The highly anticipated HLTV Awards 2024 took place, showcasing the outstanding talents in the competitive gaming world. The event unveiled the deserving winners across various categories, culminating in the prestigious Top 20 announcement for the year. One of the standout moments of the evening was the crowning of Danil "donk" Kryshkovets as the Player of the Year, marking a monumental achievement in the history of CS2.
Finishing the remarkable year with an impressive HLTV rating of 1.27, donk's journey was nothing short of extraordinary. His stellar performance saw him clinch five MVP awards and secure numerous accolades, including the coveted titles at IEM Katowice and Shanghai Major. Notably, his exceptional showing at IEM Katowice set a new standard in terms of performance, rivaling even the likes of NiKo's legendary display in 2017, albeit with a more extensive map pool and superior statistics such as KPR.
Furthermore, donk shattered records left and right, becoming the youngest Major victor to date and achieving the unprecedented feat of scoring five aces at a Major event, showcasing his prowess with a phenomenal 1v5 clutch amidst them.
Meanwhile, Ilya "m0NESY" Osipov secured the second position, expressing his gratitude towards NiKo for his growth and development during a heartfelt acceptance speech. Mathieu "ZywOo" Herbaut claimed the third spot, breaking the streak of his top-2 appearances, with S1mple standing as the sole competitor to achieve this feat five times.
The intense rivalry among these three exceptional players captivated audiences throughout the year, creating an unprecedented level of excitement that resonated within the CS community.