In the cutthroat world of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, players have always found creative ways to gain an edge over their opponents. From pixel-perfect smoke lineups to boost spots that defy physics, the game’s competitive scene has seen it all. But in 2017, teams discovered perhaps the most morbidly brilliant strategy yet.

When saving money meant playing with fire… literally. | Image Credit: Valve

It wasn’t about headshots or spray patterns this time. Instead, pro players turned the game’s economic system against itself, using a tactic so ruthlessly efficient that it briefly had tournament organizers scrambling to ban it. The weapon at the center of this controversy? Not the Awp or the Ak-47, but rather the humble Molotov Cocktail.

When pros turned Counter-Strike’s economy against itself

Back in 2017, long before anyone had even dreamt of a Counter-Strike 2, Cs:go’s competitive scene faced an interesting dilemma. The Ump-45, a mere $1,200 investment,...