Three Legends Inducted into the HLTV Hall of Fame: cogu, markeloff, and olofmeister

Three Legends Inducted into the HLTV Hall of Fame: cogu, markeloff, and olofmeister

Three Counter-Strike icons — Raphael "cogu" Camargo, Yegor "markeloff" Markelov, and Olof "olofmeister" Kajbjer — have been announced as the Class of 2025 for the HLTV Hall of Fame, presented by 1xBet. The official induction ceremony will take place on January 10, 2026, during the HLTV Awards in Belgrade, Serbia.

The trio were selected from a shortlist of ten retired legends by an expert panel of eleven voters. All three tied in the final vote count, and their individual rankings remain undisclosed to avoid influencing future selections.

They will join the inaugural 2024 inductees — f0rest, GeT_RiGhT, HeatoN, and Potti — who were the first to be honored when the Hall of Fame project launched.

What the Induction Includes

Each new Hall of Famer receives several honors:

A formal induction ceremony on stage at the HLTV Awards.

A Rolex watch engraved with a Hall of Fame inscription.

A special Hall of Fame player profile on HLTV.

Permanent placement on the official Hall of Fame page.

A dedicated article and video chronicling their career.

How the Class of 2025 Was Chosen

The 2025 shortlist featured ten retired players representing multiple eras and regions: dupreeh, XeqtR, elemeNt, SpawN, cogu, markeloff, Ksharp, fRoD, kennyS, and olofmeister.

As with all selections, only non-active players and coaches were eligible. A permanent Hall of Fame Committee — composed of HLTV staff and veteran community members — ranked five candidates each year. The top-scoring nominees are announced during the annual HLTV Awards.

Raphael “cogu” Camargo – Brazil’s Original Superstar AWPer

Before FalleN, there was cogu. HLTV describes him as one of the best AWPers of the 2000s and a cornerstone of Brazil’s Counter-Strike scene.

Achievements and Legacy

Starred for g3x and Made in Brazil (mibr) in CS 1.6.

Won two CPL World Tour titles and ESWC 2006, one of Brazil’s greatest international triumphs.

Later competed in CGS and early CS:GO before retiring in 2017.

Returned as a coach and manager with mibr, O PLANO, and 00NATION.

Brazilian fans and pros continue to revere cogu. FalleN once called him “insane in 1.6, at the top level in the world.” Fans across social media echoed similar praise, calling him “the best AWP this game has ever seen” and an “eternal idol.”

Yegor “markeloff” Markelov – The Sniper of Na’Vi’s 2010 Dynasty

markeloff was the driving force behind Na’Vi’s 2010 golden era, leading one of the most dominant years in Counter-Strike history.

Achievements and Style

Named HLTV Player of the Year 2010 and ranked #1 on the Top 20 list.

Won IEM IV World Championship, ESWC 2010, WCG 2010, Arbalet Cup Dallas, and DreamHack Winter — all in the same year.

Known for an aggressive, tempo-controlling AWP style that redefined the role in competitive CS.

Later transitioned to CS:GO, competing for HellRaisers and FlipSid3, where he briefly played with a young s1mple, who later called him an inspiration.

In an early interview, markeloff reflected on fnatic’s dominance with humility: “They deserve to be called the number one team today.” His calm professionalism and legacy as a 1.6 sniper continue to influence players to this day.

Olof “olofmeister” Kajbjer – The Face of fnatic’s 2015 Era

A household name in Counter-Strike, olofmeister became synonymous with fnatic’s dominance in 2015 and 2016.

Career Highlights

HLTV’s #1 Player of 2015, after leading fnatic to back-to-back Major victories at ESL One Katowice and ESL One Cologne.

Part of a fnatic lineup that won ten LAN titles in just over a year.

Immortalized with in-game graffiti on Overpass for his famous “molotov defuse” against Dignitas.

Later joined FaZe Clan, adapting to a supportive role while remaining among the Top 20 players in 2016 and 2017.

After recovering from injury, olofmeister said: “We’re one of the best teams in the world. Of course we’re aiming for first place.” His confidence and consistency cemented his reputation as one of CS:GO’s greatest competitors.

The Hall of Fame Project – From Debut to Expansion

Launched in 2024 in partnership with 1xBet, the HLTV Hall of Fame aims to formally recognize the greatest retired legends in Counter-Strike’s two-decade history.

Key principles of the project include:

Only retired players and coaches are eligible.

A standing committee submits ranked ballots annually.

Inductees are revealed each year at the HLTV Awards in Belgrade.

With the 2025 class, the Hall of Fame now honors seven 1.6-era greats and one CS:GO superstar, highlighting the evolution of the franchise from its earliest days to the modern era.

Community and Peer Reaction

The announcement sparked excitement across the Counter-Strike community:

Brazilian fans celebrated cogu’s induction, calling him “the best AWP this game has ever seen” and “an eternal idol.”

HLTV’s own social media echoed the sentiment: “Brazilian CS wouldn’t be the same without this man.”

For markeloff, fans and analysts praised him as “the superstar AWPer behind 2010 Na’Vi”, noting his influence on future Ukrainian talents.

Many Reddit threads and community discussions hailed olofmeister’s inclusion as long overdue, citing his dominance during fnatic’s peak and his enduring popularity among fans.

Where and How to Watch

The HLTV Awards 2025, featuring the Hall of Fame induction ceremony for cogu, markeloff, and olofmeister, will be streamed live on Twitch and Kick on January 10, 2026.