The 2026 Most Valuable Player Nominees

Most Valuable Player

The race for Most Valuable Player was as tight as it's ever been this season. Four different teams claimed a Major, and the Champs Grand Final itself went the distance before FaZe Vegas edged out OpTic Texas for the title. With that kind of parity at the top of the league all year, narrowing the MVP race down was no easy task for the panel. The BP Awards are unique, as they can take into account the total season, including both Champs & the Esports World Cup.

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 of the professional teams, 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

After breaking down the voters' ballots, only four players remain. Here are the 2026 Most Valuable Player of the Year nominees!

Mason "Mercules" Ramsay - OpTic Texas

After a historic rookie campaign, Mercules proved last year was no fluke. He carried that same slaying power and clutch gene into his sophomore season, helping power OpTic's Major IV title, Champs Grand Final appearance, and the EWC title while continuing to establish himself as one of the most dangerous players in the league regardless of experience.

Chris "Simp" Lehr - FaZe Vegas

Simp was the engine behind FaZe Vegas' Championship run, capping the season off by taking home Grand Finals MVP in the win over OpTic Texas. Between his Major II title and his performance on the sport's biggest stage, few players elevated their game in the moments that mattered most quite like Simp did this year.

Thomas "Scrap" Ernst - LA Thieves

Scrap was the most consistent offensive force in the league all season, anchoring LA's title-contender level through four Majors and pushing the Thieves to a Major III title along the way. His damage numbers stayed at the top of the leaderboard nearly every event, and even in tournaments LA didn't win, Scrap's individual stat lines kept him squarely in the MVP conversation from start to finish.

Brandon "Dashy" Otell - OpTic Texas

Dashy's consistency and composure were a steadying force for OpTic all season, powering the team to a Major IV title & to become back-to-back champions of the Esports World Cup. Whatever OpTic needed in a given moment, Dashy consistently provided it, pairing veteran poise with the kind of clutch performances that make him a perennial name in this conversation.