ZywOo vs donk: Who Will Be CS2 Player of the Year in 2025?

As the 2025 Counter-Strike 2 season unfolds, one debate dominates the competitive scene: will ZywOo secure another Player of the Year title, or will the rising superstar donk complete one of the most explosive individual seasons in CS history?

Based on recent betting odds, analyst opinions, and performance trends, the race has effectively narrowed to these two names.

The Main Contenders

ZywOo — The Proven Champion

ZywOo continues to define consistency at the highest level with Team Vitality. In 2025, he has combined elite individual skill with exceptional team success.

Key strengths:

• Multiple tier-one tournament victories
• A strong collection of MVP and EVP awards
• Consistently elite impact in playoffs and grand finals
• Proven track record in HLTV Top 20 rankings

Historically, HLTV’s Player of the Year evaluation strongly favors players who excel both statistically and competitively, especially those who lift trophies on the biggest stages. In this area, ZywOo holds a clear advantage.

donk — The Statistical Phenomenon

Representing Team Spirit, donk has delivered one of the most eye-catching individual performances ever seen in CS2.

Key strengths:

• Outstanding raw statistics across nearly all metrics
• Extremely high damage, entry success, and round impact
• Dominant performances even against top-tier opponents
• Widely praised by analysts for redefining aggressive rifle play

Several analysts and content creators have argued that donk’s numbers surpass ZywOo’s in multiple categories, making him the most mechanically impactful player of the year—regardless of team trophies.

Betting Odds and Market Expectations

According to prediction markets and betting platforms:

• ZywOo: ~95% implied probability to finish #1
• donk: ~5% implied probability
• All other players: effectively negligible

These odds reflect a strong market belief that team success and MVP titles will outweigh raw statistics in the final ranking.

Analyst and Community Opinions

Voices Supporting donk

Some analysts, including high-profile CS commentators, have placed donk at #1 in their personal Top 20 rankings, emphasizing:

• Individual dominance
• Statistical superiority
• Difficulty of maintaining such performance at his age

Their argument is simple: if Player of the Year is about “best player,” donk deserves it.

Voices Supporting ZywOo

The majority of professional players and analysts continue to favor ZywOo, citing:

• Championships won
• MVP and EVP accumulation
• Decisive impact in finals and playoffs

From this perspective, winning matters, and ZywOo delivers when trophies are on the line.

What Will Decide Player of the Year?

The outcome depends largely on HLTV’s weighting criteria:

A historical comparison often cited is s1mple vs dev1ce, where team success ultimately tipped the scales.

Final Outlook

• If team achievements and MVP titles remain the decisive factors, ZywOo is the clear favorite to be crowned 2025 CS2 Player of the Year.
• If individual statistical dominance is prioritized, donk has a legitimate case to claim the top spot.

At present, the balance still favors experience, trophies, and proven excellence—placing ZywOo firmly in pole position. However, donk’s rise signals a potential shift in how greatness may be defined in future CS2 seasons.

One thing is certain: this rivalry has already become one of the defining narratives of competitive Counter-Strike in 2025.