IM Ranked 16th on HLTV's List of the Best Players of 2024

On Dec 29, 2024, HLTV announced the 16th spot in this year's ranking of the best players in Counter-Strike 2. This place was taken by NaVi player Mihai "iM" Ivan. Notably, this marks the first time a player from Romania has made it into the top 20 players of the year, making it a significant achievement.

This year, iM didn’t have the highest individual statistics but consistently showcased excellent teamwork and stable performance. His overall rating was 1.09, with a DPR of 0.67, KAST of 70.5%, and an impact score of 1.14. It’s important to note that this is iM’s first appearance in HLTV’s Top 20, and he fully deserved his position in this year’s ranking.

Career Highlights and Achievements

The 25-year-old player began his esports journey in 2015, competing for local teams and gradually honing his skills. Eventually, his talent caught the attention of more professional organizations, leading to his recruitment by GamerLegion, where he first gained recognition. With GamerLegion, he achieved a runner-up finish at BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023 before joining Natus Vincere.

This was undoubtedly the right move, as NAVI is a much stronger team that needed a stable player to fill critical gaps in their roster. Starting in 2023, iM, together with his team, claimed victories at PGL Major Copenhagen 2024, Esports World Cup 2024, ESL Pro League Season 20, and several other top-tier tournaments.

2024 Recap and Bold Prediction

After learning about his placement in HLTV’s Top 20 CS2 Players of 2024, iM shared his thoughts:

"It's a nice feeling. I didn't expect to make it because of my first six months of the year, it was rough, but I'm happy to be here."

The player also reflected on the outcomes of 2024 for himself and the team:

"We are very satisfied; it was a crazy year. I’m very thankful for it. A lot of experience from the finals, so many emotions because we played on so many stages, so many playoffs, different crowds on different continents… It's been insane."

Naturally, iM also made his bold prediction, naming his compatriot Mădălin-Andrei "⁠MoDo⁠" Mirea as a potential breakout star.