We've ranked the top 25 CTF players in the world in 2019, as well as some honourable mentions. The list of panelists was selected by hand by Water and yours truly, and all CTF tournaments were factored into the composition of these rankings, which includes ZCA tournaments as well as MDF ones.
If all goes well, we're going to do this on a yearly basis!
Credits:
Panelists - Armour, Dastan, Dsparil, Jwarrier, Legion, Razor, Tai, Water & Zakken
Blurb writers - Goblin, Tai & Zakken
MS Excel player cards - Zakken
Player card guide:
Main positions: the position(s) a given player is best known for, and generally employs for serious matches. Can be D (defence), Mid (middle) or O (offence);
Avg.: the arithmetic average of all panelists' rankings assigned to a player. 48 players were eligible for DCTFR 2019, so panelists could individually assign players any rank from 1 to 48;
S.D.: stands for standard deviation. In simple terms, it describes how far panelist votes diverged from the average. A low SD means all panelists' votes assigned to a player were close to each other (e.g. 5, 4, 5, 6, 4) -- conversely, a high SD means panelists' votes were very different from each other (e.g. 5, 12, 1, 18, 10).
Spoiler: Honourable mentions (Open)
"An unlikely come-up story from an unlikely place called Tunisia, the aptly-named killer007 is the newest player to be featured in the honourable mentions. Having started out in 2018, it did not take long for him to develop an understanding of CTF and establish himself as a wildcard pick with a defensive fragging game that’s nothing to scoff at. During the winter DML season, he was drafted by Tai’s Team Taitans and rotated matches with his teammate Saltmine, proving to be just as capable of a team player as TT’s runner, but ultimately not having enough chances to shine. His breakout came in the summer DML season in Dsparil’s Arabian Shield Squad, where he became a full-fledged starter and played on equal footing against the strongest teams of the season, and defeating Best Ever in what might just have been the upset of the year." – Zakken
"A former member of the great clan European Legacy, Kiwi has returned to the competitive scene after seemingly being dormant for a good while. He made an impressive return in 2019 as a starter on Heap of Frags in Vengeance CTF, where they attained a 2nd place finish. Like most European runners, Kiwi can be very slippery, making good use of his movement to make up for his fragging deficit. On the right team, he can be quite the reliable player, capable of bringing those precious flags home." - Tai
"Boasting a very impressive record in 2019, Nautilus has shown that he can get the job done when it counts as a solid backbone to any team. The perhaps underrated veteran reached the playoff semi-finals of both DML seasons he participated in, being a hardly-stoppable force in Armour’s Questionable Dice Rolls and a dependable offence in RoSKing’s Best Ever. While many players have come and gone, Nautilus’s consistency remained as polished as ever, not giving an inch except for truly extraordinary teams. One of the few remaining active players from Lost Faction in 2019, he also plans on taking a break from Doom in 2020." – Zakken
"Coming back to Doom after some years of inactivity, Slaerd’s 2019 was very action-packed early on: as the captain of Only the Realist, he led his teammates thebestkiller and Sharp and proved that he can more than carry his own weight, having many close games with pretty much all of the winter season teams and slowly, but surely learning new things and improving his adaptation skills. The second half of the year was less engaging for him, as the reserve player for both Team Digital Champions in DML Summer and If You Want Bones in Vengeance, but he nonetheless showed up when necessary, having very close losses against eventual champions Steel Ball Runners (in DML) and Pot of Greed (in Vengeance). 2020 will be a promising year for Slaerd, as he will see many more chances to play, make good use of all that he’s learned for the past year and hopefully achieve the breakout performance he needs to cement himself as one of the Doom CTF greats." – Zakken
"Dr. DM in CTF here has a PhD in Fragology! Dranzer is no stranger to competitive Doom starting his CTF career in the IDL Summer 2014 and taking triple digit frag counts with ease while holding down the middle or defense. Evidence of this can be seen from his shiny MasterBowl ring from WDL Winter 2016, where Dranzer helped smash through whatever the Super Chargers threw at him. A murder master in the middle, our boy Dranzer has no trouble beating down his opposition and laying claim to the battlefield." – Goblin
"The past several years haven’t been too kind on Samurai, as the Odamex-centred WDL did not give the Zandronum-focused player many chances to compete. With the rise of MDF and ZCA, however, he seems to be back with a vengeance (no pun intended). Before his suspension during the middle of the DML winter season, he provided near-flawless results for the Smile Squad, staying true to his heavily-inflated $26 value in the draft. Later in the year, he was the reserve player for Pot of Greed, where he would play a single time (and win) against If You Want Bones. A great runner who’s often capable of mid as well, he’s proven to be a good fit for any team looking for tried-and-true results. As he continues to build off his past experiences, he’s undoubtedly an integral member of a winning team." – Tai & Zakken
"The first (and hopefully not the last) ARG member to actually dip his toes into international Doom CTF competition, TBK quickly became a respected name in ZCA. His consistent aim and reaction time are terrifying, and his performance in ZDCTF maps are of top 10 quality, being held back only by his lack of map knowledge for most other maps and highly-advanced strategies that are more commonly seen in CTF leagues. TBK was a very solid defender for Only the Realist during the DML winter season, and captained for Los Simuladores during its summer season. 2020 is looking up for the Argentinian, as his increasing map knowledge and understanding of international players’ playstyles could very well be his gateway to the top 20." – Zakken
"Just barely missing the top 25 mark, SkullRush also boasts the best results out of any of the honourably-mentioned players. As a member of Infer’s Worst Ever, the loudmouthed Brazilian made quick work of most teams, ensuring that even the best defenders couldn’t avoid getting scored on, and clutched the winter season title. He saw lesser success in Jwarrier’s Regulators during the summer season, but still worked his hardest to make it as far as the semi-finals. His relatively weaker fragging power may lead to his perception as a heel who requires his teammates to play exceptionally well for him to carry out his game, but 2020 will be his proving ground – can he ascend and become the face of a team to ultimately disprove his dissenters?" – Zakken
Spoiler: #25 - #21 (Open)
"GhostKiller spent most of 2019 in inactivity, choosing to pursue other games competitively instead. He made his return in August, having played in a number of pickup MDF tournaments and making his only major appearance in the Vengeance CTF League. His inactivity did not dull his skills, however, as he’s still the same mid fragging machine as most know him for and just as capable of winning tournaments with the right team combination. GK has since become inactive again, but one should expect him to make some more appearances in 2020 regardless, and he’ll be sure to put up a good fight against even the strongest of teams." – Zakken
"Sharp has been active for many years, sometimes focused on Doom competition, other times focused on Jumpmaze. This very enigmatic, cautious Mid/O player started 2019 with a whimper, as his 7th place finish with Only the Realist did not give him much notoriety, but made waves in the DML summer season, where his unexpected talents were key to Boxxybabee Supersmile Squadron’s solid run to the grand finals. It seems as though Sharp is coming very close to a legendary result that the entire community will remember him by. Will 2020 be the year to deliver?" – Zakken
"The fan-favourite veteran Goblin had a quiet start in 2019, mostly focusing on the ZCA management side of things and not playing too many games of CTF. He eventually weighed in on the DML Summer season, where he was drafted by Tai’s Team Digital Champions. His tried-and-true solid and communicative Mid game ensured many of Team Digital Champions’s victories, dismantling Boxxybabee Supersmile Squadron in the regular season, as well as solid victories over tough opposition like Õ Blésq Blom and Arabian Shield Squad’s main line-up. He’s showed the world that 15+ years of activity aren’t slowing him down anytime soon, and 2020 ought to be another promising year as he gears up to feature in the DML winter season." – Zakken
"It is not uncommon for strong players to have started their competitive careers in ZDaemon even to this day, and Cartel is one such example. Ever since he showed his face in the ZCA community, he has been a highly-coveted pick for all kinds of teams. His cold, analytical playstyle which combines frag power and map knowledge were paramount to Worst Ever’s championship run during the winter and Regulators’ greatest performances during the summer. He is sure to continue improving as he prepares for the 2020 tournaments and leagues to come, and it might not be long until he perfects his controlling gameplay." – Zakken
"Legion was a dark horse in competitive CTF for many years, but in 2019 he has finally seen his first CTF events where he objectively became a high-value pick, reaching the forefront of the CTF elite. The IDL, WDL, DML and Vengeance-hardened veteran is one of the few players in this DCTFR to have an usually low-fragging playstyle, focusing entirely on movement, positioning and team coordination to make magic happen. He saw moderate success with Tai and Saltmine in Team Taitans last winter, and had a rough season in thebestkiller’s Los Simuladores last summer, but won the title in ECI Winter 2019 alongside Tai and Dastan, showcasing MVP-quality of play in his own right. His skill remains consistent, and with his first foray as a CTF league captain in DML Winter 2020 since the IDL in 2014, there’s no telling how much better he’s gotten since then." – Zakken
Spoiler: #20 - #16 (Open)
"The Shotgun god himself, Galactus inched his way into the top 20 in 2019, and for good reason. His sometimes flashy and impressive showings in private CTF were no fluke, as his performances in DML Summer 2019 and Vengeance CTF League as a defence/middle player were sufficient to take him as far as the grand finals in both leagues, and taking the crown in Vengeance. The prideful Belgian who deeply values raw aim and supposedly not caring about Doom made sure to keep his teammates happy and satisfied in events he’s participated in, and all signs point to him at least maintaining that level in 2020, if he decides to play in any future tournaments." – Zakken
"A longtime player in the CTF scene, TheFatWilly (often referred to as Shane or EmZee) is often an understated figure, but always a solid competitor. He had a pretty decent 2019, with a 3rd place finish in Best Ever on the DML Summer season and with Dsparil’s “? ? ?” (sic) in the Vengeance league, playing the mid role in both cases. A fantastic fragger with a preference for defensive roles, while remaining versatile enough to occasionally run, FatWilly has always made it tough for opponents to pin him down. Even after a move from the United States to England, his skill on a higher ping was barely affected, if at all." - Tai
"The Doom God with literal medals to prove it, DevastatioN! Hailing from Canada and hailing bullet shrapnel with pinpoint accuracy, this professional Doomer is always ready to win. Dev is more known for his duel skill but is not shy to playing CTF at all, making an appearance in 2010 at IDL, securing a MasterBowl in Winter 2011, going through several WDL seasons after that and now recently showing himself in the Zandronum side of things too. While fresh out of a last place finish in Vengenace CTF, DevastatioN is looking to climb to the top and reign supreme this year as he has once before!" – Goblin
"A mere couple of years ago, Langrenus was just starting out in CTF, often having to sit out of most private CTF matches. Fast forward to 2019, and he is now widely considered to be one of the best European players around. His quick wit, incredible adaptability and terrifying aim have made him one of the CTF prodigy of 2019, fighting his way through both Vengeance and ECI Winter to great results, impressing the community at large in the process. 2020 will be a heated year for Langrenus, as he is now met with great expectations and is scheduled to face cutthroat competition in DML for the first time, as well as other future events down the line. Can he tap into his full potential?" – Zakken
"Also known as Avc, WoodPecker has played Doom on and off for many years since circa 2011, but was never given much attention to, until Caution elevated him to become the offence of the year of 2017 as they won one of the most stacked WDL seasons ever. He’s slipped in an out of activity ever since, but even in 2019, his cerebral talent for scoring flags remains one that few are able to counter. He made his one big showing in ECI Winter, where he turned many heads and single-handedly created a few frag video clips. Visibly dissatisfied with his performance in ECI, however, it is unknown when he’ll make his return to Doom, but it is nonetheless very likely that he’ll make his way back into the top 10 if he becomes heavily invested in the game again, as the proponent of modern-day mindgame-heavy CTF offence." – Zakken
Spoiler: #15 - #11 (Open)
"Throwing all the way back to ZDaemon 0.99, HumanBones has always been a mainstay in the competitive CTF scene. While his 2019 performance was less than stellar, with only a 6th place finish in the Vengeance league, Bones remained a force to be reckoned with in many smaller, non-CTF tournaments for the year. As a player who’s made monumental strides over the past 5 years after clutching his share of league titles, his understanding of the game and overall map knowledge have always made him a consistent threat. Usually a defender, he’s very battle-hardened at every position, making him a difference maker any player can look up to as a pillar of reliability. He’s hungry for more CTF action in 2020, and it’s only a matter of time until his name is plastered at the end-section of CTF playoffs once again." – Tai & Zakken
"The greatest breakout story of 2019, Razor finds himself in the top 15 CTF players of the year. His amazing work ethic of playing as often as possible and reviewing demos on a daily basis has helped him improve at a fast, yet steady pace as a player since 2016. After fluctuating results in 2017 and 2018, and occasional periods of inactivity, he made his way into the Steel Ball Runners in the DML summer season and finally came into his own, defeating all of the other teams and rising to the top for the first time. Coming into 2020, he is now a well-established player, invested in being the best at any role he is tasked with, to hopefully grow even more as a whole." – Zakken
"Having entered the Doom CTF league community as of a couple of seasons ago, Acc is easily one of the scariest fraggers to face off against. Serving as a mid in Smile Squad’s 4th place finish in DML Winter 2019, as well as when Best Ever placed 3rd in the DML summer season, Acc quickly cemented himself as a proverbial immovable object. Though he’s proven to be mid-savvy when called upon, he clearly has the frag power to be a brick wall defense against just about anybody. Can he continue to build upon his legacy and finally get a 1st place finish in 2020?" – Tai & Zakken
"There is a point in time when Dastan was a new player and was scared of everybody, but now it is everybody who is scared of him. The Moroccan thunder rose to prominence in 2018, when his participation in Tai’s The Phantom Troupe in WDL dismantled many teams on their path to the grand finals. Ever since, he hasn’t held back on making his offensive plays as perfectly optimized and tricky as possible, leaving opponents with no time to react and no options to take him out. He came extremely close to a championship in the DML Winter season, due in no small part to his prophetic clutch captures taking out even the most coordinated of teams. He’s also won Vengeance CTF and ECI Winter, taking home much of the credit to his teams’ success. Dastan still bleeds, however, as his DML summer season run was cut short by Edd’s Boxxybabee Supersmile Squadron in one of the most bizarre playoff matches of all time. There is no end to Dastan’s ambition to be the absolute best at his craft, and 2020 will tell if he can add a major CTF title to his resume at last." – Zakken
"Keep an eye on this cold blooded killer, or he may “drag in” your butt out of any chance to win! Dragon has competed in many CTF tournaments, and recently grabbed 5th place in the Vengeance CTF league. However, he’s still got plenty of 1st place finishes in the MDF 3-way CTF leagues and FFA tournaments. Dragon also has a WDL MasterBowl ring from the Summer 2014 and Fall 2016 seasons, plus has competed in many IDL and IFL tourneys as well, having won all iterations of the latter. His fast-reaction, constantly oppressive offence is a thorn on any opponent’s side, and even in his more lukewarm results in 2019, he’s proven time and time again to be an indomitable beast. Careful when taking on Dragon, because this guy is not blowing smoke!" – Goblin & Zakken
Spoiler: #10 - #6 (Open)
"Ever since his return to Doom in 2015, Jwarrier has been an unstoppable force that only grows more overwhelming over the years. The hot-headed leader of Endgame holds himself to high standards, and he’s got the bite to match his bark, as his dominant fragpower and world-class offence took DML Summer’s Regulators and Vengeance’s Redacted to great heights. Winning is never an impossibility as long as Jwarrier is in the team, as his sheer force-of-will is seemingly always able to find the solution he needs. He’s got quite a few CTF titles to speak of, but Jwarrier is nonetheless hungry for more legendary championships in 2020 and building the legacy he rightfully deserves." – Zakken
"This Belgium badass makes Duke Nukem run home to his mommy! This muscle-bound monster of a man will rip and tear you in and off the virtual battlefield. He’s got two back-to-back WDL championship winnings in the Winter and Summer of 2015. From there on, Deno played in many more WDLs and in 2019, took 5th in the DML's winter season, to 4th place in Vengence CTF, to bringing home the summer DML's championship belt to add to his collection! The ability to play any position, get astronomically high frags and make smart plays makes Deno an extremely valuable player. With the summer DML championship momentum in his hands, he is sure to find himself in the playoffs once again, looking to add more goodies to his trophy room!" – Goblin
"For many a time, Zakken and Infer have been regarded as the two Brazilian players to be top-level CTF players, but Infer has long since built his own incredible legacy. Having reached the grand finals of every major CTF league he participated in history (with the sole exception of DML Summer 2019), Infer is in equal parts incredibly intellectual and highly technical, having a deep understanding of CTF and all of its positions that’s allowed him to perform feats very few were able to, as well as nerves of titanium to carry him through thick and thin. His monumental feat of 2019 is obviously his Worst Ever team, which was capable of clutching against the likes of Edd and Acc, and Dastan and Dsparil, with teammates who had yet to win a CTF major. He is currently taking some time off from Doom, but he’s claimed to make his return later in 2020, which honestly could not come sooner." – Zakken
"It has been a hot minute since Edd really made a showcase of his CTF talents, but this year was ripe with jaw-dropping plays from the Doom genius. Staying true to his moniker of smiling and having fun, he explored the limits of the highest level of CTF imaginable, sending a word of warning to everybody that there is no strategy or team composition he can’t outplay on a good day, playing any position at an uncontrollable level, but mostly focusing on defence. As a captain in both DML seasons, he drafted impeccable teams that helped him achieve great results, barely losing against Worst Ever in the winter semi-finals, and earning a well-deserved 2nd place in the summer season. His shenanigans caught up with him, thus he won’t be very active for some time, but hopefully he will be on his best behavior and make his return soon – after all, when top-level CTF is played without any hassle, everybody wins." – Zakken
"As a player who already solidified himself as incredibly talented in 2018, Dsparil reached new heights in 2019. As a core member of Dastan’s HexakosioiHexekontaHexaphobics in the DML winter season, his impeccable defence was the glue that held the team together, allowing them not to falter regardless of the opponent, earning a 2nd place finish. Coming back to his captain role in the summer season and Vengeance, he made great drafts, but both seasons were cut short for him for different reasons. However, the truth remains that he’s still one of the best defenders you’ll see today, with top-notch movement, insane aim and always finding the right timing to become more aggressive and make some quick runs. To be able to pull all of this off with a ping of nearly 200ms is a Herculean feat that quite possibly won’t be seen again for the next several years, so it’s probably fair to say Dsparil is one of the greatest Doom legends of our time." – Zakken
Spoiler: #5 - #1 (Open)
"In the DCTF 2019 rankings, there is no shortage of top players who have been involved with the game for over a decade, but very few can claim to have so much experience and to apply so much acquired knowledge of the game in the way Tai has. Tai is the hallmark of consistency, a pillar of team strength that can make even the weakest teams look threatening. Tai’s greatest strength is his nerves – the bigger the stakes in any given match, the more consistent and terrifying he will play, and while he may seem like a lesser opponent in less decisive group stage or regular season matches, he should never be underestimated in a playoff bracket setting. His subdued style of defence may not be considered “optimal” in the common sense, but his focus on positioning and patience to punish any mistakes the opponent makes is a friendly reminder not to sleep on him at best, and mentally devastating at worst. After seeing mild success in both seasons of DML in Team Taitans and Team Digital Champions, Tai went on to win both Vengeance and ECI Winter, with tried-and-true partner Dastan, as well as Galactus and Legion respectively. No matter how good anyone thinks they are, Tai remains the ultimate gatekeeper in any tournament." – Zakken
"Everyone already knows and loves him, but let’s give it up for the ZCA and DML founder, Zakken! Starting his competitive Doom career back in the Summer of 2011 in the IDL, Zakken grabbed a MasterBowl win 3 years later in the Summer 2014 season, alongside Jenova and Edd. During this year, he has gone from 5th place in the winter DML to a 1st place championship in the summer -- Zakken is hungry for more! With back-to-back championships in sight, this Brazilian will be digging deep into himself, relying on his impenetrable defensive talents and unyielding grit to wall out his opposition. With so much to gain, how can this guy lose!?" – Goblin
"RoSKing is a seasoned veteran, a Doomer who can do anything. He has played in many, many tournaments, making his CTF debut in IDL Winter 2008 and making incredible strides in skill along the way, to a point where he is no doubt considered one of the best to ever touch this game. Winning the ZCL 2017 championship, grasping a W in WDL Winter 2018, clutching a 3rd place win in QuakeCon 2019 Doom Duel tournament and solid showings in both DML Summer 2019 and Vengeance CTF League, RoSKing is an absolute threat in any tournament he touches, so do not dare take this man lightly. Being a top Doom contender for over a decade and always raising the bar for others time and time again leaves us all with one thing left to say: “Hail to the king, baby!”" – Goblin & Zakken
"For many years of the past decade, it could be said that Water was the best CTF player and nobody could prove that notion wrong, and even with CTF competition as a whole picking itself back up in 2019, Water remains the biggest known threat in many people’s eyes, staying far ahead of the game and ensuring he’s always on the right side of history. A masterful act in defence, middle, offence, communication and item control, Water prides himself on a thorough knowledge of everything pertaining CTF fundamentals, map strategies, teammates and enemies, always devising the best possible plans for any given situation, maintaining leads for as long as possible and diminishing all losses of momentum. Water is always in control, and to beat Water in a tournament is akin to slaying a mythological god. He’s only earned his reputation through a grueling process of grinding incessantly and studying the game down to its last atom, having worked harder than anybody else to make it to the top. His 2019 results were solid, with a 5th place finish in DML Summer 2019, a 3rd place finish in ECI Winter, and a 2nd place in Vengeance that was tragically played in his absence. He’s done his share of impressive feats in 2019, but ultimately fell short of a title, which certainly will make him extra-motivated to dominate 2020." - Zakken
"In 2010, a certain Ghouls vs Humans player would try out private CTF and scrims for the first time. After just a few months of experience, many falsely accused him of cheating due to how quickly he improved. For the years that came after that, he would make his rounds in Skulltag/Zandronum’s top-caliber clans, defeating the most terrifying teams known in scrims and tournaments and simply always being the outplayer, never the outplayed. In a competitive community that was born and mostly raised on ZDaemon, to have a grassroots Skulltag prodigy rise up and push CTF to new limits for the past 9 years was just unthinkable: after all, ZDaemon had the IDL and other tight-knit competitive communities, while most Skulltag tournaments never even finished, and the port itself was considered secondary for competition during that era. The story of Armour, also known as Ammar, was a pivotal one for Skulltag during the early 2010’s, as he was the core representative of the new wave of CTF players who would drastically change the landscape of that port’s community. People from clans such as Sons of Skulltag, Machine Shop, Moon Light Killers, DemonRiderZ and Cube weighed in and brought new-found popularity to the gamemode, but Ammar was the one to truly challenge the status quo, to shake the boots of the established Doomgods at the time. The eras of late-stage IDL, WDL and IFL came and went, but rather than staying comfortable in what he’s already accomplished, Armour instead continued to improve and break his own limits, each year becoming a stronger player than before.
Immensely talented in all positions, Armour’s 2019 was not the most ideal in terms of sheer results, but he’s gotten his share of incredible matches, with a solid 3rd place finish in DML Winter 2019 as a captain, and a not-so-solid 7th place in DML Summer 2019, but with a historical upset against Best Ever during the regular season. Later in the year, he joined Water in Heap of Frags for the Vengeance league, seemingly undefeatable whenever that team played with the main line-up, and ended his season after a tough loss against Pot of Greed in the championship while without Water. The truth remains that he’s a titanium wall on defence when he puts his mind into it, and a virtually undefeatable attacker, combining some of the most insane reaction times known to man with cerebral plays to break the concentration of any enemy. At this stage, Armour is possibly the only player one could justifiably pick first or spend their entire auction draft budget on in any CTF league, as he is truly the best CTF player in the world in 2019." - Zakken
