XANTARES Ranked 15th on HLTV's List of the Best Players of 2024

On December 30, 2024, HLTV announced the 15th place in this year's ranking of the best players in Counter-Strike 2. The spot was claimed by Turkish player İsmailсan "XANTARES" Dörtkardeş. Notably, this marks the first time the 29-year-old player has made it into the top 20 players of the year, making it a significant milestone in his career.

This year, the consistent player of the Eternal Fire team showcased impressive statistics and outstanding teamwork. His overall rating was 1.15, DPR – 0.67, KAST – 74.6%, and Impact rating – 1.26. Most of his best performances were delivered at S-tier tournaments, solidifying his well-deserved spot in this year's HLTV top-20.

Career Highlights and Achievements

The brightest star of Turkish Counter-Strike 2 becomes the first player ever to debut in the top 20 at the age of 29, finally achieving the personal recognition he earned through fantastic raw statistics and EVP nods at the Copenhagen Major and EPL Season 20. But these are not his only accomplishments, and we’ll explore what makes this renowned player so exceptional.

XANTARES made his professional debut more than 10 years ago, initially playing for local teams and gradually climbing the ranks. Tournament by tournament, he and his team Space Soldiers upset some of the biggest names in CS at the time and earned a reputation as one of the scene's most promising talents. In 2018, he joined BIG, where he earned numerous EVP awards at S-tier tournaments and was crowned MVP at DreamHack Summer.

In 2021, XANTARES transitioned to the Turkish team Eternal Fire. This move reaffirmed his commitment to his primary goal: building a strong Turkish Counter-Strike 2 scene. Since then, he has consistently delivered solid performances for the team, further cementing his legacy.

2024 Recap and Bold Prediction

XANTARES' main achievements in 2024 include winning the CCT Season 1 Global Finals, earning an EVP nod at PGL Major Copenhagen, and finishing second in the MVP race at ESL Pro League Season 20. He also boasts some of the highest ratings among all players. However, since Eternal Fire did not qualify for several major tournaments, he fell short in the overall HLTV top-20 rankings.

Bold prediction: XANTARES - Vladislav "⁠xiELO⁠" Lysov, a player from GUN5, who has a 1.19 rating over the last three months and 31.4% opening attempts.

How would you rate XANTARES' position in the list of the top 20 players of the year in Counter-Strike 2?