- HLTV Awards 2025 overview
- Event details and awards format
- CS2 Top 20 players of 2025 revealed so far
- Panel Awards categories and finalists
- Community Awards categories and voting
- HLTV internal awards and women\'s scene
- CS2 skins and the in-game economy
- How to trade CS2 skins safely on uuskins.com
- How awards shape the CS2 meta and skins market
- Conclusion: What to watch before the 2025 HLTV Awards night
HLTV Awards 2025 overview
The HLTV Awards have become Counter-Strike\'s equivalent of an Oscars night, and the 2025 edition is set to be the first full-year celebration of the Counter-Strike 2 era. With new mechanics, updated maps, and a shifting meta, this year\'s awards feel more competitive than ever.
The 2025 HLTV Awards will recognize the best players, teams, coaches, creators, and even the most impactful moments from across the CS2 calendar. On top of that, the show highlights the growing women\'s scene and the wider community that keeps Counter-Strike thriving—from broadcast talent to content creators and streamers.
Whether you\'re here to see if your favorite star rifler made the Top 20 in CS2, or you want to better understand how pro play and skins culture intersect, this breakdown will walk you through every major category and what it means for the scene.
Event details and awards format
The 2025 HLTV Awards ceremony is scheduled for January 10, 2026, and will be hosted at the Sava Centar Blue Hall in Belgrade, Serbia. The event is presented in partnership with esports sponsor 1xBet and is expected to bring together players, coaches, broadcast talent, and community figures from all around the world.
The awards are split into three main pillars:
- Panel Awards – decided by a panel of experts, including on-air talent, HLTV staff, and representatives from top CS2 teams.
- Community Awards – decided by fan voting, giving the player base a direct say in who wins.
- HLTV Internal Awards – chosen by HLTV\'s editorial team, covering key competitive categories such as Team of the Year and Player of the Year.
Each of these pillars highlights a different perspective on excellence in CS2: professional achievement, community influence, and analytical evaluation.
CS2 Top 20 players of 2025 revealed so far
One of the most-followed HLTV traditions is the Top 20 players of the year list. For 2025, HLTV is counting down from 20 to 1, revealing one name at a time in the days leading up to the awards ceremony. The top three players will be unveiled live during the show, keeping the Player of the Year race intense until the final moment.
At the time of writing, the following players have been confirmed in positions 14 to 20 on the 2025 list:
- 14. Ismailcan "XANTARES" Dörtkardeş
- 15. Mareks "YEKINDAR" Gaļinskis
- 16. Dorian "xertioN" Berman
- 17. Ádám "torzsi" Torzsás
- 18. Nikola "NiKo" Kovač
- 19. Mihai "iM" Ivan
- 20. Valeriy "b1t" Vakhovskiy
This group already gives a good snapshot of how competitive CS2 has been. Legendary names like NiKo are now sharing the spotlight with emerging stars like xertioN and iM. Meanwhile, fan favorites such as YEKINDAR and XANTARES continue to prove their firepower and consistency.
We can expect the top 13 players—especially the top 5—to be a mix of dominant riflers, explosive openers, and hyper-consistent AWPers that shaped the 2025 competitive calendar.
Panel Awards categories and finalists
The Panel Awards are decided by a group of industry representatives. This includes on-air talent, HLTV newsroom staff, and players from elite CS2 teams. Figures such as Dan "apEX" Madesclaire, Ismailcan "XANTARES" Dörtkardeş, and Russel "Twistzz" Van Dulken have a say in who wins.
Because these awards are chosen by people who live and breathe competitive Counter-Strike, they often feel like a deeper, role-specific recognition of impact.
Closer of the Year
The Closer of the Year award celebrates players who are deadly in late-round situations: clutches, conversions, and those high-pressure 1vX wins that swing entire series.
- David "frozen" Čerňanský
- Kaike "KSCERATO" Cerato
- Robin "ropz" Kool
frozen and ropz are known for their composure and perfect positioning, while KSCERATO brings Brazilian flair and clutch stability, often dragging his team across the finish line in impossible rounds.
Anchor of the Year
Anchors are the players you trust to lock down bombsites alone, survive pressure, and delay pushes. They rarely get the glory of entry kills, but they are the backbone of any structured CT side.
- Valeriy "b1t" Vakhovskiy
- Nikita "HeavyGod" Martynenko
- William "mezii" Merriman
b1t has long been respected for his robotic aim and discipline, while HeavyGod and mezii have raised their stock as reliable role players who make star teammates look even better.
IGL of the Year
The In-Game Leader (IGL) of the Year award focuses on brains more than raw aim. It rewards leaders who can manage economy, adapt mid-round, and keep their squad mentally sharp over long tournaments.
- Dan "apEX" Madesclaire
- Garidmagnai "bLitz" Byambasuren
- Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo
apEX continues to command elite-level rosters; bLitz has been a key figure in putting Mongolian Counter-Strike on the map; and FalleN, a legend of the game, still influences the meta with his calling and AWP presence.
AWPer of the Year
The AWPer of the Year title is one of the most prestigious, highlighting the most impactful big green users in the game—those who combine mechanical precision with brainy positioning.
- Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov
- Dmitry "sh1ro" Sokolov
- Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut
This shortlist says everything about the AWP meta in 2025: m0NESY as a hyper-aggressive prodigy, sh1ro with his methodical, low-error style, and ZywOo remaining one of the most complete players CS has ever seen.
Opener of the Year
Openers (or entry fraggers) are the tip of the spear on T sides, taking on high-risk duels to unlock sites and map control.
- Danil "donk" Kryshkovets
- Shahar "flameZ" Shushan
- Mareks "YEKINDAR" Gaļinskis
donk took the Counter-Strike world by storm with insane aim and confidence; flameZ is known for pace and relentless pressure; and YEKINDAR remains one of the most feared space creators in the game.
Coach of the Year
This award recognizes the masterminds behind the scenes: the analysts and leaders who shape strategies, build team culture, and handle preparation for stacked event calendars.
- Sergey "hally" Shavaev
- Erdenedalai "maaRaa" Bayanbat
- Rémy "XTQZZZ" Quoniam
From refining structured systems to enabling star players to shine, these coaches are critical to their teams\' success but rarely get the spotlight outside of awards like these.
Highlight of the Year
Highlight of the Year celebrates the single most memorable play—those sick clips you see looped on social media and frag movies all year long.
Each of these plays is not just mechanically insane; they also came at high-stakes moments, making them unforgettable for fans and casters alike.
Community Awards categories and voting
The Community Awards let fans directly shape the outcome through public voting, which runs until December 31. These categories celebrate contributions not only inside servers, but across streams, content, and live events.
Talent of the Year
This category focuses on broadcast talent: hosts, analysts, and interviewers who guide viewers through events and build storylines around teams and players.
- Freya "Freya" Spiers
- Chad "SPUNJ" Burchill
- James "BanKs" Banks
From desk analysis to emotional post-match interviews, this trio has been everywhere in 2025. Fans will likely be torn between Freya\'s hosting polish, SPUNJ\'s analysis, and BanKs\' emotional storytelling.
Streamer of the Year
Streaming has become its own pillar in the CS2 ecosystem, blending high-level gameplay, entertainment, and skins culture.
- Vadim "Evelone192" Kozakov
- Erik "fl0m" Flom
- Mark "ohnePixel" Zimmermann
While all three are notable, ohnePixel is especially tightly linked to skins content—case openings, trade-ups, and showing off rare inventories. That connection to the skins economy has helped pull many casual viewers deeper into CS2.
Creator of the Year
This award looks at content creators who post educational, entertaining, or innovative CS2 content outside of the pro broadcast environment.
- dima_aimbots
- NadeKing
- Virre CS2
From aim training routines and theorycrafting to meme videos and utility lineups, these creators help players improve while keeping the game fresh.
Event of the Year
The Event of the Year category celebrates tournaments that delivered elite gameplay, production value, storylines, and unforgettable finals.
Majors remain the pinnacle, but tournaments like Cologne continue to feel like unofficial world championships thanks to their history and stacked team lists.
Skin of the Year
CS2 is not just about frags; it\'s also about style. The Skin of the Year award highlights community-favorite weapon finishes that dominated inventories and social media timelines in 2025.
- AWP | Printstream (JTPNZ)
- Glock-18 | Shinobu (Horameow)
- M4A4 | Full Throttle (dwern)
These skins show how much variety the community values: clean black-and-white designs, anime-inspired artwork, and high-energy racing themes. If you follow streams and pro POVs, you\'ve probably seen all three in action.
If you\'re looking to expand your inventory with similar high-impact finishes, you can browse and trade cs2 skins on third-party marketplaces that support safe transactions and transparent pricing.
HLTV internal awards and women\'s scene
The final set of categories is decided internally by HLTV. These awards usually align closely with statistical performance, big-tournament impact, and consistency throughout the year.
Women\'s Player of the Year
The women\'s competitive scene in CS2 has grown rapidly thanks to dedicated circuits like ESL Impact. The Women\'s Player of the Year award honors the standout individual across these events.
- Mayline-Joy "ASTRA" Champliaud
- Bruna "bizinha" Marvila
- Wiktoria "vicu" Janicka
These players have been central to their teams\' success, with a mix of star fragging and leadership that makes them role models for upcoming women in CS2.
Women\'s Team of the Year
Team awards go to the most dominant lineup across women\'s tournaments in 2025.
- BIG EQUIPA
- FURIA fe
- MIBR fe
Each of these squads has consistently gone deep at events, showcasing the depth of talent and structure in the women\'s scene.
Rookie of the Year
Rookie of the Year celebrates players who had their breakout season in 2025, making the jump from obscurity to tier-one relevance.
- Maxim "kyousuke" Lukin
- Drin "makazze" Shaqiri
- Danil "molodoy" Golubenko
Rookies like these often redefine expectations, bringing fresh playstyles and new ideas that shake up the established order.
Team of the Year
The Team of the Year award goes to the most dominant lineup overall, taking into account trophies, deep runs, and consistency against other elite teams.
- MOUZ
- Spirit
- Vitality
All three have strong cases, whether through Major success, era-defining stretches, or constantly being in contention at the biggest CS2 events.
Player of the Year
Finally, we reach the big one: Player of the Year. At the time of writing, the official winner is still listed as TBA, and will be revealed during the awards ceremony.
This award usually goes to a player who combines:
- Elite event ratings across the calendar
- Big performances in playoffs and grand finals
- Trophies or deep runs at the biggest events, especially Majors
- Consistency against top-tier opposition
Given the finalists for AWPer, Opener, and the strong contenders in the Top 20 list, it\'s safe to say the race is extremely tight.
CS2 skins and the in-game economy
Alongside the competitive side of CS2, the skins economy remains one of the most unique aspects of the game. Skins not only let you flex your style, but they also operate as digital collectibles with real-world value.
The Skin of the Year category in the HLTV Awards highlights how closely tied cosmetics are to the culture of Counter-Strike. When a skin appears frequently on pro streams or in highlight clips, demand often rises—especially for iconic weapons like the AWP, M4, AK-47, and Glock-18.
Some reasons skins matter so much in CS2:
- Personal identity: Skins make your loadout feel unique, matching your taste or your favorite pro player\'s inventory.
- Social status: High-tier knives, gloves, and rare finishes can signal knowledge, luck, or investment.
- Market value: Because skins can be traded and sold, inventories can function like small digital portfolios.
While you can get skins from cases and drops, most players use third-party marketplaces to buy or sell at more precise prices. Platforms like cs2 skins markets offer a wider choice than the in-game store and allow more control over budget and selection.
How to trade CS2 skins safely on uuskins.com
If watching the HLTV Awards has you itching to upgrade your loadout for 2026, it\'s important to know how to trade skins safely and efficiently. One option for building or refining your inventory is using a dedicated marketplace like csgo skins and CS2 trading platforms.
Why use third-party marketplaces?
In-game case openings can be fun but are highly random. Third-party markets give you:
- Transparent pricing: See current market rates for specific wear levels and patterns.
- Direct selection: Buy exactly the skin you want instead of gambling on cases.
- Better liquidity: Sell skins more flexibly and diversify your inventory.
Sites such as cs2 skins platforms typically list thousands of items with filters for weapon, finish, float value, and price, making it easier to find something that matches your playstyle and budget.
Basic safety tips
To trade safely, keep these fundamental rules in mind:
- Double-check URLs: Always confirm you\'re on the official uuskins.com domain before logging in or confirming trades.
- Use Steam Guard: Enable Steam Guard Mobile Authenticator to protect your Steam account.
- Verify trade offers: Check that the trade URL and item list match what you see on the marketplace.
- Avoid off-site deals: Don\'t accept trades arranged through DMs that try to bypass marketplace protections.
Reputable marketplaces aim to reduce risk by handling the listing and escrow process, but your own account security is still crucial.
Choosing skins like a pro
If you want your inventory to look as polished as those you see during the HLTV Awards highlights, here are a few practical tips:
- Pick a theme: Many players build blue, red, neon, or black/white themed inventories for aesthetic consistency.
- Invest in your main weapons: Prioritize skins for the guns you use every match—rifle, AWP, pistol, and maybe a knife.
- Check float and pattern: Two of the same skins can look different based on float value and pattern index.
- Balance budget vs. rarity: Sometimes a cheaper Restricted or Classified skin with a great pattern looks better than an overhyped Covert.
Watching pro matches can be a great inspiration source: keep an eye on what skins your favorite players equip during big events like the Austin Major or Cologne.
How awards shape the CS2 meta and skins market
The HLTV Awards don\'t just recognize performance—they also influence how fans see the game and how they build their inventories.
Here\'s how:
- Player of the Year impact: When a player wins, their signature weapons and loadout often become more popular. If that player favors a specific skin, demand can spike.
- Highlight of the Year clips: Iconic multi-kills and clutches are often replayed for months. Any distinctive skin visible in those plays tends to get extra attention.
- Creator and Streamer influence: Content creators and streamers nominated for awards frequently showcase new or underrated skins, shaping community trends.
- Event branding: Majors and elite LANs with powerful visual identity can boost skins that match those themes—dark, futuristic, clean, or colorful.
For traders and collectors, knowing who\'s winning awards and which tournaments are peaking in viewership can provide hints about skins that might rise in popularity. Even if you\'re not speculating for profit, it\'s a smart way to stay ahead of trends and pick up cool looks before everyone else starts chasing them.
Conclusion: What to watch before the 2025 HLTV Awards night
As we approach the 2025 HLTV Awards ceremony in Belgrade, there are a few key storylines to keep an eye on:
- Which players will fill out the remaining spots in the Top 20 CS2 players list.
- Who emerges on top in tightly contested categories like Opener, AWPer, and IGL of the Year.
- How the community votes shape the outcomes for Talent, Streamer, Creator, and especially Skin of the Year.
- Which roster will be crowned Team of the Year, and who will finally claim the coveted Player of the Year title.
At the same time, the awards spotlight how deeply connected CS2\'s pro scene is with its skins and trading culture. If you want to ride that wave into 2026 with a refreshed inventory, marketplaces like cs2 skins and trading platforms can help you build a loadout that stands out in ranked and FACEIT lobbies alike.
As HLTV continues to reveal more finalists and the awards night draws closer, expect more debates, predictions, and highlight reels—all part of what keeps the Counter-Strike 2 ecosystem one of the most vibrant in esports.
