CS2 analyst Duncan “Thorin” Shields has stated that Dmitry “sh1ro” Sokolov will be ranked among the top three players of 2025 by HLTV.org. He shared this prediction on the “Last Free Nation Counter-Strike” podcast on YouTube.
Thorin elaborated, “Sh1ro will secure the third spot in the HLTV.org top players ranking for 2025. You might question this, thinking, ‘He won’t break into the top three! Will he outperform m0NESY or NiKo?’ That’s not what I’m suggesting. I’m saying HLTV.org will rate him higher than those players.
Here’s how I see it unfolding: Donk will undoubtedly take the first place – that’s quite clear, assuming Team Spirit maintains their performance. ZywOo is likely to grab second place, given Vitality’s strong finishes and potential for more. The real competition arises with NiKo and m0NESY.
I believe m0NESY’s current team is nearing its end. It’s uncertain what changes might occur within their roster. If he were to leave, his top 20 position isn’t guaranteed, as his success will depend on his new team. G2’s overall performance is expected to decline, making it challenging for m0NESY to consistently achieve high rankings. Falcons might reach playoffs, but it’s unclear if that’s sufficient for NiKo to secure a top spot. Meanwhile, sh1ro and Spirit are poised for numerous finals appearances, potentially becoming the top team of the year or at least securing second place.”
Shields further noted that sh1ro faces minimal competition for a top-three ranking besides m0NESY and NiKo.
“Sh1ro will consistently achieve strong statistics. He’s an incredibly stable player, only faltering against the absolute best. To defeat him, you’d need someone of ZywOo’s caliber. In this regard, he mirrors device, who consistently triumphed over players ranked below him.
While other contenders for the top three will emerge by year’s end, like ropz who will win rounds, it’s questionable if they will surpass sh1ro’s statistical performance. Furthermore, sh1ro’s position as a sniper gives him an edge in the top-three race. He consistently gets the AWP role, as donk rarely contests it, and magixx is always ready to support with ‘Need an AWP, sir?'”
In 2024, sh1ro was ranked sixth by HLTV.org, with the top three spots going to Danil “donk” Kryshkovets, Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov, and Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut.