HLTV Award Show: Nominees for the final categories

31/12/2022 - 20:17

The last set of nominees, this time those decided by HLTV staff, are revealed.

Having revealed the nominees for the panel vote yesterday, this article will concern the final set of awards that will be handed out at the HLTV Award Show 2022 by 1xBet on January 14. These awards did not use the expert panel, instead being decided by HLTV staff.

The list is in full:

- Highlight of the year
- Rookie of the year
- Women's player of the year
- Women's team of the year
- Team of the year
- Player of the year

Though the team of the year and highlight of the year were awarded last year, this is the first year that they will be incorporated into the red carpet Award Show in Stockholm. There are also completely new awards, including the women's player and team of the year, as well as an official award for the rookie of the year.

Highlight of the year

Ilya "⁠m0NESY⁠" Osipov's AWP 1v4 vs. MIBR on Inferno
Robin "⁠ropz⁠" Kool's Ace to force OT vs. G2 on Inferno
Helvijs "⁠broky⁠" Saukants' 1v4 AWP ace clutch vs. Astralis on Nuke

m0NESY burst onto the tier one scene at BLAST Premier Spring groups with this clutch against MIBR, a flashy and stylish way to announce your arrival.

This highlight had substance to go with its style, a ropz ace at 14-15 in the IEM Katowice grand final to take the game to overtime.

Finally, broky's 1v4 against Astralis with some quick noscopes and playing around with the squeaky door on Nuke's lower bombsite rounds out the list.

Rookie of the year

This is the first time we are awarding the rookie of the year title officially, meaning several parameters had to be laid out to establish what a 'rookie' really is. A degree of context is always needed for something like this, but our general rule of thumb was the following:

- Fewer than 50 maps versus Top 20 opposition
- No appearances at the Legends stage of a Major
- Fewer than 20 weeks in the Top 20 of our ranking

Once we have decided who is eligible, HLTV staff come up with a shortlist and sift through it in the same way we decide the Top 20 list. The nominees for this year, in alphabetical order, are the following:

Ilya "⁠m0NESY⁠" Osipov
Robert "⁠Patsi⁠" Isyanov
Igor "⁠w0nderful⁠" Zhdanov

Though all three this time around are teenagers, there is no age requirement for this award; it is all about tier one experience. As such, 26-year-old Dion "⁠FASHR⁠" Derksen was eligible this year, and Alvaro "⁠SunPayus⁠" Garcia was very close to being considered as well.

m0NESY's nomination needs little explanation. The 17-year-old was signed for big money by G2 and rarely looked uncomfortable against the very best players in the world. After Rasmus "⁠HooXi⁠" Nielsen's arrival as in-game leader, he was given more responsibility and his performance went to a new level, even grabbing an MVP at BLAST Premier World Final.

Patsi and w0nderful are products of the Spirit pipeline, both excelling under the tutelage of Major specialist Leonid "⁠chopper⁠" Vishnyakov. Patsi is a space creator in the ilk of Mareks "⁠YEKINDAR⁠" Gaļinskis, finishing the year with 1.29 Impact and 0.16 opening kills per round. w0nderful is more withdrawn, a more passive AWPer than m0NESY shown by his 43% survival rate and 75.5% KAST — but his 0.73 KPR shows that he packs more than a punch too.

Women's player of the year

Another inaugural award for 2022 is the women's player of the year. ESL Impact brought LAN competition back to the women's game, offering a spotlight for a new generation to shine.

Ana "⁠ANa⁠" Dumbravă
Olga "⁠Olga⁠" Rodrigues
Ksenia "⁠vilga⁠" Kluenkova

vilga, a veteran from the dominant Secret fe side, once again found success in 2022 as Nigma Galaxy collected three LAN trophies at ESL Impact's season finals and ESL Impact Valencia. She was a key part of their success, posting 1.47 Impact across those three LAN tournaments and 89.1 ADR.

Olga bettered that with a 1.54 Impact rating and 98.3 ADR at those three LAN events, the ultra-aggressive spearhead of FURIA fe finding unparalleled success in the early round. Where Nigma Galaxy took all three LAN trophies, Olga's FURIA fe went home with three silver medals; but Olga shone throughout.

ANa is the superstar AWPer of Nigma Galaxy, posting a 1.39 LAN rating and a 1.27 rating if we include all matches. At those 3 LANs, she opened up a kill-differential of +167, meaning she scored 8 more kills than deaths per map.

Women's team of the year

As we said in the player's section, Nigma Galaxy reigned supreme for 2022 by winning all three ESL Impact LAN tournaments. They boasted a 22-10 win-loss record in all competitions, that becoming 18-2 when we restrict their results to LAN.

Nigma Galaxy
FURIA fe
CLG Red

FURIA fe were Nigma Galaxy's closest competition on LAN, losing in three consecutive finals. They were strong in local competition, placing 1st in all but one HLTV-recorded online competition they entered.

CLG Red are a similar story, dominating locally but falling short once they arrived at LAN. In fact, they recorded a 22-0 record online in 2022, not even losing a single map in HLTV-recorded competition on home soil.

Team of the year

The team of the year is based on ranking gains over 2022, using three-man cores as the deciding factor rather than the organisation. For more details, here is the corresponding article from 2021:

Top 10 teams of 2021

Using those metrics, these are the three teams to make 2022's podium:

FaZe
G2
Natus Vincere

FaZe spent 25 weeks at the top of our rankings this year, Finn "⁠karrigan⁠" Andersen's squad elevating themselves after ropz's arrival to monopolise elite events in the first half of the year. Natus Vincere were their closest competition in that period, losing several close finals and claiming the #1 spot on more than a few occasions. G2 also make the top three, spending time in the top three after their grand final appearance at IEM Katowice and after their win at BLAST Premier World Final.

Player of the year

There are no nominees for this award just yet, given that it is automatically awarded to the #1 player on our Top 20 list, with the three nominees being the top three of that list. That kicks off tomorrow, with our traditional countdown finishing at the HLTV Award Show on January 14th in Stockholm.

Top 20 players of 2022: Introduction

liquid deserved their nomination for team of the year tbh

2022-12-31 20:17

25 replies

G2 team of the year💀💀💀💀💀

2022-12-31 20:28

9 replies

yeah they are like 5th or 6th lol

2022-12-31 21:02

2 replies

Is there any voting link?

2023-01-01 05:49

1 reply

Heroic?

2023-01-01 14:23

lmao the g2 pick is horrible

2022-12-31 21:56

You hating cause we winning EZ

2023-01-01 01:53

1 event

2023-01-01 06:26

Dont you know that 1 event in recent history > anyone and everything

2023-01-01 18:05

I love G2 but they don’t even kind of deserve this nomination.

2023-01-01 02:29

I laughed so hard when I saw this, it's gotta be a troll pick

2023-01-01 15:53

For trying hard? :)

2022-12-31 20:36

name, flair, flag

2022-12-31 20:44

3 replies

still much more consistent than g2 lul

2023-01-01 07:24

debatable

2023-01-01 10:53

both up and down teams but G2 had more playoff appearances including finals appearances

2023-01-01 14:15

How?

2022-12-31 20:50

Read his name

2022-12-31 20:59

heroic*

2022-12-31 21:25

True

2022-12-31 23:04

Liquid 0 wins

2023-01-01 01:59

Team of the year = Faze Player of the year = Ropz

2023-01-01 02:22

Yes, their single grand final apearance was better than G2, final win/final appearances, Vitas final win, heroics major final apearnace and final win, outsiders major final win, C9s final win, ences 2 final apearances

2023-01-01 02:38

yeah, cry about it

2023-01-01 09:19

torzsi player of the year

2023-01-01 06:30

0 trophies 0 major legend 0/8

2023-01-01 09:35

G2? LMAO

2022-12-31 20:18

Imagine thinking G2 was a better team than Liquid/Vitality/Heroic this year

2022-12-31 20:19

14 replies

They were. World finals much higher caliber than Heroic win, Vita EPL, or Liquid EPL 2nd place (kkkkkk sold by EliGE). Vitality underperformed massively considering they had Spinx and ZywOo and failed to utilize either. Heroic won their first LAN event but they had the home crowd buff (Danish fans kk). Tell me what any of these teams accomplished that overpowers a 2nd place finish at Kato, and a 1st place finish at World Finals.

2022-12-31 21:12

13 replies

What overpowers G2 is pretty much what G2 didn't do. >>>>>>>>>>>Failed to qualify to Rio<<<<<<<<<<<<<< Grouped at: EPL 15, Antwerp Major, Cologne. And just mediocre performances overall, except Katowice fluke run. And World Finals ofc G2 had two good tournaments all year, rest of the tournaments they were not that great.

2022-12-31 22:21

6 replies

EPL doesn’t count as a real S tier event and neither does Blast Seasonal Final Events (just used to give events in Denmark). I just don’t see how not qualifying for Rio gets rid of all G2 accomplished

2022-12-31 22:42

5 replies

lil bro saying blast world finals win with heroic stand in is high caliber then saying epl and blast fall/spring events are not even s tier 💀 Bro g2 not only didnt make rio, failed groups epl 15, 6th in dallas 12th in cologne, 4th in epl 16 , 6th in blast fall, what you on about😭

2023-01-01 00:11

EPL literally has no crowd it’s basically a online event on par with Pineapple cups. Fall Finals is worth less than the WORLD finals

2023-01-01 00:17

🌪️😵‍💫 twisted

2023-01-01 01:39

"I just don’t see how not qualifying for Rio gets rid of all G2 accomplished" Damn, i guess i forgot how successful G2 was in 2022! One 1st place and one 2nd place, what a year for a tier 1 org indeed :D ! And again the other tournaments they played in they were mediocre at best. G2 were impressive in 2/11 S-tier tournaments this year (using liquipedias tier system) Failed to qualify to Rio btw

2023-01-01 02:51

G2 made this year 2 finals(1 trophy), 2 semifinals and 2 quarterfinals, whole year they were in top 5-6, also on start of the year #3 and now on the end also #3

2023-01-01 03:19

Delusion at it's finest

2023-01-01 00:08

4 replies

Let’s not act like the pick between Heroic and G2 wasn’t a hard one. G2 is justified nomination, and FaZe is winning regardless

2023-01-01 00:10

Heroic were major finalists, u could argue even Outsiders deserves the nomination over G2 considering they won a major with a new team without buying anyone out.

If we are talking about financial value Sprout or Copenhagen Flames would be nominated but that’s not what the category is about

2023-01-01 05:19

Sure, but they don’t have any impressive results apart from Flames making quarters at Antwerp before selling the team

2023-01-02 11:32

ibb.co/YRvxbTp G2 is clearly not a top3 teams of 2022. but they still got money to pay hltv apparently

G2 in top team of the yr?

No Heroic???? In the team of the year??? And G2 is there because they made like 3 deep runs and winning a partner trophy with a roster with too much money invested in (compared to other teams).

2022-12-31 20:20

might has well get Aleksib with IGL of the year He won a local lan in sweeden and was part of the big nominated team "G2" And even made a bettter run then them at the Major. (I love aleksib but this is a Joke , he would never be a TOP3 IGL this year , just like G2 should never be a top3 team) What a joke

2022-12-31 20:22

facts

2022-12-31 20:25

G2 lmao xd literally 1 blast trophy

2022-12-31 20:21

G2 most laugh threads on HLTV team of the year

I cannot believe g2 is a nominee for team of the year. Call me salty but Jesus. Easy for FaZe tbh.

Well G2 is a nominee so who knows what they thinking might end up giving it to G2

if faze is not getting team of the year than i dont know anymore with hltv

2023-01-01 13:58

Honestly the nomination of G2 should be enough for that Its outrageous with teams like Heroic in the mix

2023-01-01 23:26

Joke

with all due respect for g2, tthey don't deserve to be nominated

2022-12-31 20:23

G2 over Heroic is a joke.

and Outsiders

2022-12-31 20:29

outsiders is a joke lmao

2022-12-31 21:18

Lolololololololololo what a scam

2022-12-31 20:27

ropz m0NESY ANa Nigma Galaxy FaZe s1mple

2022-12-31 20:30

yeah seems about right

2023-01-01 14:28

nailed it

2023-01-08 13:15

G2 is clearly not top 3 team this year... Heroic got robbed of a nomanation although FaZe would win it anyways.

2022-12-31 20:32

m0nesy m0nesy idk idk faze s1mple

2022-12-31 20:34

G2 was shit for 90% of the year

Ropz, m0nesy, ANa, Nigma Galaxy, FaZe, s1mple In that order

ROTY: m0nesy Womens player: Olga womens team: Nigma galaxy Team of the year: Faze Player of the year: s1mple/hooxi (tie)

Imagine thinking s0mple is at a similar level to goat hooxi

M0nesy Wonderful ANa Nigma Galaxy FaZe s1mple

2022-12-31 20:37

Nice

2022-12-31 20:38

I thought the broky highlight would be that one on mid of Inferno against NIP :(

2022-12-31 20:42

Was more memorable cuz crowd Broky ace 1v4 vs astralis would be sick if it was with crowd Ropz will get it cuz it had more impact + first lan of the year ( Broky clutch had impact too, they went through cuz of that, they were playing bad that day, but was a qualifier )

2022-12-31 20:45

I'd rather put that 1v1 between rain and s1mple in mirage as highlight of the year tbh, I've never seen anything like it

2022-12-31 20:46

That was THE best 1v1 of all time for sure

2022-12-31 20:53

Heroic snubbed, G2 were dogshit for most of the year and even missed a major.

G2?????

2022-12-31 20:54

Everyone forgot that G2 was a runner-up in the IEM Katowice

Even if you consider Katowice, Heroic was better at more prestigious tournaments in 2022 Herioic - semi finalist at IEM Katowice - quarter finalist at PGL Antwerp Major - 13-16th at IEM Cologne - runner up at IEM Rio Major G2 - runner up at IEM Katowice - 9-11th at PGL Antwerp Major - 9-12th at IEM Cologne - Couldn't even play IEM Rio Major Plus Heroic made play-offs at both EPLs while G2 only one

But G2 made to the semi final at EPL 16. Btw their both achievements are almost look equal to me.

2022-12-31 21:24

the difference at the majors is night and day what semis at epl s16=playoffs at both epls

2022-12-31 22:41

I hope HLTV will make new badges for winners on players pages Like "Rookie of the 2022" "AWP of the 2022" etc

2022-12-31 21:04

G2 over Heroic and Outsiders lol

2022-12-31 21:00

Olga 💀

ikr

2023-01-01 01:51

Don't say nothing about that or ban inc.

2023-01-02 11:04

Bro what a scam I can't

2022-12-31 21:07

even tho I wanna Olga to win, Ana was crazy good this year. also wtf is G2 doing there? Like I get u guys are Niko's fanboys but this is just outrageous. G2 was the worst tier 1 team in this year. Before the last event I was even considering that they would disband. How on earth they are nominated but not Heroic or Outsiders? literally the major winner

the award is for the woman player,

2023-01-01 01:52

I know.

2023-01-01 02:08

crazy how we wouldn't have gotten that monesy highlight with the awp nerf

2022-12-31 21:27

g2? xd

2022-12-31 21:30

Why is G2 here? ence were more consistent the entire year

2022-12-31 22:01

Lol .i don't even remember ence playing much in 2nd half

2023-01-01 12:56

wish they had done this last year so niko couldve won something (highlight of the year kkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk)

2022-12-31 22:16

Heroic absolutely robbed

2022-12-31 22:20

Ropz highlight just considering the importance of the round combined with the skill of it

2022-12-31 22:26

-m0nesy vs mibr clutch (tbh it's overrated as hell and not important) +Twistzz 1v3 Overpass or Nuke 14-14 play (I would put the Nuke one because it's more important, but the Overpass one was the sickest clutch of the year imo) -G2 nominee team of the year (HLTV r u high?) +Heroic (made 2 finals and won one, matching G2, but had a higher consistent level throughout the year)

2022-12-31 22:44

why is G2 on top 2?? G2 havent done shit lowkey, because of yekindar liquid came back stronger than before, I wonder how much G2 is paying them at this point niko hasint done shit either, the only positive player in G@ is monesy and no one else

2022-12-31 22:55

Why does nigma have eu flag?

2022-12-31 23:03

man idk about g2 just cuz they won blast world which was their first event in years, but at the same time not sure about heroic

2023-01-01 00:28

especially since they changed players a few times sooo

2023-01-01 03:43

ropz m0nesy ANa Nigma Galaxy FaZe s1mple Everything else is objectively wrong

2023-01-01 01:21

i would put patsi over monesy but everything else looks fine... Not s1mple tough.

g2 bought up the spot i swear

2023-01-01 02:18

G2 team of the year ? OMEGALUL

2023-01-01 02:44

after matchfixing, hltv awards fixing. wheres ESIC to put some justice here ... ho wait... Im too delusional to think HLTV's pro beer drinkers during itw were not biased by free money... damn :/

2023-01-01 02:57

ropz ace best no doubt

2023-01-01 03:48

G2 AYY LMAO! How much did Carlos pay hltv?

2023-01-01 04:05

ji tu really...

2023-01-01 04:09

Bruh why G2? I mean NaVi has to be here or Heroic

2023-01-01 05:17

G2 too bad for rio major

2023-01-01 05:30

ropz ace m0NESY ANa Nigma Galaxy FaZe s1mple

2023-01-01 05:41

G2 top3? Joke event. This sport is dead

2023-01-01 08:13

Most easly year for Jame JAME TIME!

2023-01-01 10:28

G2 for blast shit? what about major winner outsiders? or heroic or liquid. HLTV clowns

2023-01-01 11:20

seriously? female cs? stop this bullshit already, there should be no separation between men and women, the fact that women suck doesn't justify that, might as well just watch me play faceit.

2023-01-01 11:49

No BiBiAhn? Smh Micky mouse ranking

2023-01-01 12:35

More like single digit iq clowns failing to realise that g2 had good finishes in 4-5 big events. Blast world finals - 1st Katowice - 2nd Blast spring - 3-4 EPL 16 - 3-4 Other than that they also had playoffs runs in Dallas and fall finals. No other teams including heroic had this much success over the year. But still I understand it is surprising because people tend to remember about lows. G2s lows are such lows that people forget about their good results.

2023-01-01 13:07

Heroic>g2 Heroic major final and major playoff G2 missed playoff and didn't even qualify for the 2 major.

2023-01-01 14:29

nice hate against certain region. No Outsiders in team of the year and no Jame clutch in clutch of the year ggwp hltv

2023-01-01 13:42

Bcz outsiders did nothing in the year except major

Highlight: ropz

2023-01-01 14:22

2023-01-01 15:31

M0nesy 1v3 AWP clutch against NaVi at Katowice was better.

2023-01-01 16:17

G2 team of the year for winning one tournament and being shit the rest of the year!!? Talk about recency bias

2023-01-01 17:02

G2 was involved in a major final and won blast final with flying colours so yeah they deserve to be up there..btw G2 starting to look scary.. finally

2023-01-01 22:00

m0nesy m0NESY ANa Nigma Galaxy FaZe s1mple very ez very easy

2023-01-02 02:26

Honestly... monesy with the three misses in that 1v4 clutch shouldn't be in this category .. I'm pretty sure there are lots of highlights out there instead of that ..

2023-01-02 15:09