Join us as we celebrate the best VALORANT players of 2023 and honor those whose skill, raw talent, and game sense towers above the rest.
Our top VALORANT player picks do not necessarily align with all Thunderpick staff. The players were picked based on individual and team performances in the Valorant Champions Tour (VCT) and LOCK//IN São Paulo, Masters Tokyo, and regional leagues.
As you go through the top VALORANT players of 2023, remember you can always find the latest odds for your VALORANT betting at Thunderpick.
Emir “Alfajer” Beder (Fnatic)
Many consider Emir “Alfajer” Beder the best Sentinel player in the world. Alfajer continuously scores multi-kills with his impeccable aim, and can defend a Spike site alone, even against the best teams in the world.
The Turkish player impressed throughout the 2023 season in the VCT 2023 EMEA League and claimed both the VCT 2023 LOCK//IN São Paulo and VCT 2023 Masters Tokyo trophies with Fnatic. Even more impressive, he was named the MVP at both the VCT 2023 EMEA and Masters Tokyo.
Kelden “Boostio” Pupello (100 Thieves)
As part of the VALORANT Championship 2023 winning roster with Evil Geniuses, Kelden “Boostio” Pupello is an American superstar with mountains of skill to back up his keen map awareness. What makes Boostio so fantastic is his combined versatility and unpredictability in matches.
Boostio is highly proficient in Initiator and Controller roles and quickly takes on the mantle of IGL. Following his success with Evil Geniuses, Boostio transferred to 100 Thieves on Jan. 8, 2024 and is ready to lead the squad in VCT 2024 Americas.
Jason “f0rsakeN” Susanto (Paper Rex)
The Indonesian in-game leader (IGL) earns a spot on the list thanks to his undeniable mechanical skill and leadership. Jason “f0rsakeN” Susanto is widely considered one of the best IGLs in VALORANT esports.
f0rsakeN led Paper Rex to a first-place finish at the VCT 2023 Pacific League, second-place at VCT 2023 Masters Tokyo, and second-place at VALORANT Champions 2023. With in-game callouts under pressure and fast decision-making ability in clutch situations, f0rsakeN and Paper Rex are potent forces.
Nikita “Derke” Sirmitev (Fnatic)
Fnatic’s Russian/Finnish Duelist, Nikita “Derke” Sirmitev, is one of the driving forces behind the team’s success in 2023. As the best Duelist from the EMEA region and arguably in the world, Derke won both VCT 2023 LOCK//IN São Paulo and VCT 2023 Masters Tokyo, topping the scoreboard in most matches.
With outstanding performances on entry Duelists such as Raze and Jett, Derke boasts high impact in every match against top teams and punishes enemies for even the most minor mistakes.
Ethan “Ethan” Arnold (NRG)
As a former CS:GO pro, Ethan “Ethan” Arnold’s aim is undeniable, and so is his map awareness. That’s partly why the American star led Evil Geniuses to victory at the VALORANT Champions 2023, crushing LOUD in the grand final.
With a second-place finish at Masters Tokyo and a third-place finish in the VCT 2023 Americas league, Ethan supports and enables the rest of his team to shine. It is an underrated trait for those only looking at the number of kills in a match. To put this statement into perspective, he scored the most assists of any player in VCT 2023 Americas at a whopping 367.
Erick “aspas” Santos (Leviatán)
Consistency is vital to success, and few VALORANT pros know this better than Erick “aspas” Santos. After winning VALORANT Champions 2022, aspas remained in top form throughout most of 2023. Securing “First Blood” kills for his team is the Brazilian star’s bread and butter.
In the VCT 2023 Americas league, aspas won both the MVP and best Duelist awards. As part of LOUD, he earned a second-place finish at LOCK//IN São Paulo, won the Americas league, and placed third at the crowning VALORANT Champions 2023 event. Then, in October 2023, he transferred from LOUD to Leviatán.
Leo “Leo” Jannesson (Fnatic)
Swedish superstar Leo “Leo” Jannesson has immense fragging skill in the Initiator role and multiple mind-blowing performances with Sova. Fear sets in for the enemy team, even when they’re ahead, if Leo is still in play.
Leo is arguably the best player in clutch situations in the world, scoring 1v2 and 1v3 wins with ease. With Fnatic, Leo won the VCT 2023 LOCK//IN São Paulo MVP award and the best Initiator in the EMEA region for 2023.
Best VALORANT Players of 2023 – Honorable Mentions
Many other top players put up excellent performances during the 2023 season. Below, you’ll find a list of VALORANT players who stood out:
- Timofey “Chronicle” Khromov (Fnatic)
- Kim “MaKo” Myeong-kwan (DRX)
- Jake “Boaster” Howlett (Fnatic)
- Gustavo “Sacy” Rossi (Sentinels)
- Matias “Saadhak” Delipetro (LOUD)
- Elias “Jamppi” Olkkonen (Team Liquid)
- Alexander “jawgemo” Mor (Evil Geniuses)
- Son “xeta” Seon-ho (T1)
- Corbin “C0M” Lee (Evil Geniuses)
- Jaccob “yay” Whiteaker (Bleed Esports)
- Erick “Xeppaa” Bach (Cloud9)
- Felipe “Less” Basso (LOUD)
We’ve got one more player to go, and it’s a young American star and breakout talent. You may be able to guess who it is already, so let’s finish off proceedings and discuss the best overall VALORANT player of 2023.
Who Was The Best Overall? Demon1!
As part of Evil Geniuses, Max “Demon1” Mazanov won the VALORANT Champions 2023 and claimed the tournament MVP title, smashing the Brazilian side LOUD in the grand finals. He had the highest overall rating, Kill/Death ratio, Kills Per Round (KPR), and Headshot Percentage at VALORANT Champions 2023. He also became the first player to score more than 100 kills in a top-tier match.
With world-class aiming skills, a high average combat score (ACS), sharp game sense, and the ability to clutch on the biggest stage, Demon1 made his meteoric rise to fame seem effortless. He also showcased exceptional gameplay during VCT Americas on Duelist Agents like Jett.
While the American star player wasn’t the best at the Masters Tokyo event, Evil Geniuses still finished in second place. Importantly, Demon1 had to come to terms with playing on stage in front of a crowd. He now plays for NRG alongside ex-EG teammate and IGL Ethan.
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