  • Oshiro “Reita” Ryu (CSGO)
  • Ryo “barce” Takebayashi (CSGO)
  • Tomoaki “crow” Maruoka (CSGO)
  • Takemori “takej” Shogo (CSGO)
• Vision Strikers – $36,819
  • Goo “Rb” Sang-Min (CSGO)
  • Kim “Zest” Gi-seok (CSGO)
  • Kim “glow“ Min-soo (CSGO)
  • Lee “k1Ng” Seung-won (CSGO)
  • Kim “stax” Gu-taek (CSGO)
• Gen.G Esports – $36,500
  • Michael “MkaeL” De Luca (CSGO)
  • Keven “PLAYER1” Champagne (CSGO)
  • Loic “effys” Sauvageau (CSGO)
  • Anthony “gMd” Guimond (CSGO)
  • Danny “huynh” Huynh (CSGO)
• MAJKL – $25,000
  • Annie “Annie” Roberts (Ranked in Overwatch’s Top-50 Tank Players)
  • Jazzyk1ns (CSGO)
  • Alexis “alexis” Guarrasi (CSGO)
  • katsumi (CSGO)
  • Melanie “meL” Capone (CSGO)
• FunPlus Phoenix – $21,934
  • Kirill “ANGE1” Karasiow (CSGO)
  • Johan “Meddo” Renbjörk (CSGO)
  • Tobias “shadow” Flodström (CSGO)
  • Andrey “Shao” Kiprsky (Fortnite)
  • Pontus “Zyppan” Eek (Fortnite)
• Cloud9 – $20,500
  • Skyler “Relyks” Weaver (CSGO)
  • Tyson “TenZ” Ngo (CSGO)
  • Mitch “mitch” Semago (CSGO)
  • Josh “shinobi” Abastado (CSGO)
  • Daniel “vice” Kim (CSGO)

10. Ninjas in Pyjamas – $17,377

• • Charles “CREA” Beauvois (CSGO)
  • Charles “CREA” Beauvois (CSGO)
  • Damien “HyP” Souville (Overwatch)
  • Saif “Sayf” Jibraeel (CSGO)
  • Niels “luckeRRR” Jasiek (CSGO)

Valorant’s Meteoric Rise in Competitive Gaming

As enthusiasts examine the composition of professional Valorant teams, they consistently encounter names that achieved recognition in CSGO esports. This pattern is particularly evident with organizations like 100 Thieves, who are methodically constructing a roster centered on experienced CSGO talent before entering official competitions. Currently, 100 Thieves has secured a collective 23 years of Counter-Strike expertise through signings including Spencer “Hiko” Martin, Nick “nitr0” Cannella, and Joshua “steel” Nissan.

America’s captain has a new look.

Welcome
@nitr0
to 100 Thieves VALORANT.
#100T
pic.twitter.com/jda8wQgMuF

— 100 Thieves (@100Thieves)
August 14, 2020

While supporters cannot predict which CSGO competitors might transition games, G2 Esports founder Carlos “ocelote” Santiago recently commented on his organization’s early achievements in Riot’s tactical shooter while sharing perspectives on whether Valve and CSGO can maintain competitive relevance against Valorant’s explosive growth. G2 has secured seven consecutive tournament victories, demonstrating that criticism from former Overwatch professional Félix “xQc” Lengyel regarding CSGO players moving between the two titles may have been premature.

Following Riot’s announcement of Valorant’s open beta, xQc published a Twitter statement in uppercase letters claiming CSGO professionals would struggle to find success in the new shooter.

HOT TAKE: ALL THE WASHED UP CSGO “PROS” WILL TRY TO GO PRO IN VALORANT LIKE THEY DID IN OVERWATCH THEN COMPLAIN ABOUT REZ, SHIELDS AND THAT THE GAME REVOLVES AROUND MORE THAN SIMPLY SHOOTING A GUN AND ULTIMATELY QUIT.

— xQc (@xQc)
March 3, 2020

Historical evidence confirms that xQc’s Valorant prediction proved entirely inaccurate.

Strategic Resources for Aspiring Valorant Professionals

Valorant’s weapon mechanics and tactical fundamentals share significant similarities with Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, creating natural transition pathways for experienced players. Competitors should explore WIN.gg’s comprehensive coverage of Valorant, CSGO, and related competitive titles. From analytical data revealing map balance characteristics to breaking roster updates from organizations like T1, our content serves diverse gaming interests. Players seeking skill enhancement should consult our detailed guide to optimal bomb planting positions on Ascent, while CSGO veterans considering Riot’s tactical shooter would benefit from examining our weapon spray control breakdown before diving into competitive matches.

Common Transition Mistakes to Avoid:

• Underestimating ability cooldown management compared to utility economy

• Over-relying on pure aim without adapting to character-specific advantages

• Neglecting sound cue differences that impact situational awareness

Advanced players should focus on mastering agent-specific utility combinations that complement their existing mechanical skills. The most successful transitions occur when competitors maintain their core shooting fundamentals while strategically incorporating character abilities into their tactical decision-making.

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