HLTV has announced the finalists for its 2025 HLTV Awards presented by 1xBet, narrowing a field of nominees to a select group of contenders recognized for their performances and contributions across the Counter-Strike scene this year. The ceremony is scheduled for Jan. 10, 2026, at the Blue Hall of the Sava Centar in Belgrade, which HLTV says will mark the largest edition of the event to date.

The finalists were selected following several weeks of deliberation by a panel that included broadcast talent, HLTV editorial staff, and representatives from top professional teams. Among the notable finalists are William “mezii” Merriman, Danil “donk” Kryshkovets, and Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov, who appear across key award categories such as Anchor of the Year, Opener of the Year, and AWPer of the Year.

The HLTV Awards are divided into three groups: Panel Awards chosen by industry representatives, Community Awards determined by fan voting through Dec. 31, and a set of HLTV-decided honors. HLTV has also begun its annual Top 20 countdown for 2025, revealing one ranked player per day leading up to the announcement of the final top three on the night of the show.

Panel Awards finalists span multiple competitive roles, including Closer of the Year — featuring David “frozen” Čerňanský, Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato, and Robin “ropz” Kool — and IGL of the Year, where Dan “apEX” Madesclaire, Garidmagnai “bLitz” Byambasuren, and Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo are in contention. Other categories recognize coaches, highlight moments, and standout openers, with Kryshkovets’ 1v5 round versus Vitality listed among the Highlight of the Year finalists.

Community Awards nominees include Talent of the Year, Streamer of the Year, Creator of the Year, Event of the Year, and Skin of the Year, with fans able to cast votes until the end of December. Additional HLTV-selected awards — such as Rookie of the Year, Women’s Player and Team of the Year, and Team of the Year — will also be presented during the ceremony, alongside the culminating Player of the Year announcement.

Founded in 2002, HLTV operates as a long-running Counter-Strike coverage platform, known for its statistics database, rankings, awards, and community forums. The upcoming awards show continues the organization’s annual celebration of players, teams, and contributors across the professional Counter-Strike ecosystem.