Nikola “NiKo” Kovač has been awarded the HLTV x 1XBET Most Valuable Player title for PGL Cluj-Napoca, after one of the closest MVP battles in Counter-Strike 2 history.
Heading into the grand final, NiKo held a substantial rating lead, and despite his team’s 1-3 defeat, he managed to maintain the top spot with a 1.27 rating. This allowed him to edge out Dorian “xertioN” Berman, who led MOUZ to victory and deservedly claimed the tournament’s top prize.
This marks NiKo’s first MVP award since IEM Cologne 2023, and his ninth overall, a well-earned recognition for his exceptional form that helped guide Falcons to their first-ever Big Event final. Despite facing some criticism following his departure from G2, NiKo’s move to Falcons has paid off, with his new team surpassing G2 in Valve’s Global Standings and already making a mark in grand finals.
NiKo’s standout performance included a 1.54 rating in map wins, and 1.39 when factoring in all four maps from his final appearance. Even with xertioN’s impressive showing, NiKo’s edge remained clear. Additionally, xertioN was ranked lower in the newly introduced eco-adjusted metrics (0.46 WPA, 4th in MOUZ), further cementing NiKo’s lead.
Similar to his past performances at ESL Pro League 19 and BB Dacha Belgrade, xertioN earned recognition and deserved credit for his efforts, but had to settle for second place in the MVP race.
