HLTV Awards 2025: Creator of the Year Finalists Revealed

HLTV has officially launched the final round of community voting for Creator of the Year 2025, one of the most anticipated fan-voted awards in the Counter-Strike scene. The winner will be decided entirely by HLTV users, with voting open from December 24, 12:00 CET until December 31, 23:59 CET.

Only HLTV accounts registered before December 9, when the nominees were first announced, are eligible to participate.

The award will be presented during the HLTV Awards 2025 ceremony in Belgrade, scheduled for January 10, 2026, where the world’s best Counter-Strike players, talents, and creators will be honored.

Creator of the Year 2025 — Finalists (Ranked by Narrative Impact)

1. NadeKing — The Defending Standard

NadeKing enters the final vote as the reigning Creator of the Year, having won the award at the HLTV Awards 2024. His consistent output, educational content, and long-term influence on the Counter-Strike community once again place him at the center of the conversation.

As the only previous winner among the finalists, NadeKing represents the benchmark against which the 2025 field is measured.

2. dima_aimbots — The Breakthrough Challenger

Lithuanian creator dima_aimbots has emerged as one of the strongest contenders of 2025, earning his place in the final after advancing through the community vote.

His inclusion reflects a year of sustained growth and engagement, pushing him into direct competition with one of the most established creators in the scene.

3. Virre CS2 — The Proven Fan Favorite

Virre CS2 completes the final trio, continuing his presence among HLTV’s top creators. Having appeared on previous nomination lists, Virre once again converts strong community support into a place in the decisive voting stage.

His return highlights long-term relevance and a loyal audience within the Counter-Strike ecosystem.

How HLTV Selected the Creator of the Year Nominees

Before the community vote narrowed the field to three finalists, HLTV partnered with Stream Hatchet to identify the most impactful Counter-Strike creators of 2025.

The data-driven process evaluated:

Total views

Engagement metrics

Average watch time

Year-long performance consistency

Only creators primarily focused on Counter-Strike content were considered.

Original Creator of the Year 2025 Nominees:

3kliksphilip

Anomaly

bysTaXx

Cachorro1337

dima_aimbots

Murzofix

NadeKing

shoke

Sparkles

Virre CS2

From this list, community voting determined the final three.

Pro Player Reaction to Creator Nominations

During the nomination phase, Robin “ropz” Kool publicly reacted to the creator shortlist, writing that he was:

“kinda surprised PHY didn’t get nominated for creator…”

The comment reflects ongoing discussion within the professional scene regarding the depth and competitiveness of Counter-Strike content creation in 2025.

Related HLTV Awards 2025 Community Votes

The Creator of the Year vote runs alongside other community-driven categories, all following the same voting window and eligibility rules:

Streamer of the Year 2025 — Finalists Voting

Talent of the Year 2025 — Finalists Voting

Event of the Year 2025 — Finalists Voting

Skin of the Year 2025 — Finalists Voting

Together, these votes form the fan-driven pillar of the HLTV Awards ecosystem.