Dashy, Simp among 9 CoD pros named finalists for Esports Awards

The Esports Awards have announced their finalists for Console Rookie and Player of the Year, two lists that include a massive number of Call of Duty pro players.

Held every year, the Esports Awards recognize those in the world of esports who stood above all others, encompassing categories that include players, teams, media, events, personalities, hardware developers, partners, and more.

On September 26, the finalists were announced for the Player of the Year and Rookie of the Year awards for the top performing console players during 2019.

Included in these lists are a combined nine Call of Duty professional players, which makes sense, considering CoD is arguably the biggest franchise played competitively on console.

That said, here are the five pros that are in the running for Player of the Year:

• Brandon ‘Dashy‘ Otell (OpTic Gaming)
• James ‘Clayster‘ Eubanks (eUnited)
  
• Chris ‘Simp‘ Lehr (eUnited)
  
• Kenny ‘Kenny‘ Williams (100 Thieves)
  
• Sam ‘Octane‘ Larew (100 Thieves)
  

There are five more that are finalists for Rookie of the Year, including CoD Champs MVP, whose name has been listed for both awards:

• Chris ‘Simp‘ Lehr (eUnited)
• Dylan ‘Envoy’ Hannon (Gen.G/Midnight Esports)
• Tyler ‘aBeZy‘ Pharris (eUnited)
• McArthur ‘Cellium’ Jovel (FaZe Clan)
• Dylan ‘Dylan‘ Henderson (Team Reciprocity)

DASHY

With arguably the most absurd highlights the Call of Duty scene witnessed throughout all of 2019, Dashy proved to be one of the most remarkable console players during his first year with OpTic Gaming.

Crowned as champion and event MVP at the very first major event of the Black Ops 4 cycle, CWL Las Vegas Open 2019, Dashy went on an absolute tear, recording a 1.44 K/D overall.

Dashy was OpTic Gaming’s best player in Black Ops 4.

CLAYSTER

A veteran of the competitive Call of Duty scene, Clayster had a resounding 2019 as he snapped a 1,400-day championship streak as part of the eUnited roster.

Going back-to-back as CWL Pro League Playoff Champion and victor at the 2019 Call of Duty World League Championships, one of the biggest names in console esports history showed the world that he still has what it takes to be among the very best.

Clayster’s veteran leadership led eUnited to its first ever World Championship.

OCTANE

Competing under 100 Thieves throughout the 2019 cycle, Octane earned himself back-to-back Championships, walking away victorious at CWL London and CWL Anaheim.

Claiming the MVP award at CWL London with a 1.27 K/D overall, Octane bounced back from a lackluster start to the year by failing to finish worse than Top 6 at any event from March through to the end of the Black Ops 4 season in August.

Few AR players were better than Octane was for 100 Thieves.

KENNY

Highlighted as the 2018 Console Esports Rookie of the Year, Kenny continued his exceptional performances through 2019 and earned his spot on the overall Esports Console Player of the Year lists.

With back-to-back event Championships at CWL London and CWL Anaheim, Kenny successfully transitioned roles to an Assault Rifle player and only elevated the performance of his team in the process, finishing second at CWL Champs 2019.

Kenny followed his ROY season with another strong campaign in 2019.

SIMP

Nominated for both ROY and POY, it’s no surprise that Simp would be lauded with such praise after a monstrous arrival on the scene.

Walking away as event MVP at CWL Champs 2019 and mindblowing statistics like these stemming from his first-ever professional tournament at CWL London, there’s no denying the unbelievable impact Simp has had throughout his rookie year.

Simp’s addition to the eUnited roster was the best thing that could happen to them.Simp competing for eUnited.

ABEZY

Throughout his first year, aBeZy left an indelible mark on the history of eUnited, leading the charge for a first-place finish throughout the CWL 2019 Pro League and a World Championship to boot.

At only 19 years of age, the future is extraordinarily bright for a player many see as one of the best in the scene.

aBeZy was the other half of eUnited’s “Tiny Terrors” duo.

ENVOY

In his first professional year, Envoy rose from the now-defunct  Midnight Esports Call of Duty roster, landing himself a spot on the formidable Gen.G squad.

As part of this roster, Envoy secured back-to-back second-place finishes at CWL Anaheim and the CWL Pro League Finals, concluding the latter with a ridiculous 1.29 K/D overall.

Envoy was a strong addition to the Gen.G roster midseason.

CELLIUM

In a landmark rookie year, Cellium secured himself a starting position on the FaZe Clan roster after placing first for FC Black in the CWL Fort Worth Open.

As a member of the main FaZe roster, he helped lead the team to multiple top-six finishes and even a top-three at the CWL Pro League Playoffs.

Cellium (left) was instrumental in FaZe Clan’s success during the second half of the season.

DYLAN

In his breakout year, Dylan transitioned from Team Sween to Team Reciprocity in a move that netted him numerous top-eight event finishes.

With a third-place finish at CWL Fort Worth, his first major event with the new roster, Dylan demonstrated he has what it takes to compete at the very highest level with the best players in the world.

Dylan quietly established himself as one of the best players during Black Ops 4.

While there is no doubting that all of the players listed above have a remarkable amount of talent on the sticks, they will have to be voted over some formidable competition, including the best of the best from console games like FIFA, Gears of War, fighting titles, Rocket League, and more.

And those not taking the other titles seriously could be in for a rude awakening, as last year’s Player of the Year was Mossad ‘MSdossary’ Aldossary, the world champion of the FIFA 18 season.