jL Top-1 of 2024? What Does He Need to Do to Become the Best CS2 Player?

Justinas “jL” Lekavicius has jumped into the race for the title of the best player in the world in 2024. After his impressive performances at the ESL Pro League Season 20, many have started to wonder: what does jL need to do to surpass CS2 players like m0NESY and Donk?

 

Success at ESL Pro League

The ESL Pro League Season 20 was a landmark tournament in the Lithuanian's career. He showcased an outstanding performance, demonstrating an incredible rating of 1.46, which is comparable to that of prime s1mple, who had a 1.47 rating at the Stockholm Major and a 1.51 at Cologne. jL exceeded himself at the Major in Copenhagen, where he also received the MVP award with a rating of 1.22. This highlights his ability to perform at a high level in crucial matches.

An important aspect of jL's play was his adaptability to challenging situations. For example, in one of the matches, he managed to secure three kills from a difficult position, showcasing his incredible skill and ability to remain calm under pressure. Throughout the entire tournament, he had only one map with a negative rating, while four maps had ratings of 1.7 and above, guaranteeing him the MVP award even before the final. His performance was significantly higher than that of his closest competitors. For comparison, among his rivals, only Im with a rating of 1.30 and Xantares with 1.29 could pose a challenge, but increasing an overall rating by one-tenth over several maps in the grand final is virtually impossible.

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Ratings and Competition

Despite his impressive achievements, jL in CS2 is still ranked only seventh in the overall ratings (1.17), trailing behind stars like m0NESY, Donk, and ZywOo. This indicates that jL will have to overcome significant obstacles on his path to the top. For instance, in 2023, the second highest-rated player was device, who ultimately finished only 11th, while the ninth-ranked ropz made it to the top three largely due to several MVP awards, two of which were for smaller tournaments.

Historically, players with high ratings, such as sh1ro, have been the best statistically but failed to secure the top spot in the final rankings due to a lack of MVP awards at prestigious tournaments. For example, in 2015, Olofmeister finished fourth in the ratings but earned the title of the best player of the year due to four MVP awards, including one for a Major. This emphasizes that for jL, it's essential not only to maintain a high individual level but also to achieve recognition at significant tournaments.

Path to Success

For jL to become the best player of 2024, he must focus on individual awards. In recent years, the best player has almost always been the one with the most MVP medals. He has more upcoming events than Donk, as NAVI will participate in IEM Rio. Although the chances of earning the title are slim, they do exist, especially if jL can secure MVP at the Major in Shanghai.

Overdrive believes that one more MVP award would be enough to solidify his position: “Everyone is discussing who will be the top player of the year – Zywoo, CS2 m0NESY, or Donk – but the MVP of Malta should be jL. This way, he will enter the race, and if he plays at that level in another tournament, I wouldn’t be surprised if he becomes the best player of 2024.”

Importance of Team Play

It’s important to note that jL's success also depends on his team, NAVI. His individual achievements are closely tied to the team's results. If NAVI continues to perform well in tournaments, this will increase jL's chances of receiving MVP awards and, consequently, strengthen his position in the race for the title of the best player.

Team play, interaction with teammates, and the successful execution of strategies are crucial in CS2. Therefore, jL needs to not only showcase individual mastery but also actively engage in the team's dynamics, contribute to collective victories, and help the team reach new heights.

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Future Projections

Overall, jL is currently considered a guaranteed top-4 player in the world. However, he has a lot of work ahead to achieve the status of the best player. The race for the title of top-1 in 2024 will be challenging, but with the right strategy, determination, and team support, jL can surpass m0NESY and Donk, becoming a new face in the world of CS2.

If jL can leverage his current successes and continue to develop his skills, he will certainly be able to secure his desired place at the top. Given his potential, upcoming tournaments may become the deciding factor in determining his place in the history of esports. Time will tell whether jL can become the new esports icon and claim the title of the best player of 2024.