The Counter-Strike scene has gained a new story of resilience and validation, as 18-year-old Mongolian prodigy nocries, who is playing in North America, has officially cleared FACEIT’s anti-cheat verification process in New York.
His journey has drawn immediate comparisons to Team Vitality star ropz, who went through the same scrutiny eight years earlier before becoming one of the game’s biggest stars. Back in 2017, a young ropz was surrounded by doubts after his incredible online performances raised suspicions of cheating.
FACEIT brought ropz to London for supervised testing on company-controlled systems. The process confirmed his talent, silenced the critics, and set him on a path that led to a Major victory with FaZe Clan.
Fast forward to September 2025, and nocries faced a near-identical situation. With over 4,300 ELO in North American FACEIT rankings and a 1.51 K/D ratio across nearly 500 matches this year, his numbers appeared so dominant that some in the community questioned whether they were genuine.
To remove all doubt, FACEIT flew him to their New York headquarters, where he played under close supervision using monitored equipment. Across three days, he maintained outstanding form, averaging 23 kills per map with a 1.63 K/D ratio and a headshot percentage above 53%. After confirming his legitimacy, FACEIT officially invited him into the North American FACEIT Pro League, a proving ground for future professionals.
Analysts and community figures, including ohnepixel and FURIOUSSS, had already broken down his demos before the verification process, noting his precise mechanics and sharp decision-making. The supervised tests only reinforced what many suspected: his skill comes from discipline and practice, not external assistance.
The similarities between ropz’s and nocries’ paths underscore how extraordinary performances often invite skepticism before recognition. FACEIT’s controlled verification process has become the benchmark for proving legitimacy, allowing raw talent to shine while safeguarding competitive integrity.
For nocries, this milestone feels more like the beginning than the end. Joining FPL puts him directly against established pros, offering the chance to refine his game further and attract serious attention from teams. Although he expressed interest in playing for Russian organization Team Spirit and there’s a possiblity that he goes back to Mongolia, his rise still signals hope for North American Counter-Strike.