The discussion about the best AWPer of 2026 has already gone far beyond simple statistics. Now the pro players themselves have joined in and directly named their favorites. Based on this small sample, the edge is currently on ZywOo’s side, but m0NESY has also received very strong support.
If we take only the answers shown here, the score is currently 4:2 in favor of ZywOo. The French player received votes from soulfly, magixx, YEKINDAR, and xertioN, while NiKo and HeavyGod voted for m0NESY.
The best AWPer of the year
Polls like this are always interesting not only because of the numbers themselves, but because of the context. When the best AWPer of the year is being discussed not by fans but by active professional players, it gives a slightly different angle. Here, it is not only the impression from highlights that matters, but also the respect for how a particular player impacts matches at the top level.
That is why even a short selection of answers looks telling. It does not determine the official winner of the season, but it clearly highlights the main point: the real battle for the status of the best AWP player of 2026 has narrowed down precisely to ZywOo and m0NESY.
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ZywOo is currently ahead in votes
In this sample, it is ZywOo who has the advantage. He was supported by four players, and that already looks like a pretty clear signal: the French player is still perceived by the scene as the benchmark of sniper quality, even if formally he does not play in as “pure” an AWP style as some other candidates.
It is especially interesting that he received votes from players from different teams and different contexts. That means this is not about local sympathy or internal team loyalty, but about a more general impression of his season. When ZywOo gets this kind of support from his peers on the scene, it always says a lot about the level of respect he commands.
m0NESY also has very serious support
At the same time, m0NESY definitely does not look like an outsider in this race. First, he received a vote from NiKo, which automatically adds weight to the answer. Second, he was also backed by HeavyGod, meaning this is not about one random supporter, but about a very real part of the scene that sees Ilya as the best AWPer of the year.
And that is logical. If you look at 2026 through the prism of classic AWP metrics, m0NESY very often looks like the most complete sniper profile. He brings volume, impact in opening duels, a huge number of AWP frags, and constant presence in top-tier matches. In other words, the votes in his favor also have a very solid foundation.
Why this duel feels so natural
The main reason is simple: ZywOo and m0NESY represent two slightly different types of dominance. ZywOo is an almost universal superstar who, even without excessive reliance on the AWP, still remains one of the strongest players in the world. M0NESY is a more clearly defined sniper centerpiece of his team, through whom a huge part of the team’s firepower is built.
That is exactly why they are compared so often. One may look closer to “the best player overall,” while the other may look closer to “the best pure AWPer.” And depending on what exactly a person values more, the answer in this debate changes as well.
Not only the vote count matters here, but the fact of the choice itself
Another important point in this story is the almost complete absence of other names. Yes, the season also has strong AWPers like sh1ro, w0nderful, or molodoy, but in this particular poll the entire focus narrowed down to just two players.
And that is the most precise conclusion from this selection. Even if opinions are divided, the scene itself currently sees the main battle not between five or six contenders, but specifically between ZywOo and m0NESY. And that may be the most important part of the whole story.
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The scene does not have full consensus
In this snapshot of pro-player opinion, ZywOo leads the debate for the status of the best AWPer of 2026 by a score of 4:2. But at the same time, m0NESY also received very significant votes and clearly remains the second main favorite in this race.
So for now, the main conclusion looks like this: the scene does not have full consensus, but it has already almost fully identified the two main candidates. And if the season continues at the same pace, the duel between ZywOo and m0NESY will be one of the central individual storylines of all of 2026.
