Danil “donk” Kryshkovets, the rising star from Russia, has been crowned Rookie of the Year at the HLTV Awards held in Belgrade. The young prodigy outperformed fierce competition from G2’s standout player Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa and Spirit teammate Myroslav “zont1x” Plakhotia to secure the prestigious honor.
The 2024 season was nothing short of phenomenal for donk, who delivered an extraordinary average rating of 1.37 throughout the year. He clinched MVP titles at major tournaments, including IEM Katowice, BetBoom Dacha Belgrade, BLAST Premier Spring Final, BetBoom Dacha S2, and the Perfect World Shanghai Major. His crowning achievement came at the Shanghai Major, where Spirit emerged victorious, and donk shone with an outstanding 1.49 overall rating, highlighted by an incredible 1.67 performance in the grand final against FaZe.
While donk claimed the top spot, his closest rival for the award, malbsMd, made a strong case. The Guatemalan joined G2 during the summer break, marking his first foray into tier-one competition. Despite taking on challenging anchor roles on the CT side, malbsMd showcased his potential by delivering a 1.12 rating. He contributed significantly to G2’s success, helping them secure victories at the BLAST Premier Fall and World Final. His impressive performances earned him the 12th spot on HLTV’s Top 20 Players of the Year list, solidifying his place as a player to watch.
Rounding out the top three was zont1x, donk’s teammate on Spirit. Fulfilling the role of the team’s third star, the Ukrainian player demonstrated consistency throughout the season, maintaining a 1.08 rating across all competitions.
By winning this accolade, donk joins an elite group of past recipients, including Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov and Guy “NertZ” Iluz, who were named Rookie of the Year in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
This recognition cements donk’s status as one of the brightest young talents in the competitive scene and underscores the remarkable impact he has made in his first year at the highest level.
