HLTV Awards 2025: Talent of the Year Finalists Revealed — Freya, SPUNJ, and BanKs Enter Final Voting

HLTV has officially unveiled the three finalists for Talent of the Year 2025, opening the final community voting stage ahead of the HLTV Awards ceremony. The shortlist features Freya, SPUNJ, and BanKs — three of the most recognizable on-air figures in Counter-Strike.

With voting now in its decisive phase, the CS community will determine which talent defined the 2025 season across top-tier events.

Talent of the Year 2025: Finalists Ranking Breakdown

🥇 Freya — The Statistical Favorite

Freya enters the final round as the highest-ranked finalist based on HLTV’s internal points system, which tracks talent appearances and workload at S-tier tournaments throughout the year.

Her consistent presence on the biggest stages of Counter-Strike in 2025 made her a clear standout during the nomination phase and positioned her as the frontrunner heading into the final vote.

Freya has also remained closely involved with the HLTV Awards show itself, returning as a stage host after a successful previous edition.

🥈 SPUNJ — The Veteran Analyst

SPUNJ once again finds himself among the elite talents of the year, reinforcing his status as one of Counter-Strike’s most respected analysts.

Known for his deep tactical breakdowns and presence on the biggest match desks, SPUNJ’s inclusion reflects long-term consistency at top events, rather than a single breakout moment. His reputation and experience continue to resonate strongly with the community.

🥉 BanKs — The Crowd Connector

BanKs rounds out the finalist trio after another year of hosting major CS events and conducting high-profile player interviews.

During the voting period, BanKs directly addressed the community, encouraging viewers who enjoyed his work in 2025 to support him — while also emphasizing that fans should vote based on personal preference. His strength lies in creating memorable on-stage moments rather than analytical depth.

How HLTV Determines Talent of the Year

HLTV uses a multi-stage voting system for its community awards:

1. Points-based ranking
   Talent appearances at S-tier events throughout the year are tracked to create an initial shortlist.

2. Stage 1 community vote
   Fans vote to narrow the list down to three finalists.

3. Stage 2 final vote
   A second round is held to prevent vote splitting and determine the winner.

Only HLTV accounts registered before the publication of the nominees article are eligible to vote.

When Will the Winner Be Announced?

The Talent of the Year 2025 winner will be revealed at the HLTV Awards ceremony in Belgrade, scheduled for January 10, 2026.

Related HLTV Awards 2025 Voting Categories

The Talent of the Year vote runs alongside several other community-driven HLTV Awards categories, including:

Skin of the Year 2025

Streamer of the Year 2025

Creator of the Year 2025

Event of the Year 2025

All categories follow a similar finalist-based voting structure.

Why This Award Matters

Talent of the Year has become one of the most competitive HLTV Awards categories, reflecting how central on-air personalities are to modern Counter-Strike broadcasts. With Freya’s statistical dominance, SPUNJ’s legacy status, and BanKs’ hosting impact, the 2025 race highlights three very different paths to recognition.

Final voting will determine which style resonated most with the CS community this year.