Jaxon’s Top 5 standout players of 2021

The year is coming to a close and as we head into the new year, with new opportunities and fresh beginnings, it is only apt to reflect on how 2021 fared.

Today, Jaxon.gg takes a look at the Top 5 standout players of 2021 for their exemplary performances and wow-ing the audience with their antics.

Yatoro

Valve/PGL

It is only apt to start right off the bat with The International 10 winner; Yatoro. The flamboyant carry player for Team Spirit is the obvious choice, for not only has he impressed us the most with splendid in-game delights but also with off-the-field antics.

He played 14 different heroes over 20 games in Team Spirit’s run at TI10 main event at which they were crowned champions. Talk about versatility, eh?

Additionally, he also holds the record for most number of rampages (3) on The International main stage — a feat impossible to achieve for nine iterations of TI.

If that wasn’t enough, his “hair” offering antics where the dynamic Ukrainian went bald during TI10 also made him the darling of the community.

NothingToSay

Valve

The Malaysian import, currently playing for PSG.LGD, wowed the community with his impressive plays during the DPC 2020-2021 year.

NTS was instrumental in the Chinese behemoth’s elevation to the stature of a powerhouse in a short span of time.

What makes it even more exciting is LGD and xiao8’s confidence in bringing NTS on loan from EHOME and cultivating him to become the backbone of the team. Mind you, NTS is still on loan.. time to buy him out LGD!

One of his special performances was on Tinker in the grand finals of TI10, where LGD were trailing 0:2 against Team Spirit and NTS’ Tinker not only dominated the game but also set up a psychological block in the minds of the young and inexperienced CIS team.

Even though LGD lost in a nail-biting-five game-series in the grand finals of TI10, it was NTS that shone like a bright light — dejected but hungry to bounce back stronger.

Whitemon

T1

What can we say about this man? Humble, quiet and special. The veins of T1, Whitemon has exemplified and changed the definition on how supports should be played.

His selfless gameplay, specially curated for catering towards and creating space for his tri-cores, has won the hearts of countless people across the globe.

The Indonesian lad has improved by leaps and bounds under the guidance of March and is definitely one of the most sought after support players in the game.

Needless to say, T1 saw the value and locked him alongside the entirety of the squad for another year.

Saksa

DreamLeague

The most underrated name in the list is that of Saksa — formerly of OG. His contributions to OG during their tumultuous 2020-2021 reign has largely been ignored, partly because of the more high profile names playing besides him.

Arguably the only consistent player throughout the previous DPC year, Saksa has on numerous occasions saved OG from being completely dismantled.

At the same time, his stable playmaking moves provided OG with a big sigh of relief in vital games.

Underrated, unappreciated and more often than not neglected, Saksa has quitely gone on to become a staple in the scene under the most difficult of circumstances.

GPK

Epicenter

For someone of his age, gpk has become not only a staple but also a force to be reckoned with in the CIS Dota circuit.

His skills and laning prowess is second to none, and as a result it has made him one of the best midlaners in the CIS region.

His year with Virtus Pro has been a fruitful one, with continuous dominance in the Eastern European DPC circuit, dismantling any and every team that proved to be a hindrance.

The consistency VP has shown during the entirety of the year is partly due to Gpk’s innate ability to turn around the game when odds are stacked against them.

Heading into the new season, gpk as well as VP will look forward to truly outshine their opponents in a bid to quench their thirst for a TI crown.