The 2026 AR & SMG Player of the Year Nominees
The battle for the league's top AR came down to four players who each defined the position at the highest level this season. Whether it was map control, damage output, or coming up clutch when it mattered most, these four ARs topped the ballots the most of our voters. Looking at the SMGs, the race was just as tight, but four players were able to separate themselves as the league's most dominant SMG this season during Black Ops 7.
How the votes are determined
To help vote on each award, Breaking Point created a panel of community voters. The panel includes Breaking Point staff, The Flank & OpTic co-stream teams, on-air broadcast talent, coaches from each professional team, and select media members in the space. The Nominees are the four players with the most points heading into the final week of voting. BP Pro members will also have a say in the final tally, so remember to vote daily on the front page!
Each voter on the panel was asked to rank their top five players for each award. Each position earns:
1st: 10 points
2nd: 7 points
3rd: 5 points
4th: 3 points
5th: 1 point
AR Player of the Year
The AR race came down to four players who each carried their rosters through the biggest moments of the season. After breaking down the voters' ballots, here are the 2026 AR Player of the Year nominees!
Dashy's precision and composure anchored OpTic all season, powering the team to a Major IV title and a Grand Final appearance. His ability to stay steady in the biggest moments made him one of the most consistent AR performances in the league all year.
Mercules backed up his historic rookie campaign with an equally impressive sophomore season, helping drive OpTic's Major IV title run while continuing to establish himself as one of the most dangerous AR threats in the league.
Scrap was the most consistent offensive force in the league at his position, anchoring LA's attack through four Majors and leading the Thieves to a Major III title. His damage numbers stayed at the top of the leaderboard in nearly every event, regardless of the result.
Abuzah played a key role in FaZe Vegas' Championship run, providing steady AR play alongside a roster that went all the way. His consistency throughout the season made him a quiet but essential piece of one of the league's top teams.
SMG Player of the Year
The SMG race was every bit as competitive, with four players who defined the position at the highest level this season. Here are the 2026 SMG Player of the Year nominees!
JoeDeceives was a bright spot in an up-and-down season for Toronto & then Paris, delivering standout SMG performances & leading the way in individual performances.
Shotzzy's relentless pace kept OpTic's tempo high all season, turning chaotic moments into game-winning opportunities as the team pushed to a Major IV title and the back-to-back victory at the Esports World Cup.
Simp was the engine behind FaZe Vegas' Championship run, capping the season off with Grand Finals MVP in the win over OpTic Texas. Few players elevated their game in the moments that mattered most quite like Simp did this year.
HyDra's speed and precision made him a constant game-changer for LA all season, pairing with Scrap to form one of the most dangerous cores in the league and pushing the Thieves to a Major III title.