All HLTV Top-1 Players in Counter-Strike History (2010–2025). Where Are They Now?

HLTV awarded the title of the world’s best Counter-Strike player for the first time in 2010. Back then, Bitcoin was worth $0.003, donk was only three years old, and the server was ruled by the legendary golden roster of Natus Vincere. Since then, Counter-Strike has gone through several eras, engine changes, and generational shifts. But every player who once reached the very top of the HLTV ranking secured a permanent place in esports history.

Here’s how the careers of all HLTV Top-1 players unfolded — and where they are today.

2010. Markeloff, 2011. Neo, 2013 & 2014. GeT_RiGhT, 2015. olofmeister, 2016 & 2017. Coldzera, 2018, 2021 & 2022. s1mple, 2019, 2020, 2023 & 2025. ZywOo, 2024. donk

2010. Markeloff

Markeloff became the first officially recognized best player of the year in Counter-Strike history. His 2010 season with NAVI was phenomenal: three major international tournament victories in a single year, something that today would be comparable to winning multiple Majors.

He remained active on the professional scene until 2018, representing several teams after leaving NAVI. The turning point came when Flipsid3 lost to Syman in a closed Minor qualifier. According to Egor himself, he lost motivation and asked to be benched. What started as a break turned into a six-year hiatus.

In 2024, Markeloff unexpectedly returned to official play, substituting mid-map for Favbet. The team won the match, but Egor soon returned to his main focus — streaming Counter-Strike regularly. Later that year, HLTV inducted him into the Hall of Fame, cementing his legendary status.

2011. Neo

Neo’s legacy predates his 2011 Top-1 finish. In 2009, HLTV already named him Player of the Decade. Two years later, he claimed the official best player of the year title.

Throughout his career, Filip played for numerous iconic teams, with his greatest success coming in Virtus.pro alongside TaZ and Snax. One of the most curious chapters came in 2013, when he won a tournament in Prague as part of a mix team featuring TaZ, kennyS, apEX, and OverDrive.

Today, Neo remains at the highest level of esports — but behind the scenes. He serves as a coach for FaZe Clan, who recently reached the Major final in Budapest. Interestingly, FaZe captain karrigan is only three years younger than Neo.

2013 & 2014. GeT_RiGhT

After the transition to CS:GO, the HLTV Top-1 award returned in 2013, and it went straight to GeT_RiGhT. With Ninjas in Pyjamas, he achieved one of the most legendary records in esports history — 87 consecutive LAN map wins, a streak that still stands today.

In 2014, GeT_RiGhT finally won a Major after losing two finals earlier in his career. The image of him crying on stage with the trophy became one of the most iconic photos in esports history. He ended the year by claiming his second consecutive Top-1 title.

Today, Christopher regularly streams Majors, plays Counter-Strike on broadcast, and occasionally competes in smaller tournaments. Recently, he even scored an ace against BC.Game, featuring s1mple and electronic — a symbolic clash of eras.

2015. olofmeister

The Swedish era continued in 2015, with olofmeister taking the top spot. He was known not only for his mechanical skill but also for his involvement in the most infamous bug-abuse incident in CS history. At DreamHack Winter 2014, olof used a forbidden boost on Overpass, leading Fnatic to withdraw from the tournament.

In 2017, he joined FaZe Clan and spent eight years with the organization, four of them on the bench. His final contract ended in November 2025.

Today, olofmeister is a highly active Twitch streamer with nearly one million followers. Like many legends, he now spends his time watching tournaments, playing CS casually, and enjoying retirement — already inducted into the HLTV Hall of Fame.

2016 & 2017. Coldzera

Coldzera remains the only Brazilian player to reach HLTV Top-1 — and he did it twice in a row. His legendary jumping quad-kill on Mirage B site against Liquid at MLG Columbus 2016 is still one of the most replayed highlights in Counter-Strike history.

Over a decade-long career, he represented Luminosity, SK, FaZe, and several Brazilian teams. In October 2025, Marcelo left ODDIK and shifted his focus to streaming. Given his experience and legacy, a return to professional play is still possible.

2018, 2021 & 2022. s1mple

Widely regarded as the GOAT of CS:GO, s1mple won three Top-1 titles while playing for NAVI. For years, it seemed impossible to imagine Counter-Strike without s1mple and NAVI together.

That changed in 2024, when he went inactive. NAVI later loaned him to Falcons and FaZe. In July 2025, he officially left the organization. His new home became BC.Game, which also signed his former teammate electronic. The team currently sits around the top-25 in Valve’s ranking and is preparing for IEM Krakow.

2019, 2020, 2023 & 2025. ZywOo

S1mple’s greatest rival dominated the HLTV rankings across multiple eras. ZywOo became the best player of the year four times — all while staying with Team Vitality, which he joined back in 2018.

Even during inconsistent team periods, Mathieu consistently remained in the top three players worldwide. In 2025, Vitality achieved a rare feat with four players appearing in the HLTV Top-20, while ZywOo himself earned two Major MVP titles and reclaimed the Top-1 crown.

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2024. donk

Donk delivered the most explosive rookie season in Counter-Strike history, instantly becoming the most talked-about player in the community. His aggressive style, raw aim, and impact reshaped expectations for riflers at the top level.

In 2025, his individual performance only improved, but it coincided with Vitality’s era of dominance, limiting Team Spirit’s trophy count. Given donk’s age and trajectory, his biggest achievements — and possibly multiple Top-1 titles — are still ahead.