flameZ Ranked 7th in HLTV’s Top 20 Players of 2025

Israeli rifler Shahar "flameZ" Shushan once again confirmed his status as an elite player on the global stage. At the end of the season, he placed 7th in HLTV’s Top 20, repeating his result from last year. In 2025, flameZ dominated together with Team Vitality, becoming a key part of the most successful team of the year and solidifying his reputation as one of the most consistent top-tier players in international CS2.

Why flameZ Made the HLTV Top 20 in 2025

Vitality’s entry fragger had an undeniably strong year. Alongside Vitality, flameZ won nine major tournaments, including two Majors — BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 and StarLadder Budapest Major 2025.

Vitality also finished second at BLAST Open Fall 2025 and Intel Extreme Masters Chengdu 2025. Despite facing some minor struggles toward the end of the season, the team was able to analyze its shortcomings and ultimately reaffirm its status as the strongest team of the year.

flameZ 2025 Performance Summary

In 2025, flameZ played 200 maps, posting an average ADR of 75.1, KAST of 74.9%, and a 1.12 rating. In addition, he earned EVP honors four times, at ESL Pro League Season 21, ESL Pro League Season 22, BLAST Open Fall 2025, and Intel Extreme Masters Chengdu 2025. Notably, at the latter two events, despite Vitality finishing second, flameZ once again demonstrated his consistent individual form.

Even though Vitality remained within the top 1–3 of the world rankings throughout the year, flameZ maintained a 1.09 rating against top-5 and top-10 teams. His sharp understanding of opponents and fearless decision-making in crucial rounds often proved decisive in high-stakes matches.

flameZ’s Bold Prediction

In the Bold Prediction segment, Shahar "flameZ" Shushan highlighted young Swedish talent MaiL09, whom he considers one of the most interesting prospects of his generation. According to flameZ, he played several games with MaiL09 on FACEIT and also spoke with him on Teamspeak, noting his sincerity, curiosity, and rare openness to criticism — even from non-professional players.

flameZ was particularly impressed by MaiL09’s lack of ego and strong willingness to learn, qualities he sees as huge advantages for long-term development. While MaiL09’s performances with Metizport were not always consistent, flameZ believes this may have been due to him playing roles that did not suit his strengths.

The bold prediction from the Israeli rifler is that with the right role and proper, structured development, MaiL09 has all the tools to grow into a high-level player and eventually make his mark on the top tier of the European CS2 scene.