If you’ve spent any time in the circle-clicking world, you know the leaderboard isn't just a list. It’s a battlefield. People always ask who is winning osu game, but the answer depends entirely on whether you’re looking at raw Performance Points (pp), historical dominance, or who currently holds the most terrifying "God Mode" scores. Right now, the crown sits on the head of mrekk. Mark my words, what this kid has done since 2021 is basically unprecedented. He didn't just climb the ranks; he rewrote the rules of what human hands are capable of doing with a tablet pen and a mechanical keyboard.
It’s wild to think about.
For years, the community was defined by legends like hvick225 or Rafis. Then came vaxei, who seemed untouchable because of his sheer consistency across every single mod combination. But then mrekk (Mark P.) showed up. He took the #1 spot in April 2021 and, honestly, he hasn't let go of the throat of the ranking system since. When we talk about who is winning, we’re talking about a player who has pushed the pp ceiling so high that the developers literally had to rework the game's math multiple times just to keep things fair for everyone else.
The mrekk Era and the 1,300pp Barrier
The current state of osu! is basically a chase. Everyone is chasing Mark. He was the first player to hit 20,000pp, then 21,000pp, and he just kept going. It’s not just about the numbers, though. It’s the way he plays. We are talking about High Definition, Hard Rock, and DoubleTime (HDDTHR) on maps that most top-tier players struggle to even pass with NoMod.
Is he still winning? Yes. But the gap is shrinking.
For a long time, it felt like mrekk was playing a different game. While others were struggling to hit 1,000pp plays, he was casually farming 1,200pp scores like they were warm-up maps. But gaming never stays static. New challengers have emerged, specifically Lifeline and Akolibed (also known as Accolibed). These guys are the only ones currently within striking distance. Akolibed, in particular, had a legendary run in late 2023 where he started setting 1,300pp and 1,500pp scores on high-BPM speed maps like Sidetracked Day. It was the first time in years people actually thought, "Wait, mrekk might actually lose #1."
Why the ranking system is a mess (in a good way)
The "ppv2" system is constantly evolving. In osu!, you don't just win by playing a lot. You win by being more accurate on harder maps than anyone else. The game weighs your best scores heavily. If you have one massive 1,700pp play, it boosts your rank significantly, but to stay at the top, you need a "top 100" list filled with scores that would make a normal person’s brain melt.
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Akolibed's surge was fueled by speed. The current meta heavily favors high-BPM (Beats Per Minute) streaming. If you can tap at 270 or 300 BPM with high accuracy while hitting jumps, you’re going to climb. This is where the debate about who is winning osu game gets spicy. Some purists argue that the "speed meta" is overweighted. They miss the days when aim-heavy players like WhiteCat dominated. WhiteCat was a phenomenon—a player who reached #1 almost immediately after being unbanned, showing aim precision that looked like a literal aimbot. But even he eventually got overtaken by the sheer efficiency of the speed-aim hybrid style that mrekk perfected.
The Contenders: Who Could Actually Dethrone the King?
If you're looking at the live rankings today, you’ll see the names Akolibed and Lifeline right under mrekk. Lifeline is the definition of "the grind." He has thousands of hours and some of the most insane aim clips on Twitter. But Akolibed is the real threat to the #1 spot.
The Akolibed Factor
In October 2023, Akolibed did the unthinkable. He set a score on Sidetracked Day [Infinity Inside] with DT that worth over 1,700pp. At the time, it was the highest pp play in history. It sent shockwaves through the community. People weren't just asking who is winning; they were asking if the game was broken.
- Speed: Akolibed's tapping speed is arguably superior to mrekk's in specific high-BPM scenarios.
- Stamina: He can maintain that speed over long, grueling "stream" maps.
- Mindset: He publicly stated his goal was #1, and he played with a level of aggression we haven't seen since the early vaxei days.
However, mrekk responded. That’s what makes him the GOAT (Greatest of All Time) for many. Every time someone gets close, he finds a new gear. He starts playing maps that shouldn't be possible, using mods that shouldn't work together, and he widens the lead again.
What about the "Gods" of the past?
We can't talk about who is winning without mentioning Cookiezi (now known as Shigetora). If you ask a veteran player who the best is, they might still say Shigetora. He didn't care about rank. He cared about doing things no one else could do. His 1xMiss on Blue Zenith or his Freedom Dive plays are the stuff of legend. But in the modern era, the "win" is defined by the pp system, and Shigetora has largely stepped away from that grind. He’s the "spiritual" winner, the one who proved the game could be an art form. But on the scoreboard? He's a titan of a different era.
Different Ways to "Win" at osu!
Ranking isn't everything. The osu! community is fractured into different game modes and playstyles. If you aren't looking at the global leaderboard, you might find winners elsewhere.
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The Tournament Scene
Winning at the osu! World Cup (OWC) is a different beast entirely. You can be #1 on the global rank and still lose in a tournament. Why? Because tournaments require "consistency" and "pool depth." You have to be good at Hidden (HD), Hard Rock (HR), and even "low AR" (Approach Rate) maps.
The United States has historically dominated the OWC. They have a depth of talent that is honestly kind of unfair. Players like Vaxei, Idke, and DigitalHypno built a legacy of tournament wins that makes the US team the "final boss" of competitive osu!. So, if you're asking which country is winning, it’s the USA, followed closely by South Korea and Australia (thanks largely to mrekk).
The Performance Point (pp) Milestones
There’s also the race for the first 2,000pp play. As of now, we are inching closer. Every time a new "farm" map is ranked—maps specifically designed to give lots of points—the community holds its breath. Who will get it first? Most bets are on Akolibed or mrekk.
Why Is It So Hard to Stay #1?
Osu! is a game of physical attrition. Your wrists, your eyes, and your mental state take a beating. Many players "win" for a year and then disappear because of Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) or burnout.
To stay at the top, you have to reinvent yourself. Mrekk stayed winning because he transitioned from being a "jump one-trick" to a "speed god." He adapted to the meta. Most players can't do that. They get good at one thing, the game's balance changes, and they fall off.
The Technical Evolution
The hardware has changed too. Back in the day, everyone used standard mechanical keyboards. Now, players are using "Wooting" keyboards with rapid-trigger technology. This allows for much faster tapping and better control on those high-BPM streams. You could argue that the people "winning" are the ones who can afford and master the latest tech. It’s a bit controversial. Some say it's "pay to win," but honestly, a keyboard won't give you the reading skills or the aim required to hit 10-star jumps.
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The Verdict: Who Really Holds the Crown?
If the question is "who is winning osu game" right this second, the objective answer is mrekk. He holds the #1 spot on the global leaderboard. He has the most 1,100pp+ scores. He has a level of versatility that allows him to set scores on almost any type of map.
But if you look at the momentum, Akolibed is the current protagonist of the story. He is the challenger. He is the one making the #1 spot feel vulnerable for the first time in years.
Then there’s the "quiet" winners like WindowLife or Cloutiful (though Cloutiful's legacy has been mired in controversy regarding play legitimacy). The leaderboard is always in flux. That’s the beauty of it. You can't just win and retire. You are constantly being hunted by 14-year-olds with infinite free time and caffeine-fueled reflexes.
How to Track the Race
If you want to keep up with who is winning, you need to look beyond the in-game client.
- Check the osu! website rankings: It updates in real-time.
- Follow "osu! Score Tracker" on Twitter/X: This bot posts whenever a top player sets a massive score.
- Watch the r/osugame subreddit: This is where the drama, the scoreposts, and the "pp record" hype lives.
Practical Steps for Improving Your Own Rank
While you might not be competing with mrekk anytime soon, you can still "win" your own battles in the rankings.
- Focus on Consistency: Don't just go for big plays. Work on getting 99% accuracy on maps slightly below your skill level. This builds a solid pp base.
- Play More: It’s a meme, but it’s true. Skill in osu! is almost entirely muscle memory.
- Diversify Your Skillset: Don't just play "Sotarks" jump maps. Try tech maps, stream maps, and older "old-style" maps. It makes you a more rounded player.
- Fix Your Setup: Ensure your area is ergonomic. RSI is real and it will end your "career" before it starts.
The battle for #1 is the most exciting it has been in half a decade. Whether you root for the dominant king or the hungry challenger, one thing is certain: the level of play in osu! right now is absolutely insane. We are watching history. Every few weeks, a score is set that would have been considered impossible just two years ago. That’s the real win for the community—the ceiling just keeps moving higher.