What happens when you give a kid from Brčko a DeathAdder and a dream? You get NiKo, one of Counter-Strike’s most legendary riflers and one of the most mechanically gifted players the game has ever seen.
This is a story that doesn’t involve luck.
In a world where AWP-ers dominate highlight reels and headlines, NiKo’s legacy was forged in a uniquely defiant fashion. Widely regarded as the greatest rifler of all time, he consistently outshines even the flashiest AWP-ers, racking up multiple MVP and EVP titles without relying on the game’s most impactful weapon. Through sheer dogged determination, the Deagle God etched his name into Counter-Strike history, peaking with an absurd 1.70 rating at ESL One: New York 2017, the highest ever recorded in CS:GO’s 11-year run. In that moment, it felt as if the CS gods had already chosen their golden boy, and like it or not, that golden boy was going to be a rifler.
Yet, despite over 14 years of elite-level play, the Major title, the crowning jewel of any CS career, still eludes him. Since the heartbreak of ELEAGUE Major: Boston 2018, fans have quietly wondered if the stars may simply never align for NiKo. That maybe, in this timeline, his greatness would come with an asterisk.
Perhaps that’s the case. Or perhaps destiny is meant to be defied.
The Birth of NiKo
Raised in the small port town of Brčko in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Nikola “NiKo” Kovač was introduced to Counter-Strike in the most old-school way possible by playing in his father’s internet café as a kid. Little did he know that what began as a childhood curiosity would plant the seeds of a connection that would one day shape his career in esports.
“I spent a lot of time at my dad’s internet café. Everyone wanted to be the best aimer. But even then, I understood that skill wasn’t enough. If you really wanted to perform, you needed the right gear too, especially the mouse.”
A gear switch that came in clutch
Fast forward to today, Razer reentered the picture when it mattered most for NiKo. After his team’s disappointing early elimination at the Intel Extreme Masters Road to Rio 2022: European RMR, NiKo made a decisive switch to the Razer DeathAdder V3 Pro.
“After Malta, I knew something had to change. Razer came to me with the DeathAdder V3 Pro. I tried it and it just felt better. So I switched. The tech’s improved a lot since then, but the comfort and the feeling are still the same.”
What followed proved the decision right. Just two months later, NiKo stood on stage as MVP, holding the IEM Cologne 2023 trophy aloft.
Blood, sweat, and clutch
Few moments in esports history leave a mark, literally, quite like this one. In a nail-biting semifinal against archnemesis Vitality at the BLAST Premier: Fall Final 2024, NiKo found himself in a brutal 1v5 clutch situation with everything on the line.
And in that high-pressure situation, when most would fold, his passion for the game took over.
“I remember it clearly. It was a 1v5 clutch position, high-pressure situation. I went for it, slammed the table, and didn’t even feel the cut until later. I looked down and saw blood on my Viper, desk cracked. I was so deep in it. I didn’t plan to make a scene. It just shows how much I care. I don’t fake it.”
Luck Not Involved
Nine championship MVP titles. A place in the HLTV Top 20 for nine years running. Fifty-two kills in a single Major map. For NiKo, these numbers are milestones, but they are not the reason he plays. Since his debut in 2011, he has set a standard for what it means to compete at the highest level of Counter-Strike, and his journey is still far from over.
“People probably think I’m just saying this, but the numbers aren’t what drive me. CS isn’t just a game, it’s everything I’ve put into it. Every loss, every mistake, it’s a chance to come back stronger. I don’t believe in luck. If I lose, it’s because someone outplayed me. And when that happens, I’ll do everything to make sure it doesn’t happen again.”
It All Comes Full Circle
From his dad’s internet café to the world’s biggest stages, NiKo’s journey has always been about persistence and passion. Along the way, Razer became part of that story, trusted when the stakes were highest.
That connection came full circle in Singapore, the birthplace of Razer, where NiKo lifted the BLAST Premier: World Final 2024 trophy with the Viper V3 Pro and Huntsman V3 Pro TKL in hand.
The momentum carried into PGL Bucharest 2025. With a new team and a new mouse, the DeathAdder V4 Pro, NiKo once again showed why he remains one of Counter-Strike’s defining players. In the heat of competition he never had to second guess his setup. His gear stayed steady and allowed him to stay locked in on every round.
For NiKo, that victory was more than just another championship. It felt like a return to where everything began, brought forward by a brand that now stands alongside him in his pursuit of greatness.
“I have used a lot of different gear over the years, but Razer has always been part of the journey when it mattered. I don’t care about the reputation, I care about what works. And for me, this setup just works.
Now I am also part of helping push it forward. I share feedback, they listen, and together we keep improving. That is what I like most. Razer listens to pro players, listens to the community, and builds gear that fits the player, not the other way around.
Being part of that process means something to me. It is not just about winning, it is about giving back and helping move the scene forward. In a way, it really has all come full circle.”
For Gamers, By Gamers
Ready to stage an epic comeback? Grab the Razer DeathAdder V4 Pro at RazerStores worldwide or on Razer.com. Made with pros. Made for the pro in you.
