The EVPs and All-Stars of StarLadder Budapest Major 2025

The EVPs and All-Stars of StarLadder Budapest Major 2025

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The StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 concluded as one of the most defining Counter-Strike 2 events of the year, with individual brilliance standing out just as much as the historic team achievements. Held in Budapest, Hungary from November 24 to December 14, 2025, the tournament was the fourth official Valve-sanctioned Major Championship in CS2 history and showcased 32 elite teams competing for a $1.25 million prize pool in front of live audiences across two iconic venues: the MTK Sportpark for group play and the MVM Dome for the playoffs and grand final. 

🏆 Vitality’s Historic Championship and MVP Honors

Team Vitality continued their dominant 2025 run by defeating FaZe Clan 3–1 in the grand final — the first best-of-five Major final in CS2 history — cementing them as the first team to win back-to-back Major titles since the Astralis dynasty of the late 2010s. Their victory drew massive attention, peaking at over 1.5 million concurrent viewers worldwide, making it one of the most watched esports matches of the year.

At the heart of Vitality’s immense success was French superstar Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, who clinched his third Major MVP award — the most by any player in CS2 history. His incredible performance throughout the event, especially in the decisive maps of the playoffs and final, not only secured the championship but further solidified his legacy as one of the greatest players the game has ever seen. 

⭐ What Are EVPs and All-Stars?

At Majors, EVP (Extremely Valuable Player) awards highlight players who have consistently influenced outcomes across matches — not just flash moments but sustained impact, high ratings, decision-making, and effectiveness at the highest level of competition. All-Stars are an additional recognition, forming a hypothetical dream lineup of the best performers across roles, with a cap usually allowing only three players per team to represent the balanced makeup of an elite unit. 

🙌 The Official EVP & All-Star List from Budapest

Based on HLTV’s detailed performance metrics (including Rating 3.0, Swing Added, eADR, KPR, and others), the top individuals of the StarLadder Budapest Major were ranked as follows: 

Top 11 EVPs (in order):

1. Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut – Vitality (🇫🇷)

2. Robin “ropz” Kool – Vitality (🇪🇪)

3. Danil “donk” Kryshkovets – Team Spirit (🇷🇺)

4. William “mezii” Merriman – Vitality (🇬🇧)

5. David “frozen” Čerňanský – FaZe Clan (🇸🇰)

6. Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov – Natus Vincere (🇺🇦)

7. Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken – FaZe Clan (🇨🇦)

8. Helvijs “broky” Saukants – FaZe Clan (🇱🇻)

9. Mihai “iM” Ivan – Natus Vincere (🇷🇴)

10. Drin “makazze” Shaqiri – Natus Vincere (🇽🇰)

11. Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov – Natus Vincere (🇷🇺)

This list represents players who either powered their teams deep into the tournament or delivered consistently high individual levels even in teams that exited earlier. Several of these names are perennial standouts at elite events, while others used this Major as a breakthrough stage, demonstrating the depth and evolving talent in competitive CS2. 

🧠 Standout Performances and Key Stories

ZywOo once again led the field, using his extraordinary all-around skill to steer Vitality through every hurdle. Notably, his round win contributions and clutch plays were instrumental in decisive matches, ultimately giving him a narrow edge over teammate ropz for the top EVP spot — a feat that speaks volumes given ropz’s own record-breaking individual map ratings during the event. 

ropz offered perhaps the tournament’s most consistent and statistically impressive individual performances outside ZywOo. His elite game sense and adaptability across maps were a cornerstone of Vitality’s tactical dominance. 

donk, the prodigious young rifler for Team Spirit, was another narrative force. Following a trend of high impact throughout 2025 — including standout runs at other premier events — his Herculean effort in carrying Spirit through the competition secured him EVP honors and continued to build his reputation as one of the world’s best young talents. 

mezii enjoyed what might be his career peak, posting some of his best numbers ever at a Major. Both his clutch performances and high-impact rifling throughout the event validated his EVP selection and guaranteed his place among the All-Stars. 

FaZe’s frozen and Twistzz also stood out. Frozen provided vital firepower that helped FaZe overcome several elite opponents on their way to the final, while Twistzz’s playoff rating spikes underscored his continued reliability on big stages. 

🌟 All-Star Lineup

From the EVPs, HLTV selected the All-Star team — a balanced assembled roster of the most impactful players across roles. This included:

• ZywOo (Vitality)

• ropz (Vitality)

• donk (Team Spirit)

• mezii (Vitality)

• Finn “karrigan” Andersen (FaZe Clan) — representing IGL leadership and tactical depth from the Major finalists’ run.

📌 Broader Competitive Context

The Budapest Major capped a tremendous year for Counter-Strike 2, where multiple elite teams battled across global events such as the Austin Major and other premier tournaments. Vitality’s result in Hungary rounded out a decade-defining year for the franchise and extended the ongoing debate around player legacies, with ZywOo’s MVP haul and donk’s breakout presence dominating discussions ahead of the 2025 HLTV Awards.