sh1ro Named Among the World’s Top 5 Players in HLTV Ranking for 2025

Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov has once again confirmed his status as one of the elite players on the CS2 professional scene. According to the authoritative HLTV.org ranking, the star AWPer finished 5th in the list of the best players of 2025, earning a place among the very top competitors of the season.

HLTV Top 5 Finish in 2025

The 2025 season marked sh1ro’s fifth consecutive appearance in the HLTV Top 20, but this time he firmly secured a spot in the upper tier of the ranking. HLTV analysts highlighted his consistency, efficiency, and long-term impact throughout the year as the key reasons behind his high placement.

Playing as the main AWPer for Team Spirit, sh1ro remained one of the most reliable performers on the scene, delivering strong results across multiple premier LAN events and against the toughest opposition.

A Trophy-Filled Season with Team Spirit

The 2025 campaign became one of the most successful in sh1ro’s career. He played a decisive role in Team Spirit’s victories at several major tournaments:

• BLAST Bounty Finals — champions, with an outstanding 1.43 rating and an EVP award
• PGL Astana — tournament winners and another EVP recognition
• IEM Cologne — title secured with a major individual contribution in the decisive stages

Over the entire season, sh1ro finished with an average rating of 1.20, placing him among the most efficient players in CS2. HLTV also emphasized his exceptionally high “floor,” underlining his ability to maintain top-level performances even under pressure.

Why sh1ro Made the Top 5

HLTV analysts pointed out several factors that earned sh1ro a place among the five best players of the year:

• Six EVP awards across the season
• Consistently high ratings against top-tier opponents
• A crucial role in Team Spirit’s success, especially alongside team leader donk
• Regular appearances and strong performances at elite LAN tournaments

At the same time, HLTV noted that sh1ro slightly trailed some competitors in terms of peak impact during the most decisive moments, which ultimately kept him at fifth place rather than higher.

Expert and Community Reactions

Players and analysts alike praised sh1ro’s 2025 campaign. Several professionals ranked him among the top three AWPers of the year, alongside ZywOo and m0NESY. Within the community, debates continue over whether his consistency should outweigh the explosive impact shown by other contenders in the biggest matches.