MalbsMd Ranked 12th on HLTV's List of the Best Players of 2024

On January 2, 2025, HLTV announced the 12th place in this year's ranking of the best players in Counter-Strike 2. This spot was claimed by G2 player Mario "malbsMd" Samayoa. Notably, he is one of the brightest talents from North America in CS2 and the only player from Guatemala to achieve such success in esports, making it an accomplishment he can truly be proud of.

MalbsMd showcased an impressive performance in the second half of the season, which largely contributed to his inclusion in HLTV's list of the best players. His overall rating was 1.15, KPR (Kills Per Round) – 0.74, KAST (Kill, Assist, Survive, Trade) – 73.2%, and Impact rating – 1.25. While these stats are not exceptionally high, it is important to note that he achieved them at S-tier tournaments.

Career Highlights and Achievements

As mentioned above, MalbsMd is the leading esports star of Guatemala and the best player from the country. He began playing Counter-Strike in his childhood, gradually improving his skills, even amid accusations of cheating. MalbsMd started competing with local semi-professional teams, showcasing his talent at a higher level.

His first serious team was Infinity Esports, where he played from 2019 to 2020. Although the team didn’t win any major tournaments, his talent stood out. Several team changes followed until MalbsMd joined M80 in 2023. With M80, he won ESL Challenger League Season 46 and 47: North America.

When CS2 was released, he transitioned to G2 Esports, where he made an immediate impact, securing second place at the Esports World Cup 2024 in his first tournament with the team. With G2, MalbsMd went on to win BLAST Premier: Fall Final 2024 and BLAST Premier: World Final 2024.

2024 Recap and Bold Prediction

For MalbsMd, this was his first year with G2, and thanks to his exceptional performance, he won several trophies with the team and qualified for a Major. Here’s how the player commented on this achievement:

“I just feel super proud. Putting my flag in a Major is just something that I always dreamt about, and I finally made it.”

The player also mentioned that he aims to improve his game and secure a higher spot on HLTV's top 20 list next year.

Bold prediction: Mason "⁠Lake⁠" Sanderson, a player from M80. "Ever since I first saw him on Carpe Diem, I knew he was really good. I even remember telling Swisher to keep an eye on him as I saw he ‘had the moves,’" MalbsMd says.

How would you rate MalbsMd's position in HLTV's top 20 players of the year in Counter-Strike 2?