YEKINDAR Ranked 15th in HLTV’s Top 20 Players of 2025

Young Latvian player Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis, who represents Brazilian organization FURIA, has once again made it into HLTV’s Top 20 Players of the Year. This time, YEKINDAR secured the 15th spot in the ranking and continues to build his personal legacy together with FURIA.

Why YEKINDAR Made the HLTV Top 20 in 2025

In April 2025, FURIA brought YEKINDAR into the lineup as a stand-in for the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025. For many fans and analysts, this move came as a surprise, as YEKINDAR, who was playing for Team Liquid at the time, had struggled to achieve significant results.

Nevertheless, at the Austin Major, YEKINDAR and his new team advanced to the playoffs, where they were eliminated by paiN, finishing the tournament in 5–8th place. Despite the loss, this was considered a strong result for a team that officially signed YEKINDAR to its active roster shortly after the Major.

Thanks to young talents such as molody and YEKINDAR, FURIA gained serious momentum toward the end of the second half of the 2025 season. Over the span of just two months, YEKINDAR and his teammates won four prestigious tournaments: FISSURE Playground #2, Thunderpick World Championship 2025, Intel Extreme Masters Chengdu 2025, and BLAST Rivals Fall 2025.

Particularly impressive was FURIA’s dominant 3–0 victory over Vitality in the grand final of IEM Chengdu 2025. This run established FURIA as one of the main contenders for the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. Unfortunately, under heavy pressure and expectations, FURIA were eliminated in the playoffs after a close 2–1 loss to NAVI.

YEKINDAR’s 2025 Performance Summary

It is fair to say that with FURIA, YEKINDAR significantly improved his individual form while having a major impact on the team’s success. Throughout 2025, he played 173 maps, averaging 80.5 ADR, a 72.4% KAST, and a 1.09 rating.

He also posted strong individual numbers against elite competition, with a 1.13 rating versus top-5 teams and a 1.06 rating against top-10 teams in the HLTV rankings. These statistics highlight the Latvian rifler’s excellent form and his confidence when facing the strongest opponents.

Looking ahead to 2026, another year packed with major tournaments awaits. YEKINDAR and FURIA will undoubtedly look to take revenge and prove that their success in 2025 was no coincidence.

YEKINDAR’s Bold Prediction

As part of the Bold Prediction segment, YEKINDAR named Russian player xiELO from PARIVISION as his standout pick. According to YEKINDAR, xiELO represents the new generation of esports players — fast decision-makers who stay constantly “in the flow” and possess an excellent feel for the game.

He emphasized that xiELO consistently takes the right positions early, has precise aim, and shows outstanding awareness of what is happening on the map. In YEKINDAR’s opinion, this deep understanding of the in-game environment is the key quality that could become the foundation for xiELO’s major breakthrough at the top level.