kennyS
Kenny "kennyS" Schrub (born May 19, 1995) is a retired French professional Counter-Strike player, widely regarded as one of the most skilled AWPers in the game's history due to his aggressive and precise sniping style.[1][2] Born in Sarrebourg, France, Schrub began his competitive career in 2011 with Counter-Strike: Source, initially playing for teams like Team eXtensive before transitioning to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive in 2012.[1] He rose to prominence with VeryGames from 2012 to 2013, where he established himself as a top-tier talent, with an overall career HLTV rating of 1.12 across 1,991 maps played.[2][1] Schrub's career peaked with Team EnVyUs from 2015 to 2017, during which he secured multiple high-profile victories, including the DreamHack Open Cluj-Napoca 2015 Major—where he was named MVP—and the World Electronic Sports Games 2016, earning a total of over $746,000 in prize money throughout his professional tenure.[2][3][1] He later joined G2 Esports in 2017, contributing to their ESL Pro League Season 5 Finals win in 2017, before a period of inactivity and moving to Team Falcons in 2022.[1][3] After a brief return to competition in 2022–2023, Schrub announced his retirement as a player on May 20, 2023, at age 28, transitioning to a content creation role with Falcons.[1] Throughout his career, he ranked as high as #6 in the HLTV Top 20 Players list in 2014 and 2015, solidifying his legacy as a key figure in French and international Counter-Strike esports.[2]Early life
Childhood and family
Kenny Schrub, better known by his in-game alias kennyS, was born on May 19, 1995, in Sarrebourg, a town in the Moselle department of northeastern France.[4] He grew up in a typical French household in the region, where his family had no prior connections to professional esports or gaming industries.[5] Schrub is the younger half-brother of Cyril "Windz" Michel, a former esports manager who worked with teams such as Misfits in Overwatch and later served as Schrub's agent. The half-siblings share a significant age gap of about ten years, with Michel having introduced Schrub to video games during his early childhood.[6][5] This familial environment fostered Schrub's initial curiosity about gaming, setting the stage for his later immersion in competitive play.[5]Introduction to Counter-Strike
Kenny "kennyS" Schrub's introduction to the world of competitive gaming came through his family's involvement with Counter-Strike, where his older half-brother provided early access to the game on a shared PC, offering a stable environment for him to explore gaming during his formative years.[7] He first encountered Counter-Strike 1.6 at around age six in the early 2000s, but his serious engagement began around 2010-2011 with Counter-Strike: Source, at which point he was approximately 15 years old and began honing his skills through online play.[7] This period marked the start of his dedicated practice, focusing on mechanics and strategy in the French online community.[8] By 2011, kennyS had immersed himself in the amateur Counter-Strike: Source scene, joining online groups such as the THEWALL mumble server, where he received mentorship from experienced players like m4xie and teamed up informally with emerging talents from the French esports landscape.[7] His skill development accelerated through community platforms like VaKarM and ESL Gathers, where he participated in online matches that built his confidence and precision. A pivotal moment came in December 2011 at his first LAN event, PxL LAN #32, where he competed on a mixed team alongside players such as apEX and Happy, ultimately securing a victory that validated his potential in offline settings despite initial nerves.[7][9] In 2012, kennyS transitioned to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive shortly after its release, adapting his Source-honed abilities to the new engine's mechanics and continuing his involvement in the local French amateur circuit.[1] This shift allowed him to engage with a growing competitive ecosystem, participating in regional online and small-scale events that emphasized team coordination and individual prowess, setting the stage for his emergence in organized play.[2] His early experiences in these amateur environments, characterized by rigorous practice and community-driven tournaments, were instrumental in building the foundational skills that propelled him toward professionalism.[5]Professional career
Early teams (2012–2014)
Kenny Schrub, known by his in-game alias kennyS, began his professional Counter-Strike career in early 2012 by joining Team eXtensive! on January 30, playing primarily Counter-Strike: Source until his departure on April 13.[1] This brief stint marked his entry into organized competition within the French esports scene, though the team did not achieve notable tournament success during his time. On April 25, 2012, kennyS transitioned to VeryGames, where he remained until May 7, 2013, initially competing in Counter-Strike: Source before the organization switched to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive in August 2012.[1] During this period, VeryGames secured a second-place finish at DreamHack Winter 2012, an S-Tier event held November 22–24 in Jönköping, Sweden, where they lost the grand final to Ninjas in Pyjamas.[10] The team also won the Mad Catz Invitational: Birmingham on April 7, 2013, an A-Tier offline tournament, defeating opponents including fnatic in the process and earning approximately $9,133.[11] These results highlighted kennyS's emerging skill as an AWPer, contributing to VeryGames' status as a dominant French squad in the nascent CS:GO era. Following his exit from VeryGames, kennyS experienced a series of short-term engagements amid the competitive instability of the French scene. He joined Team LDLC.com on May 11, 2013, leaving on August 27; moved to WARMAKER from August 27 to October 1; signed with WE GOT GAME on October 1 until November 23; and then Recursive eSports from November 23, 2013, to January 19, 2014.[1] These frequent roster shifts reflected the challenges of establishing stability in minor organizations, with no major tournament breakthroughs during these periods. In February 2014, he briefly played for Clan-Mystik from February 4 to April 28, continuing to hone his aggressive AWP style while navigating team turnover.[1] Throughout 2012–2014, kennyS's progression through these early teams built his reputation as a standout AWPer, culminating in his ranking as the 12th best player globally by HLTV.org at the end of 2013, based on performances that showcased his quick reflexes and high-impact sniping.[12] The era's team instability, marked by multiple short-lived lineups, underscored the difficulties of breaking into international contention but laid the foundation for his later success in more established organizations.[1]Titan (2014–2015)
KennyS joined Titan on April 28, 2014, replacing Richard "shox" Papillon and becoming the youngest member of the organization at age 18.[13] This move came shortly after his stint with Clan-Mystik, building on the foundational experience he gained in earlier professional lineups. With Titan, he integrated into a roster that emphasized aggressive playstyles, quickly establishing himself as the primary AWPer. The team, featuring a predominantly French lineup including players like Nathan "NBK-" Schmitt and Dan "apEX" Madesclaire following the "French shuffle" in late 2014, showcased strong synergy in international events.[14] KennyS's emergence as a top AWP talent was evident in his precise long-range engagements and clutch decision-making, which elevated Titan's competitive presence. His contributions helped the team navigate challenging group stages and secure notable results, highlighting his growing reputation as an elite sniper. Key highlights included Titan's performance at ESL One Cologne 2014, a Major Championship, where they finished 9th-12th after a 1-2 group stage record, with kennyS posting a 1.10 HLTV rating across matches against teams like Cloud9 and Vox Eminor.[15] Similarly, at DreamHack Stockholm CS:GO Invitational 2014, Titan achieved a tournament victory, defeating LDLC in the grand final, where kennyS's standout fragging led to MVP-level play and a 1.25 rating in key encounters.[16] These results marked his breakthrough on the global stage, contributing to his HLTV world ranking peak of 6th for the year.[16] KennyS departed Titan on July 20, 2015, amid roster transitions, ending a period that solidified his status as a rising star in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.[17]Team EnVyUs (2015–2017)
On July 20, 2015, kennyS and apEX were traded to Team EnVyUs from Titan in exchange for shox and SmithZz, forming a new all-French lineup alongside Happy, NBK-, and kioShiMa.[17] This roster change followed internal struggles within the previous Titan team, but it quickly elevated EnVyUs to international prominence. Building on kennyS's AWP prowess developed during his Titan tenure, the squad dominated several high-profile events in the latter half of 2015. The team secured victory at DreamHack Open London 2015, defeating TSM 3-0 in the grand final, and finished as runners-up at ESL One: Cologne 2015 after a 0-2 loss to Fnatic. Their crowning achievement came at DreamHack Open Cluj-Napoca 2015, the seventh CS:GO Major, where EnVyUs defeated Natus Vincere 2-0 (16-14 on Train and 16-5 on Cobblestone) on November 1 to claim the $100,000 top prize; kennyS earned MVP honors for his standout performances, including 1.36 rating across the event.[18][19] These triumphs marked EnVyUs's ascent to global stardom, with kennyS's aggressive AWP style—featuring quick-scoping and long-range duels—proving pivotal in high-pressure maps like Dust2 and Inferno. However, success waned in late 2015 amid reported internal conflicts, as in- game leader Happy publicly stated in December that the team was grappling with "really big internal issues within the team," contributing to inconsistent results like a semifinal exit at ESWC 2015. To address these dynamics and bolster depth, EnVyUs signed rifler DEVIL from LDLC White on March 8, 2016, replacing kioShiMa and shifting NBK- to a more flexible role.[20] The adjusted lineup achieved mixed outcomes in 2016, including a group-stage exit at IEM Katowice (fnatic won the event) and 13th-16th at ESL One: Cologne 2016, but secured a notable 1st-place finish at the World Electronic Sports Games 2016, earning $800,000.[21] By early 2017, ongoing performance challenges and further internal adjustments led to kennyS, apEX, and NBK- departing EnVyUs on February 3 for G2 Esports, ending kennyS's 19-month stint with the organization.[17] This period solidified kennyS's reputation as a Major champion and one of CS:GO's elite AWPers, though team cohesion issues highlighted the volatility of professional rosters.G2 Esports (2017–2022)
KennyS joined G2 Esports on February 3, 2017, as part of a new French lineup alongside shox, apEX, NBK-, and bodyy, bringing momentum from his successful stint with Team EnVyUs.[22][17] The team quickly achieved notable success, winning DreamHack Masters Malmö 2017 by defeating North 2-0 in the grand final.[23] Earlier that year, G2 also claimed the ESL Pro League Season 5 Finals title, overcoming North 3-1 in a best-of-five series held in Dallas.[24] These victories highlighted kennyS's impactful AWP play, contributing to G2's rise as a top contender. KennyS's individual performance during 2017 earned him the 7th spot in HLTV.org's Top 20 Players of the Year ranking, recognizing his consistent fragging and clutch contributions.[25] Over the following years, G2 experienced significant roster flux, including the departure of bodyy in July 2017 and subsequent additions like maLo and huNter-, which tested team cohesion amid varying results in major tournaments.[22] Despite these shifts, kennyS remained a core member, maintaining a strong presence in G2's lineup through 2020 and adapting to hybrid roles as the organization experimented with international talent, such as NiKo's arrival in 2018.[2] The tenure faced further challenges with kennyS being placed on the inactive roster starting March 4, 2021, following a period of underwhelming team results in the online era, during which JACKZ was reinstated to the active lineup.[26] He remained inactive until his departure from G2 on November 15, 2022, marking the end of a five-and-a-half-year association that saw both highs and periods of transition.[27]Team Falcons and retirement (2022–2023)
On November 15, 2022, kennyS joined Team Falcons as an active player, replacing Bryan "Maka" Canda on the all-French roster that included Nathan "NBK" Schmitt and others, marking his return to competitive play after an extended inactive period with G2 Esports.[28][29] This move came amid kennyS's desire to revive his career in the final stages, drawing on his experience from G2's later years where he had contributed sporadically before being sidelined.[27] During his six-month stint with Falcons, the team focused on rebuilding and transitioning, resulting in limited competitive success as they competed in regional qualifiers and tier-2 events without qualifying for any Major tournaments or securing notable placements.[30] Examples include early exits in events like the ESL Challenger League and IEM Rio Major qualifiers, where the squad struggled to gel despite kennyS's AWP expertise, ultimately prioritizing roster stability over deep runs.[31] The short tenure, spanning from November 2022 to May 2023, underscored a transitional phase for the organization rather than peak performance.[17] On May 7, 2023, Falcons benched kennyS alongside Jordan "Python" Munck-Foehrle as part of a shift toward an international lineup, transitioning him briefly into a content creation role with the team that lasted until May 21, 2023.[32] This change effectively ended his active playing days after over a decade in professional Counter-Strike.[33] KennyS announced his retirement from competitive play on May 20, 2023, during the BLAST.tv Paris Major at the Accor Arena, addressing the French crowd in an emotional on-stage moment that concluded his storied career.[34][35]Playing style and equipment
AWP techniques and style
KennyS, whose real name is Kenny Schrub, revolutionized the AWP role in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive through his signature aggressive playstyle, characterized by lightning-quick reflexes and audacious flicks that turned defensive positions into offensive opportunities. Unlike traditional AWPers who relied on static holds and long-range picks, kennyS frequently initiated explosive entries, rushing angles with the AWP to catch opponents off-guard and secure multi-kills in high-pressure situations. This "flashy" approach, often dubbed the "Magic Stick" for its precision, allowed him to dominate mid-to-close range duels, making him a standout fragger during his peak with teams like Titan and Team EnVyUs.[36][8] Central to his technique was masterful quick-scoping, enabling rapid scoped shots in close-quarters combat without fully ADS-ing, a skill honed through innate reflexes rather than extensive practice. KennyS emphasized the importance of deep weapon knowledge to execute these flicks effectively, advising aspiring players to study professional matches for game sense and positioning. His aggressive peeks—pre-firing common enemy spots while moving dynamically—exemplified this, as seen in professional matches where he prefired angles proactively to disrupt rotations. Former teammate apEX highlighted kennyS's "pure skill" in winning rounds independently, noting his unmatched flicking ability made him the premier AWPer globally around 2014-2015.[37][38] KennyS's style profoundly influenced the early CS:GO meta, shifting AWP usage from passive anchoring to a more dynamic, entry-fragging tool that pressured attackers aggressively. His dominance prompted Valve to nerf the AWP in March 2015 by reducing scoped movement speed, specifically to counter hyper-aggressive plays like his, which had made the weapon overly versatile. In interviews, kennyS reflected on this as a "real revolution" he introduced, inspiring later AWPers while adapting post-nerf through enhanced strategic awareness.[36][39]Gear and settings
Throughout his professional career, Kenny "kennyS" Schrub relied on Logitech peripherals as his primary equipment, reflecting long-term partnerships with the brand during his time with teams like Team EnVyUs and G2 Esports. His mouse of choice was the Logitech G MX518, a lightweight model favored for its precision in AWP flicks, which he used consistently from his early days with Titan through his G2 tenure up to 2022.[1][40] He paired it with the Logitech G512 mechanical keyboard, known for its responsive switches suitable for quick in-game commands.[1] For audio, kennyS employed the Logitech G Pro X headset, providing clear communication and immersive sound during matches.[40] His monitor setup featured the AOC AG251FZ, a 240 Hz TN panel that supported his low-resolution preferences for enhanced visibility in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.[40] As for surface, he used the Flicks kennyS limited-edition mousepad, a custom-branded cloth pad designed for smooth tracking and control, which became available during his G2 era.[1] These choices were influenced by team sponsorships; for instance, G2 Esports' partnerships with Logitech and AOC provided access to these high-end devices from 2017 onward, while earlier with Titan and EnVyUs (2014–2017), he similarly utilized Logitech gear under the organization's deals.[41] No major gear overhauls occurred mid-career, though he occasionally tested polling rates, settling on 500 Hz for stability as of 2021.[40] KennyS's in-game settings emphasized precision for AWP practice, with a focus on low sensitivity to support his aggressive flick-shot style. He maintained a consistent DPI of 400 and in-game sensitivity of 2.2, yielding an eDPI of 880, alongside a zoom sensitivity of 1.0.[40] His resolution was set to 1024x768 in a 4:3 aspect ratio with stretched scaling, run on his AOC monitor to stretch models for better target acquisition.[40] These configurations remained largely unchanged from his Titan days through retirement in 2023, allowing seamless adaptation across team phases.[1]| Setting Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Mouse DPI | 400 |
| In-Game Sensitivity | 2.2 |
| eDPI | 880 |
| Zoom Sensitivity | 1.0 |
| Resolution | 1024x768 (4:3, stretched) |
| Polling Rate | 500 Hz (as of 2021) |