HLTV Top 20 Players of 2025: YEKINDAR Ranked #15 After Career-Defining Comeback

YEKINDAR has officially returned to the elite tier of Counter-Strike, securing 15th place in the HLTV Top 20 Players of 2025 ranking. After one of the most turbulent periods of his career, the Latvian rifler’s resurgence with FURIA stands out as one of the strongest redemption stories in modern CS2.

This ranking reflects not only statistics, but impact in finals, stage performances, and trophy-winning moments, where YEKINDAR repeatedly delivered when the pressure peaked.

From Liquid Exit to a Full Reset

The 2024 season ended in disappointment for YEKINDAR. His stint in Liquid — including an in-game leading experiment — failed to stabilize, and after the Shanghai Major he found himself benched. Rather than marking the end of his tier-one relevance, the break became a turning point.

YEKINDAR later admitted that stepping away from the lineup allowed him to mentally reset, reassess his role, and rediscover confidence. Importantly, tier-one offers did not immediately arrive, forcing him to consider projects outside the very top — a reality that made the eventual FURIA move even more significant.

Why FURIA Worked: Defined Roles and Trust

YEKINDAR’s 2025 revival is inseparable from FURIA’s international rebuild. Instead of asking him to lead, the team allowed him to focus on what made him elite in the first place:

aggressive space-taking

high-risk, high-reward entry timings

playoff-level confidence

This clarity translated into results. Throughout the year, YEKINDAR became known as a “big-match player”, often saving his strongest performances for playoffs and grand finals.

Trophy Runs That Defined the Ranking

HLTV’s justification for the #15 spot leans heavily on when YEKINDAR performed best.

🏆 Major 2025 Titles with FURIA

FISSURE Playground 2

IEM Chengdu 2025

BLAST Rivals Season 2

Across these events, YEKINDAR earned EVP awards and consistently elevated his level during finals. At IEM Chengdu, FURIA’s 3–0 victory over Vitality highlighted his ability to dominate high-stakes maps and swing momentum decisively.

Finals Factor: Why YEKINDAR Is Different

HLTV’s analysis is clear: YEKINDAR was not the most consistent rifler across all matches in 2025 — but he was among the most decisive.

His best maps disproportionately appeared:

in grand finals

on stage

in elimination matches

That volatility — sometimes quiet group stages followed by explosive playoffs — became an asset rather than a weakness.

Permanent Signing and Team Confidence

Mid-season, FURIA confirmed YEKINDAR’s permanent signing, ending speculation about his future. Teammates publicly credited him for transforming the team’s mentality, while YEKINDAR himself emphasized that winning multiplied both confidence and motivation.

The combination of experienced leadership (notably FalleN), defined roles, and repeated success allowed YEKINDAR to rebuild his reputation as one of Counter-Strike’s most dangerous riflers.

What #15 Really Means in the HLTV Top 20

HLTV’s Top 20 Players of 2025 ranking does not reward raw consistency alone. YEKINDAR’s placement reflects:

trophy impact over padding stats

finals performances over group-stage numbers

mental resilience after career setbacks

At No. 15, YEKINDAR’s ranking tells a clear story: this was not a comeback season built on nostalgia — it was built on winning.