Counter-Strike 2: 2025 HLTV Awards reveal panel finalists

XC Enriquez

XC Enriquez

The finalists for the 2025 HLTV Awards has been revealed, alongside some of their top 20 best Counter-Strike 2 players of the year.

As we close in on the 2025 HLTV Awards, the finalists for most of the categories have already been named. The countdown for the top 20 players has also begun, and the list of HLTV's best Counter-Strike 2 players is gradually being unveiled.

The 2025 HLTV Awards is scheduled on Jan. 10, 2026, at the Sava Centar Blue Hall, Belgrade, Serbia. The awards show is presented by one of the top esports betting sites: 1xBet.

2025 HLTV Awards finalists

As of the time of writing, seven of HLTV's top 20 players of 2025 have been revealed. Each day, they reveal one more player, with the top three being unveiled on the 2025 HLTV Awards night.

Graphic via HLTV
Graphic via HLTV

So far, the list is comprised of:

  • 14. Ismailcan "XANTARES" Dörtkardeş
  • 15. Mareks "YEKINDAR" Gaļinskis
  • 16. Dorian "xertioN"⁠ Berman
  • 17. Ádám "torzsi" Torzsás
  • 18. Nikola ⁠"NiKo"⁠ Kovač
  • 19. Mihai "⁠iM" Ivan
  • 20. Valeriy "⁠b1t⁠" Vakhovskiy

Panel categories

The winners of the Panel Awards are selected by industry representatives, including on-air talents, members of the HLTV newsroom, and representatives from top CS2 teams of 2025, including Dan “apEX” Madesclaire, İsmailcan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş, and Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken.

m0nesy (L), donk in last year's HLTV Awards. (Photo by Stephanie Lindgren / HLTV)
m0nesy (L), donk in last year's HLTV Awards. (Photo by Stephanie Lindgren / HLTV)
  • Closer of the Year
    • David “frozen” Čerňanský
    • Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato
    • Robin “ropz” Kool
  • Anchor of the Year
    • Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskiy
    • Nikita “HeavyGod” Martynenko
    • William “mezii” Merriman
  • IGL of the Year
    • Dan “apEX” Madesclaire
    • Garidmagnai “bLitz” Byambasuren
    • Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo
  • AWPer of the Year
    • Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov
    • Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov
    • Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut
  • Opener of the Year
    • Danil “donk” Kryshkovets
    • Shahar “flameZ” Shushan
    • Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis
  • Coach of the Year
    • Sergey “hally” Shavaev
    • Erdenedalai “maaRaa” Bayanbat
    • Rémy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam

Community Awards

Winners under this category are selected by reader voting that ends Dec. 31.

Freya at Starladder Budapest Major 2025 (Photo by Josip Brtan / HLTV)
Freya at Starladder Budapest Major 2025 (Photo by Josip Brtan / HLTV)

HLTV Awards

The winners for this category are selected by HLTV internally.

(L-R): vicu, Emmsan, ASTRA at the ESL Impact League Season 8 finals. (Photo by Zvonimir "Professeur" Burazin / HLTV)
(L-R): vicu, Emmsan, ASTRA at the ESL Impact League Season 8 finals. (Photo by Zvonimir "Professeur" Burazin / HLTV)
  • Women's Player of The Year
    • Mayline-Joy "⁠ASTRA⁠" Champliaud
    • Bruna "⁠bizinha⁠" Marvila
    • Wiktoria "⁠vicu⁠" Janicka
  • Women's Team of The Year
    • BIG EQUIPA
    • FURIA fe
    • MIBR fe
  • Rookie of The Year
    • Maxim "⁠kyousuke⁠" Lukin
    • Drin "⁠makazze⁠" Shaqiri
    • Danil "⁠molodoy⁠" Golubenko
  • Team of The Year
    • MOUZ
    • Spirit
    • Vitality
  • Player of The Year
    • TBA

For more Counter-Strike 2 news, stick around esports.gg!