HLTV Awards 2025 Finalists Confirmed: Full Rankings, Key Storylines, and Player Quotes

The HLTV Awards 2025 finalists have officially been locked in by a 35-member expert panel, setting the stage for one of the most anticipated Counter-Strike events of the year. With winners to be revealed at the HLTV Awards ceremony in Belgrade on January 10, 2026, the race across individual roles, leadership, coaching, and highlights is tighter than ever.

Below is an SEO-optimized, ranking-focused breakdown of the finalists, enriched with verified background context and player quotes to provide full competitive insight—without speculation or unverified claims.

AWPer of the Year — The Crown Jewel Category

Finalists: m0NESY, sh1ro, ZywOo

This is widely viewed as the headline race of the HLTV Awards.

m0NESY enters as the reigning 2024 winner, maintaining elite consistency and mechanical ceiling.

sh1ro once again delivers top-tier numbers built on survival rate and late-round efficiency.

ZywOo anchors Team Vitality’s trophy-laden season, combining MVP performances with clutch reliability.

ZywOo earlier in the season emphasized his ambition: “I want to be better than my best year so far.”

IGL of the Year — Leadership Under Pressure

Finalists: apEX, bLitz, FalleN

This category highlights three vastly different leadership paths:

apEX captained Vitality through multiple elite tournament victories.

bLitz oversaw The MongolZ’s historic rise, including a stint at world No.1.

FalleN engineered FURIA’s late-season resurgence, redefining expectations.

Opener of the Year — Creating Space, Winning Rounds

Finalists: donk, flameZ, YEKINDAR

donk defined 2025 with raw firepower, capped by a Cologne MVP.

flameZ delivered high trade efficiency and structure-driven entries.

YEKINDAR added calling depth on CT sides while maintaining impact.

donk on his evolution: “I’m thinking less about stats and more about winning as a team.”

Closer of the Year — Ice-Cold Late Rounds

Finalists: frozen, KSCERATO, ropz

This category rewards decisive end-round excellence:

frozen remained statistically elite despite mixed team results.

KSCERATO combined consistency with a Major MVP.

ropz thrived after stepping into a new system at Vitality.

ropz said of change: “Sometimes you need to leave your comfort zone to keep winning.”

Anchor of the Year — The Toughest CT Role

Finalists: b1t, HeavyGod, mezii

b1t returns as the 2024 winner, maintaining elite CT metrics.

HeavyGod exceeded expectations with high-impact anchoring.

mezii delivered stability during Vitality’s biggest titles.

Coach of the Year — Systems Behind Success

Finalists: hally, maaRaa, XTQZZZ

These finalists represent contrasting philosophies: long-term system building, player development, and elite-tier stability at the top.

Highlight of the Year — One Moment, Eternal Fame

Finalists:

donk — 1v5 vs Vitality

ropz — two-second ace vs 3DMAX

Twistzz — 4k 1v3 Deagle vs NAVI

Pure mechanical brilliance distilled into three iconic plays.

Why This Matters for CS2 Fans and Analysts

Seven role-based awards give deeper analytical value than simple Top 20 rankings.

Expert-only voting ensures competitive credibility.

The finalists shape expectations for HLTV Top 20 Players of 2025 and future roster value.