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HLTV AWARDS PRESENTED BY 1XBET ANNOUNCE FINALISTS FOR WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR, TEAM OF THE YEAR AND MORE
HLTV is pleased to announce the remaining finalists for the HLTV Awards presented by 1XBET which include Team of the Year, Women’s Team of the Year, Rookie of the Year and Women’s Player of the Year. The elite of the competitive Counter-Strike industry will gather in Serbia, Belgrade on January 11th 2025 for an evening of celebration and recognition.
The final selection of awards, shortlisted by HLTV expert staff, celebrates the individuals and teams that have made a real impact on competitive Counter-Strike in 2024. Amongst the finalists are Team Spirit, champions of the Perfect World Shanghai Major, Imperial, winners of ESL Impact League Season 6 and Ana “ANa” Dumbravă who is vying for a third Women’s Player of the Year title.
Team of the Year
- G2
- Natus Vincere
- Team Spirit
Women’s Team of the Year
- FURIA
- Imperial
- NAVI Javelins
Rookie of the Year
- Danil “donk” Kryshkovets
- Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa
- Myroslav “zont1x” Plakhotia
Women’s Player of the Year
- Ana “ANa” Dumbravă
- Victoria “tory” Kazieva
- Zainab ‘zAAz’ Turkie
On December 25th, HLTV launched its official countdown for the coveted Player of the Year award. Each day, one of the top 20 players of 2024 is being unveiled, culminating in the announcement of the top three players on January 11th just ahead of the award ceremony. Fans can follow the countdown on the HLTV website and across social channels.
The announcement of the remaining finalists follows the unveiling of the community and panel finalists, featuring awards such as Skin of the Year, Closer of the Year, Highlight of the Year and Event of the Year. The panel awards are carefully selected by industry experts including top teams and broadcasters, while the community awards are determined through votes cast by fans on the HLTV website.
Community Award Finalists
Skin of The Year
- AK-47 | Inheritance (Endrit)
- M4A1-S | Black Lotus (moonfighter)
- Zeus x27 | Olympus (apel8)
Streamer of The Year
- Dima_wallhacks
- Erik “fl0m” Flom
- Mark “ohnePixel” Zimmermann
Creator of The Year
- 3kliksphilip
- NadeKing
- Virre CS2
Event of The Year
- IEM Katowice 2024
- PGL Major Copenhagen 2024
- Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024
Talent of The Year
- James “BanKs” Banks
- Conner “Scrawny” Girvan
- Chad “SPUNJ” Burchill
Panel Award Finalists
IGL of The Year
- Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen
- Leonid “chopper” Vishnyakov
- Finn “karrigan” Andersen
Awper of The Year
- Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov
- Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov
- Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut
Anchor of The Year
- Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskiy
- Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo
- Myroslav “zont1x” Plakhotia
Closer of The Year
- Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskiy
- Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo
- Justinas “jL” Lekavicius
Opener of The Year
- Danil “donk” Kryshkovets
- Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski
- Nikola “NiKo” Kovač
Coach of The Year
- Andrey “B1ad3” Gorodenskiy
- Sergey “hally” Shavaev
- Dennis “sycrone” Nielsen
Highlight of The Year
- Donk – AK-47 1v5
- jL – Deagle + AK-47 ACE
- NiKo – Deagle ACE
“We are just over a week till the big night and we are thrilled to share the remaining finalists for what promises to be a special night of unforgettable celebration. We can’t wait to showcase everything we prepared for both our attendees and fans watching at home. The countdown is on!” – Zvonimir Burazin, Head of Operations, HLTV.
The post HLTV AWARDS PRESENTED BY 1XBET ANNOUNCE FINALISTS FOR WOMEN’S PLAYER OF THE YEAR, TEAM OF THE YEAR AND MORE appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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SAFA Renews its Partnership with Hollywoodbets
The South African Football Association (SAFA) has renewed its partnership with Hollywoodbets, ensuring the continued support and growth of the Hollywoodbets Super League.
This milestone reinforces Hollywoodbets’ unwavering commitment to advancing women’s sports in South Africa and beyond. The Hollywoodbets Super League stands as a beacon of progress, providing female athletes with a platform to showcase their talent and compete at the highest level.
This renewed partnership between Hollywoodbets and SAFA reflects a shared vision to elevate women’s football, fostering a league that is both competitive and inspirational while paving the way for South Africa to become a dominant force in global women’s football.
SAFA CEO Ms Lydia Monyepao said: “The renewal of sponsors in a tough economy must be applauded in the growth of women’s football. Our recent launch of the South African Women’s Football Strategy demonstrates our focus in this area and Hollywoodbets has put their money where their mouths is in supporting women’s growth through football. Our aim is to be in the forefront in developing girls who play a role in our society into women, and through this league we have seen more players and more women leaving our shores to work as players, coaches etc. This is a testament of the value partners add into the lives of women in football. Through the SABC, over 50 matches will be seen live on SABC 1 and more on the Sport Channel, including SABC+. This has created a great platform for our players to inspire the next generation.”
“Hollywoodbets is proud to renew its partnership with SAFA, a collaboration that reflects our shared commitment to the growth and professionalisation of women’s football in South Africa, This continued partnership underscores our dedication to inspiring young girls across the country, showing them that with passion and perseverance, they too can become stars like the heroes they look up to,” said Hollywoodbets spokesperson Zandile Dlamini.
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Amusnet Strengthens Presence in the Dutch Market Through Partnership with Starcasino.nl
Amusnet has strengthened its presence in the Dutch market through a new partnership with Starcasino.nl. Building on an already successful relationship in Belgium, this collaboration brings Amusnet’s certified portfolio of games to Dutch players for the first time on the Starcasino.nl platform.
This strategic alliance reflects Amusnet’s commitment to delivering high-quality casino entertainment across Europe and Starcasino’s dedication to offering a premium player experience in the Netherlands.
“The partnership with Amusnet represents a pivotal part of Starcasino’s launch in the Netherlands. Through this collaboration we gain access to an extensive portfolio of both classic and innovative gaming content, enhancing the quality of our platform in the Netherlands,” said Pieter Van Den Bos, Director of Starcasino.nl.
“We’re proud to expand our strong partnership with Starcasino from Belgium into the Netherlands. Their launch marks an exciting new chapter, and we’re thrilled to continue growing together in this dynamic market,” said Dimitri De Temmerman, Managing Director BNL at Amusnet.
As part of the launch, Starcasino.nl players will enjoy access to a range of Amusnet’s top-performing titles, all certified for the Dutch market.
The post Amusnet Strengthens Presence in the Dutch Market Through Partnership with Starcasino.nl appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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Paydrom Enters into Partnership with Aircash
Paydrom, a leading B2B payment gateway for the iGaming sector, has entered into a partnership with Aircash, a well-established digital wallet and prepaid voucher provider in Europe. This partnership expands Paydrom’s regional payment strategy, offering operators seamless, localised solutions to improve transaction efficiency and payer engagement.
With Aircash’s presence in almost 20 European countries, Paydrom strengthens its ability to provide alternative payment solutions beyond traditional card payments. While card transactions dominate European markets, e-wallets and prepaid/cash vouchers remain a preferred choice for a significant number of payers. Through this collaboration, now iGaming operators can offer diverse payment options:
• Aircash Wallet – A secure and efficient e-wallet solution enabling instant deposits and withdrawals.
• Abon Vouchers – Prepaid vouchers available at 200,000+ locations across Europe, allowing players to top up their gaming accounts conveniently.
• Aircash Marketplace – A centralised payment hub where users can conveniently select and pay for various services, including gaming directly through the Aircash app.
“At Paydrom, we prioritize regional strategies to help iGaming operators succeed in high-potential markets. Aircash’s extensive presence and trusted payment solutions allow us to provide merchants with more diverse and payer-friendly options. By integrating e-wallets and prepaid vouchers, we ensure operators can cater to a broader audience while boosting conversion rates and user satisfaction,” said Arin Andriazian, Chief of Paydrom Product.
With Aircash, players gain flexibility and convenience—whether using digital wallets for fast transactions or purchasing prepaid vouchers for seamless deposits. Integration enhances user trust, simplifies payments and ultimately helps merchants optimise their payment ecosystems.
“Arcash core strategy is focusing on regulated markets where we make sure that our services meet all regulatory requirements while providing the best and the most convenient payment services to our users. Aircash has become the preferred cash app of choice for the igaming industry. We are delighted to be partnering with Paydrom and we are convinced that our common partners will benefit from our offerings,” said Mark Watts, Director of iGaming at Aircash.
This partnership aligns with Paydrom’s vision to stay ahead in the competitive iGaming payment landscape by offering secure, localised and efficient payment methods. By continuously expanding its portfolio, Paydrom ensures its merchants can keep up with evolving payer preferences while maintaining compliance with regional regulations.
The post Paydrom Enters into Partnership with Aircash appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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