The base
Before stating anything else and going into the neverending spiral of qualities and different conditions needed for a player to reach the highest level and grow into a champion, I want to unequivocally say that Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich is one of the best players to have come out of the Tier 2 scene in a long time. As far as my belief goes, he has every chance of being among the 10 best riflers in the world and playing for title contenders for many years to come.
Starting his career in 2020, the Belarusian went through many CIS projects, with some of the more notable names being forZe School (forZe’s academy) and Nemiga, where he played merely four Bo3s before being removed after just three weeks. After that, he played for teams like P2N, Goodjob, and Websterz, before making his debut on a higher-level team—FORZE—in the post-Jerry lineup alongside r3salt, shalfey, El1an, and sstiNiX. But with constant changes and the additions of NickelBack and SELLTER, the lineup was anything but solid.
And still, with FORZE, tN1R got his first taste of high-level LAN CS in the 19th season of ESL Pro League. But it would be false to say he had massive success instantly. Posting a 0.95 rating over 10 maps against teams like Monte, FURIA, and GamerLegion, tN1R was definitely not the one under the spotlight—regardless of his solid performance in the 2-0 win over the Brazilian squad FURIA. But considering the last-second addition of British AWPer Owen “smooya” Butterfield and the team steadily falling apart, his performance couldn’t be judged in a relevant way.
tN1R was definitely not a star at the time. While his individual skill was obvious, he often fulfilled support duties, anchored on CT-sides, and played a fairly passive lurk role on T. Still, his in-game IQ was already evident, even if the numbers didn’t quite show it.
After FORZE, it was time for a new adventure—one that came with a step back. Joining GUN5 was where he would finally shine and earn himself a spot on Heroic. But what qualities made him such an appetizing prospect for the Norwegian organization?
Mechanical prowess
As stated above, tN1R’s mechanics were never in question. But what has been on display since the start of 2025 has been nothing short of impressive—this is the best he’s ever looked. tN1R is one of those naturally talented players who also put in the work. After playing over 700 official maps, clocking more than 13,000 hours of Counter-Strike, and grinding through 5,000+ pugs before joining Heroic, he has become a player who not only hits the shots he’s supposed to but also bails himself out of seemingly impossible situations—often taking down more than one opponent with clean headshots. He proved this especially in Heroic’s 3-0 breeze over MRQ and their 7–8th place finish at IEM Dallas.
His pure ability to shoot is complemented by intelligent positioning, which elevates his percentage of winning duels. He’s one of those players who makes winning fights look easy—even against the best. And nothing is more terrifying than facing a player who not only has the ability but is fully aware of it.
Just as Steph Curry believes in his ability to score 3s, tN1R knows that if he’s given a split second, he can take his opponent down. All of this has made him the 7th highest-rated player on LAN in the Top 30 in 2025, ahead of players like flameZ, NiKo, torzsi, HeavyGod, and xertioN. The only asterisk is his limited exposure to “top dog” opponents—Heroic have played only one Bo3 against Falcons, two against Aurora, and one against FaZe Clan, with no matches yet against Vitality, Spirit, or MOUZ—something that will likely change in Austin.
The exception
One of the main reasons sAw and Heroic may have chosen tN1R is not only his mechanics but his initiative and ability to play structured team Counter-Strike. Unlike many CIS Tier 2 teams known for their heavy hitters, GUN5’s structure in 2024 was notable. The SELLTER-led team wasn’t your typical puggy, chaotic mix—it had set rounds, real strats, and decent structure. tN1R got the chance to play organized CS, develop trust in his teammates, and—contrary to expectations—became even more potent in critical moments when initiative was needed.
Not being afraid to die is a skill in CS, especially when it’s controlled and reasonable. What sAw and Heroic saw in tN1R was exactly that—a young, ferocious rifler who could follow a game plan, make bold plays, and trust his team to back him up. That’s not to say he wasn’t patient, but having a player who knows when to move and when to hold his ground—despite little Tier 1 experience and coming from the chaotic Tier 2–3 EU scene—is like finding truffles in a desert.
tN1R’s voice
Unlike many players who spent their early years in supportive roles, tN1R isn’t shy about speaking up and sharing his vision. It’s rare for a CIS player joining an English-speaking team to be so confident—not just in crosshairs, but in communications and strategy too.
I am not afraid about running out of ideas, because I know tN1R would always show up and speak when needed – xfl0ud via “TEDD TALK”
Imagine Heroic’s surprise when they discovered that beyond LNZ, SunPayus, and xfl0ud—players known for their vocal nature—they had another teammate contributing actively to ideas and strategy. tN1R brought fresh suggestions, was open to learning, and showed a strong understanding of team dynamics.
Today, players like NiKo, who lead vocally—especially on CT-sides—are highly valued. From the outside, it seems Heroic appreciate this in tN1R. He’s been given more rotation duties on CT and freedom to make assertive plays on T, even when lurking. His transformation into a star player is well underway.
When a team deliberately gives a player more space and freedom, it signals trust—and often, a player who wants and demands that freedom. Which leads us to one clear conclusion: Heroic being left without ideas or voices on the server should be a massive rarity.
Achilles heel (Language barrier)
A natural concern with players who have spent most of their careers in the CIS region is communication. Playing pugs and FACEIT helps, but under high-pressure situations, when you only have time to say two or three words—and they need to be the right ones—it’s a serious challenge, even if the player knows what to do.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed by chaotic comms or fail to convey an idea efficiently.
But adaptation takes time. And it feels like tN1R is using that time wisely. He’s already attending English lessons and working on his vocabulary and confidence in high-stakes matches. He seems on the right path to becoming as dynamic and vocal as he was during his GUN5 days.
Conclusion
It’s hard to say a player is special before they’ve set foot on the biggest stage—or even played a studio match against top contenders. But greatness is a process. Not everyone is donk or s1mple. Even Vitality’s brightest star of 2025—ZywOo—needed time to shine in grand finals and play in front of crowds. There’s no guarantee tN1R will handle it the same way. Maybe he’ll need a few games, events, or even months. There’s even a world where he never adapts—but that seems like the least likely scenario.
The mentality of a winner. Someone unafraid to lead, make plays, make mistakes, and unfazed by the fear of failure. tN1R has everything it takes to become a champion and one of the best riflers in the world. The only question is: will he do it?
For what it’s worth, the author of this article can give a short, unambiguous, and confident answer: Yes. It’s just a matter of when, not if.
