nota Becomes the Only EVP at BLAST Bounty Winter 2026 — NiKo Claims MVP

Emil “nota” Moskvitin has made history at BLAST Bounty Winter 2026, becoming the only player to receive an HLTV Exceptionally Valuable Player (EVP) award at the tournament. The rare outcome highlights how closely contested the event was, especially in a single-elimination LAN format with a limited number of maps.

Despite PARIVISION lifting the trophy after a dominant grand final performance, the HLTV x 1xBet MVP award went to Nikola “NiKo” Kovač, sparking discussion across the CS2 community.

Why nota Was the Only EVP at BLAST Bounty Winter 2026

According to HLTV, the reason for having just one EVP lies in the tournament’s structure:

8-team single-elimination bracket

Short LAN schedule

LAN-only stats counted for awards (online matches excluded from 2026)

This significantly reduced the statistical margin for standout performances.

HLTV emphasized that nota’s performance in the grand final was the deciding factor. After being PARIVISION’s lowest-rated player early in the tournament, nota delivered his best series in the final, becoming the team’s highest-rated player when it mattered most.

His impact plays — including round-winning clutches and momentum-shifting multikills — were cited as decisive in securing the title.

PARIVISION’s Balanced Roster Limited EVP Candidates

Another key factor was PARIVISION’s team-wide consistency.

Rather than relying on a single superstar, PARIVISION spread impact evenly across all five players. HLTV noted that while Jame came closest to EVP consideration, his performance profile aligned more with a strong supportive carry than a statistically dominant EVP candidate.

As a result, nota stood alone as the only player who clearly crossed HLTV’s EVP threshold.

NiKo Wins MVP Despite Falcons Falling Short

While nota earned EVP recognition, NiKo was awarded MVP of BLAST Bounty Winter 2026.

HLTV described the decision as unusual but justified, pointing to NiKo’s:

High-impact performances across quarterfinals, semifinals, and the final

Consistent star-level output even as Falcons lost 0–3 in the grand final

The MVP race also shifted after m0NESY’s quieter showing in the final, which weakened his candidacy despite strong earlier matches.

HLTV All-Star Team — BLAST Bounty Winter 2026

HLTV’s Best Five Players of the Tournament included:

NiKo

nota

Jame

m0NESY

zweih

This lineup reflects both individual excellence and overall tournament impact, even in the absence of multiple EVP awards.

Player and Coach Reactions After the Final

dastan (PARIVISION coach)

Following the victory, coach dastan urged caution and focus on consistency:

“I didn’t expect it, so I don’t want to be too overconfident. We need to be stable… I hope this win helps the guys become more confident.”

Jame on Commitment and Sacrifice

Team leader Jame described the emotional and personal cost behind the title run:

“I sacrificed my life last year. One year is nothing — the title is everything.”

Why This BLAST Bounty Result Matters for CS2 in 2026

First BLAST Bounty season under full CS2 competitive standards

LAN-only award evaluation reshaping MVP and EVP races

PARIVISION establish themselves as a Tier-1 contender

nota’s EVP sets a career milestone, potentially boosting his long-term ranking value

This event may serve as a blueprint for how short-format LANs influence individual awards moving forward