Nikola “NiKo” Kovač, one of the most talented rifflers in Counter-Strike history, has ended his four-year career with G2 Esports and started a new chapter with Team Falcons. His journey in G2 lasted 1537 days, during which he won six major titles, remaining one of the best players on the planet. But even with such achievements, NiKo's main goal - to win a major - remained a dream.
Early years and star rise in FaZe
Nikola was born on February 16, 1997 in Brčko, Bosnia and Herzegovina. His journey into esports began in childhood: at the age of 9, he played Counter-Strike 1.6 for the first time in his father's Internet cafe. NiKo took his first serious steps in his professional career as a member of iNation, and his real breakthrough came in 2015 when he joined mousesports. Despite the language barrier, NiKo quickly proved himself to be one of the strongest individual players.
His talent did not go unnoticed: in 2017, NiKo joined FaZe Clan for a record-breaking $500,000. As a member of FaZe, he won 11 titles, received 7 MVP awards, and became one of the most recognized players in the world. However, FaZe failed to win a major, and NiKo moved to G2 in search of a new challenge.
Stellar time in G2
2021: Brilliant performances and grief in Stockholm
The move to G2 allowed NiKo to reunite with his cousin huNter-, creating one of the strongest riffle pairs in the world. In 2021, G2 reached the final of PGL Major Stockholm, but lost to the undisputed NAVI. This tournament was a real challenge for NiKo, who showed phenomenal results but failed to win the coveted trophy. And that miss on Nuke's “s1mple” map will remind us of itself for a long time to come.
2022: Trials and victories
The year 2022 started with a second place at IEM Katowice, but in the middle of the year the team faced problems. The lack of stable results, including the failure to qualify for the IEM Rio Major, was a serious blow to NiKo. Nevertheless, the year ended with a victory at the BLAST Premier World Final, which returned G2 to the elite.
2023: Return to form
2023 was a year of triumph for G2. The team won IEM Katowice and IEM Cologne, and NiKo received the MVP award. However, even these achievements could not compensate for the failure at the BLAST.tv Paris Major, where G2 was eliminated at the Legends stage.
2024: Last chance for the major
2024 was the last year for NiKo as a member of G2. He helped the team to win titles at IEM Dallas, BLAST Premier Fall Final and BLAST Premier World Final, but at the majors in Copenhagen and Shanghai, G2 again stopped at 3-4 places.
NiKo's top 5 highlights in G2
NiKo DEAGLE ACE
NiKo's legendary ACE from Desert Eagle to Ancient at ESL Pro League Season 19 remains one of the most memorable moments of 2024. His impeccable aim and confidence helped G2 win the key round, which secured the series victory.
NiKo ace and clutch 1v2
NiKo showed incredible skill on the Ancient map against M80 and it was enough to stop his opponent and win the map and then the match. This clutch helped them advance to the next stage of the ESL Pro League S19.
NiKo - ACE (with 1vs3 clutch)
NiKo has done the impossible, killing all of his opponents, and 3 of them while being the last player on his team. This match took place at IEM Cologne 2023 against Astralis, and G2 won the tournament, with NiKo becoming the best player of the tournament.
NiKo - ACE
NiKo killed all his opponents in the match. This match took place at the BLAST Premier Spring Final 2021 against NAVI, although the team was unable to win the match, NiKo again proved his level of play.
NiKo - 4 AK kills
NiKo made an insane 4 kills in a few seconds in the quarterfinals of IEM Dallas 2023 against FaZe, unfortunately G2 lost the match, but NiKo showed phenomenal reaction and understanding of the game.
5 interesting facts about Nikola “NiKo” Kovač
Record transfer that changed his career
In 2017, NiKo became one of the most expensive players in history when he moved from mousesports to FaZe Clan for half a million dollars. This transfer not only cemented his reputation as one of the best, but also defined his career for several years to come.
A dynasty in esports
NiKo is not the only Kovač in professional Counter-Strike. His cousin Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač has also become a star player. Their joint play as part of G2 Esports has become a true symbol of family strength in esports.
Debut LAN triumph with FaZe
NiKo won his first major LAN trophy at the SL i-League StarSeries Season 3 tournament in 2017. It was there that he showed his unsurpassed level of play, helped the team win the championship and earned the title of the most valuable player.
The player who can everythings
As a member of FaZe, NiKo was not only a top shooter, but also an in-game leader. He was not a long time in FaZe, but in the future he may return to this role.
A dream that still remains unattainable
Although NiKo won many titles and became famous as one of the best players in history, he never won a major. The closest he came to it was in 2021, when G2 Esports reached the final of PGL Major Stockholm but lost to NAVI. This “unfinished mission” only adds motivation to his next steps in his career.
These facts demonstrate NiKo's incredible journey in esports, his talent, influence on teams, and his desire to achieve the main goal of becoming a major champion.
NiKo's legacy: why did he never win a major?
Analyzing his time in G2 (2020-2024), NiKo played 682 maps, maintained an impressive 6.58 average rating, and dealt an average of 85.22 ADR. His KPR (kills per round) of 0.76 highlights his exceptional consistency as a rifler, while his headshot percentage (53.32%) demonstrates his unparalleled precision. Over these four years, he achieved 21 aces, earned $881,266 in prize money, and secured 6 LAN trophies. However, despite these stats, the coveted Major title remained out of reach.
Despite his immense skill and dedication, Nikola "NiKo" Kovač still lacks the crowning achievement of any professional Counter-Strike player — a Major trophy. His legacy in G2 Esports is marked by consistently high performance, but his teams fell short of ultimate glory.
His story is often likened to that of Marco Reus in football — a brilliant player who has yet to win the most prestigious trophies. NiKo’s journey is a testament to individual skill and resilience, but it also underscores the importance of team synergy and luck in achieving the ultimate success. Now, as he transitions to Falcons, he carries the weight of expectation and the hope that his story will one day conclude with a Major victory.
A new challenge: moving to the Falcons
Will this transition be the decisive one for his career? Will NiKo finally be able to win the coveted trophy? The answers to these questions will be revealed in the new season, but one thing is for sure - his name will forever remain in the history of Counter-Strike.
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