ZywOo Ranked #1 in HLTV Top 20 Players of 2025 After Historic CS2 Season

ZywOo Ranked #1 in HLTV Top 20 Players of 2025 After Historic CS2 Season

The ranking, published by HLTV, concludes a year defined by elite individual performance, record MVP totals, and sustained dominance at the biggest CS2 events.

Why ZywOo Finished #1 in the HLTV Ranking

HLTV’s decision was driven not by isolated statistics, but by consistent excellence at Tier-1 tournaments throughout 2025.

Key factors highlighted in the ranking:

Eight MVP awards in a single calendar year, including both CS2 Majors

MVP or EVP recognition at every event attended

Elite performance under pressure:

Top-rated player in elimination matches

One of the highest-rated players in playoffs and grand finals

Strong Major performances, where his rating remained significantly above the field

HLTV emphasized that while several players posted extraordinary raw statistics in 2025, ZywOo’s award volume and impact in title-winning runs created a clear separation at the top.

ZywOo on His 2025 Season

Reflecting on the year, ZywOo described 2025 as one of the defining periods of his career:

“All of the tournaments with the team this year were a pleasure. It’s one of my best memories of my life.”

He also noted that the season represented a clear step forward after a more difficult 2024, with the team achieving its competitive goals across the year.

Following the announcement of his fourth Player of the Year title, ZywOo called the achievement “unbelievable,” acknowledging the longevity required to remain at the top across multiple eras of Counter-Strike.

ZywOo vs donk: The Defining Rivalry of 2025

The fight for #1 largely centered on ZywOo and Danil Kryshkovets, who finished #2 in the HLTV Top 20.

HLTV described donk’s 2025 campaign as one of the strongest statistical seasons ever recorded in the ranking’s history. However, the deciding factor remained ZywOo’s superior MVP count and finals impact, particularly at Majors and elite LAN events.

HLTV’s analysis noted that the gap in MVP and EVP awards between ZywOo and donk was larger than the gap separating donk from the rest of the Top 5—effectively settling the race for first place.

Vitality’s Dominance Strengthened ZywOo’s Case

ZywOo’s individual success aligned with a historic team year for Team Vitality, who were later named HLTV Team of the Year 2025.

Vitality’s achievements during the season included:

Multiple Tier-1 tournament victories

Deep playoff runs at every event attended

Completion of the ESL Grand Slam, placing them among the most successful lineups in modern CS history

HLTV also highlighted that during 2025, ZywOo surpassed s1mple’s long-standing career MVP record, reinforcing his position at the top of the all-time leaderboard.

HLTV Awards 2025: More Than Just #1

At the annual HLTV Awards, ZywOo’s year was further recognized with AWPer of the Year, while Vitality players and staff dominated the role-based awards.

The outcome reflected a broader narrative repeated throughout HLTV’s coverage: 2025 belonged to ZywOo and Vitality, even in a season featuring one of the most competitive talent pools Counter-Strike has ever seen.

Legacy Impact: Four-Time HLTV Player of the Year

With this win, ZywOo becomes the first player in history to earn four HLTV Player of the Year titles, setting a benchmark that may stand for years.

In an era defined by rising superstars and unprecedented statistical ceilings, HLTV’s conclusion was clear: trophies, MVPs, and clutch performances on the biggest stages still define greatness—and in 2025, no one embodied that better than ZywOo.