Why are Scandinavians so good at CS:GO?

Denmark and Sweden have been two paramount factors since the start of CS:GO. The two nations have dominated the scene in respective eras, the one more dominant than the other. Iconic teams as fnatic, Ninjas in Pyjamas and Astralis have seduced a whole community with their greatness, presenting one stunning achievement after another and racking up 8 out of 15 Majors. But how can that be? 

The Golden Age of Swedish CS:GO

To understand the Swedish supremacy and why they dominated the scene of CS:GO, you have to go back to 2012, at the very beginning of the game. August 2012, to be exact. A hectic period with a community situated at a crossroad where the majority of the elite still competed in the historic Counter-Strike: 1.6, even though a new version has emerged. 

It was at this exact moment, Ninjas in Pyjamas took advantage and started to build their base, in what should be a completely new era. They took advantage of the wavering situation CS was placed in and managed to set up the biggest achievement in the history of CS:GO. A staggering 87-0 map run, from August 2012 to March 2013. 

An accomplishment that never will be beaten. Something, Christopher “GeT RiGhT” Alesund and company achieved because they were the best, but also because they were the first. NiP was pioneers in the sense that, they were the first to really dedicate themselves to CS:GO, giving the Swedes a valuable head start at a game which was highly different from its predecessor. GeT_RiGhT, f0rest, and friberg, they all adapted to the game from the very get going, and managed to build a legacy for themselves, which will be immortalised for eternity. 

GeT_RiGhT was an essential player for Ninjas in Pyjamas

The many Majors 

The first-ever Major tournament was at DremHack Winter 2013, and the two finalists were no other than the two Swedish giants Fnatic and NiP. A dramatic matchup, that would prove out to be the “Battle of the Best” for years to come. A clash between fnatic’s JW, flusha, and pronax against NiP’s GeT_RiGhT, f0rest, and friberg. 

All these legends were a key factor for the Swedish scene and players who led their nation to supremacy. In fact, the first 6 Majors from DreamHack Winter in 2013 to ESL One: Cologne in 2015, had either a Swedish champion or a Swedish runner-up. A tremendous achievement, that only clarifies the dominance and impact made by the big Scandinavian country. 

Scandinavian Major titles 

2013 - DreamHack Winter |Fnatic winner   

2014 - ESL One: Cologne | Ninjas in Pyjamas winner  

2015 - ESL One: Katowice | Fnatic winner 

2015 - ESL One: Cologne | Fnatic winner 

2017: ELEAGUE Major: Atlanta | Astralis winner 

2018: FACEIT Major: London | Astralis winner

2019: IEM Masters: Katowice | Astralis winner

2019: StarLadder Berlin Major | Astralis winner

Scandinavian culture 

To understand why Scandinavian nations, and especially Sweden and Denmark have been so good at CS:GO, you have to look at the aspect in a bigger perspective. 

In a starting point, if you look at Denmark and the Danes’ perception of esports and CS:GO, it’s clear to see that it’s been accepted and honoured as a real profession. The nation and its population have in general a strong mindset, saying that you should pursue your passions and dreams at all costs. Something, which made it possible for hundreds and maybe thousands of young people to pursue a career inside esports. 

It’s also something the former Prime Minister of Denmark, Lars Løkke Rasmussen has touched on. In his opening speech at BLAST Pro Series Copenhagen, the Prime Minister expressed his amazement of CS:GO and how every player should feel proud to be an esports player.

“Welcome to the teams and contestants. You come from all over the world, bringing skills that belong to a select few. Incredible speech, great teamwork, and hardcore dedication. You have been training for years and years to be here, and along the way, you probably had to explain yourself more than once. To convince people that you were not wasting your time. But now, I hope your explaining days are over. Because; You are sportsmen. You are truly sportsmen, following your dreams, using your talents. You are gaming pioneers.”