NiKo Wins HLTV MVP at BLAST Bounty CS2 — Why the Award Sparked Debate

Nikola “NiKo” Kovač was named HLTV x 1xBet MVP of BLAST Bounty Winter 2026 (Season 1 Finals), but even HLTV admitted that the result was shaped by circumstances — most notably m0NESY’s weak grand final performance.

The decision immediately triggered debate in the CS2 community, as PARIVISION swept Team Falcons 3–0 in the final, while one of their players delivered a standout individual performance.

Below is a full breakdown of why NiKo won MVP, how HLTV justified the decision, and which players were closest to taking the award.

🥇 Why NiKo Won the HLTV MVP Award

HLTV’s MVP selection was based exclusively on LAN matches, a methodology the platform emphasized heavily for BLAST Bounty.

Key factors behind NiKo’s MVP:

Best overall LAN rating of the event (1.20)

Four map awards, more than any other player

Strong performances throughout the playoffs, not just in the final

High impact in damage per round win and kills per round win

HLTV analysts stated that NiKo’s consistency across all Falcons matches ultimately outweighed the final result.

🗣 HLTV: “NiKo Was Lucky the Circumstances Lined Up”

In HLTV’s official MVP article — later summarized by Cybersport — the staff openly acknowledged that NiKo benefited from how the final unfolded.

The main reason:

m0NESY underperformed in the grand final, removing him from MVP contention

NiKo had a slow start in the final but had already built a strong statistical lead earlier in the event

This framing led to the now-viral quote that “NiKo was lucky”, which became one of the most discussed HLTV statements of the tournament.

🥈 nota’s Grand Final Run: The Closest MVP Challenger

Emil “nota” Moskvitin delivered one of the best individual finals of the year:

1.50 rating in the grand final

Highest impact player during the deciding series

Named the only EVP (Exceptionally Valuable Player) of the event

However, HLTV pointed out that nota’s earlier matches against Spirit and FURIA were statistically weaker, which hurt his MVP chances when evaluating the full LAN sample.

🏆 PARIVISION Dominate the Final

While NiKo took the MVP, the trophy went to PARIVISION, who:

Defeated Team Falcons 3–0 in the grand final

Secured the BLAST Bounty Winter 2026 title

Improved their standing in the global ranking after the win

PARIVISION captain Jame downplayed the moment right after the victory, calling the event “like a regular CCT tournament” emotionally — a quote that quickly spread across social media.

📊 MVP vs EVP: Why the Decision Was So Controversial

HLTV ultimately prioritized event-wide consistency over final dominance, a philosophy that has previously led to controversial MVP selections.

Final Takeaway

NiKo’s MVP award at BLAST Bounty CS2 wasn’t just about numbers — it became a case study in how HLTV values consistency over peak performance.
While nota dominated the final, NiKo’s steady impact across the entire LAN stage proved decisive — even if, as HLTV admitted, the circumstances played in his favor.