XANTARES claims career-first LAN MVP at PGL Masters Bucharest

The fifteenth-best player of 2024 has secured his second-ever MVP award.

Ismailcan "⁠XANTARES⁠" Dörtkardeş has earned his first-ever LAN MVP following Aurora's hard-fought victory at PGL Masters Bucharest 2025, where the Turkish side nearly fumbled the best-of-five grand final to Legacy.

Read more
Aurora beat Legacy for maiden notable LAN trophy

The star rifler was the third-highest rated player at the event overall, posting an impressive 1.27 average rating across 23 maps played. XANTARES's impact was especially felt in the grand final, where he topped the server with a 1.36 rating and +4.08% round swing.

XANTARES was prevalent throughout the leaderboards in Bucharest, placing second overall in terms of K-D differential (+75), second-highest in ADR (90.7), fourth-highest in KPR (0.82), fourth-highest in round swing (+2.41%), and second-highest in impact rating (1.58).

Despite posting impressive results throughout his lengthy career, this is just XANTARES's second MVP, having previously earned one with BIG at DreamHack Open Summer 2020 Europe in the midst of the online era. This award also adds to XANTARES's tally of three EVPs so far in 2025, having earned them for his performances at BLAST Bounty Season 1, IEM Katowice, and the Esports World Cup.

Turkey Ismailcan 'XANTARES' Dörtkardeş
Ismailcan 'XANTARES' Dörtkardeş
Age:
30
Team:
Rating 1.0:
1.16
Maps played:
2399
KPR:
0.80
DPR:
0.67
#2
 | 
Romania ANa_GOAT
wow
2025-11-01 19:59
12
2 replies
wow
2025-11-02 00:07
0
1 reply
#141
Faceit level 10  | 
 | 
South Africa SeriSmok
wow
2025-11-04 11:26
0
#3
 | 
Latvia AnywayWho
nice
2025-11-01 19:59
4
GOATTARES
2025-11-01 19:59
30
No more jokes, he is the real LANTARES now
2025-11-01 19:59
76
5 replies
Where the top ranked team is ranked #9 in the world? It was a tier2 tournament, relax dude
2025-11-02 01:34
13
4 replies
0/8. They secured #6 place after this tourney. Check back after points are distributed. Even though, they 've been #4 in sometime in 2025.
2025-11-02 09:43
7
2 replies
Keyword AFTER. Not the sharpest tool in the shed. So by your definition, if you where ranked top5 EARLIER, its still usable today. AND if you secure a higher ranking AFTER a tournament, that changes the tier of the tournament thats finished. Right, good to know sport
2025-11-02 19:28
1
1 reply
Just stop bullshittin' u time waste.
2025-11-09 10:54
0
tier 1 because astralis was playing
2025-11-02 13:02
2
#7
 | 
China RADNIKEY
First LAN MVP at 30 years of age is quite incredible
2025-11-01 20:00
90
11 replies
#20
 | 
Turkey yerxa
He was already snagging mvps and evps during his time in international roster and more would definitely have come if it wasn't for his decision to go EF/Aurora. Other than that yeah, its really incredible for someone to be getting MVP at 30.
2025-11-01 20:03
24
10 replies
no the hell he wasnt
2025-11-01 20:14
13
9 replies
#49
 | 
Turkey yerxa
check his profile out newbie, and the tourneys he attended thus far
2025-11-01 20:28
2
8 replies
#83
 | 
San Marino Stanislavv
1 online mvp
2025-11-01 22:00
9
#102
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
blameF | 
Denmark hEnzeee
What are you smoking old dawg? Where are all them MVPs on he's profile lol. He's a respectable person in the pro scene, and I like him alot. But don't tell lies. He's like NiKo. One of the best who will never achieve Major win. He's highest accomplishment is EVP for major. And 1 top 20 placement in 2024. That's quiet sad tbh.
2025-11-02 03:00
3
6 replies
#103
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
Russia accn
lol don't even compare them, Niko had dozens of titles and mvps and he has been in the top 20 for like 10 years he doesn't have only major.
2025-11-02 03:21
4
1 reply
#134
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
blameF | 
Denmark hEnzeee
One can argue that the comparison is mission context. If Xantares didn't play national team for the most of he's carrier, he would most likely have achieved same as NiKo. If NiKo played only national team (Bosnia) I highly doubt he would have achieved alot more. But then again I can see that it might be a bad comparison. I was mainly using NiKo because they are both some of the best riflers we have had for the past many years.
2025-11-03 13:43
1
Comparing him to Niko is poor comparison Niko has won every important tourney except the Major and has lot more mvps and evps tbh Xantares finally won 1 LAN tho happy for him :)
2025-11-02 10:38
0
3 replies
At least the guy is trying to achieve something with five people from his own nation. Believe me, if he had gone to other teams like Niko, he would have achieved much more than a LAN
2025-11-02 12:12
3
Niko always had top of the top rosters in his team while Goattares always had the underdogs. Him winning a tournament with his own countrymen is its own achievement.
2025-11-02 21:24
1
1 reply
Yes that's why I am happy for him and tbh I'm xanty supporter truly goated stuff to stick with the countrymen rosters since he could have even won major with other rosters but that's what stands out for him :)
2025-11-03 05:17
2
#8
 | 
Turkey yerxa
deserved
2025-11-01 20:00
30
#9
chrisJ | 
Germany _shen
ggs
2025-11-01 20:00
0
#11
Faceit level 10  | 
Turkey WD7
deserved
2025-11-01 20:00
1
0 LAN won to 1 LAN MVP 🔥🔥🔥 the change is unreal
2025-11-01 20:01
4
1 reply
In a race from 0 to 100 The hardest part is 0 to 1.
2025-11-03 14:54
0
no way they are giving mvp for tier 2 tournament, hltv is done.
2025-11-01 20:01
9
9 replies
#21
 | 
India kilsw1ch
0/8
2025-11-01 20:04
40
2025-11-01 20:06
2
1 reply
Only savages post links to same page. Just write #24
2025-11-02 01:10
0
yeah there is no way that CAC has a mvp medal for it
2025-11-01 20:10
3
1 reply
both are mickey mouse mvps
2025-11-01 20:16
0
HLTV has been giving bronze MVP for years brother
2025-11-01 20:10
9
#137
Faceit plus user Faceit level 6  | 
XANTARES | 
United States kawn1
bro is from a tier 4 country commenting about tier 2 tournaments lmao
2025-11-03 21:05
1
2 replies
lithuania 1 major MVP, turkey ?????
2025-11-03 21:21
0
1 reply
#142
Faceit plus user Faceit level 6  | 
XANTARES | 
United States kawn1
I am talking IRL buddy. GDP, nature, history and all that.
2025-11-05 20:17
0
#16
 | 
Turkey bafra
Well deserved. The mvp of the second most prestigious event after Major, cool
2025-11-01 20:01
4
XANTARES top 10 2025?
2025-11-01 20:01
5
1 reply
top10 secured, top5 debate.
2025-11-01 20:30
5
#19
 | 
Turkey shadjeh
Well deserved
2025-11-01 20:02
2
Deserved LANTARES!!!!
2025-11-01 20:04
1
#23
 | 
Turkey frushiws
still a fucking beast at 30
2025-11-01 20:05
12
HLTV MVP sponsored by 1xBet Xantarez and Aurora sponsored by 1xBet PGL Masters Bucharest sponsored by 1xBet It's fine 🙂
2025-11-01 20:05
8
Lets gooo. Oldest MVP Medalist?
2025-11-01 20:05
11
3 replies
#36
Senzu | 
Timor-Leste be59
liquipedia.net/counterstrike/HLTV/MVP_Aw.. scrolling through this I couldn't find any other mvp over 30!
2025-11-01 20:11
1
2 replies
I guess it was Niko when he was 27 this year (PGL again), but 30 and MVP. Thats another level.
2025-11-01 20:25
0
1 reply
rain won mvp on 2023 who he was at 29yo the closest one i think
2025-11-01 20:38
10
well deserved. one of the goats
2025-11-01 20:07
0
Well deserved goat. He can die in piece when the time comes. He lifted the thropy!!!
2025-11-01 20:08
1
deserved
2025-11-01 20:09
0
Wtf he is 30yo? Wasnt he like 25 when he was on BIG like 2 years ago???
2025-11-01 20:09
5
3 replies
That was 5 years ago :(
2025-11-01 20:14
4
#114
 | 
Turkey FearrFD2
time flies fast man
2025-11-02 11:45
0
#126
 | 
Turkey KOMPOSTO
he joined BIG 6 years ago
2025-11-02 21:31
0
finally
2025-11-01 20:10
1
#34
Faceit level 10  | 
woxic | 
Turkey Firmun
deserved in his 30
2025-11-01 20:10
0
#35
 | 
Turkey dgncn
deserved.
2025-11-01 20:11
0
Aging like wine. Briliant player
2025-11-01 20:12
0
GODTares
2025-11-01 20:13
1
BlameF getting his second evp this year :D others will be wicadia, PR, and prob Lux
2025-11-01 20:20
0
Mvp at 30. Most players are washed at 20 xD gj choketares
2025-11-01 20:24
5
#48
 | 
Ireland REEVO7
LANTARES
2025-11-01 20:26
2
Well deserved
2025-11-01 20:31
1
LEGEND!
2025-11-01 20:42
1
Happy for him
2025-11-01 20:44
1
#59
Faceit level 9  | 
Poland xbleyd
30 yo goat
2025-11-01 20:47
2
1 reply
GOAT?!?!? where!??!?! ah ah ah ah ah ah ah
2025-11-01 20:52
5
#61
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
RpK | 
Germany lloyd6077
mvp peek
2025-11-01 20:50
1
#62
 | 
Turkey j1nrak
well deserved
2025-11-01 20:50
0
tier 2 goat cemented
2025-11-01 20:59
1
#67
 | 
United Kingdom Jonty04l32
Congratulations to XANTARES. One of the all-time greats is finally on the board with a tier 1 LAN trophy and MVP!
2025-11-01 21:18
5
4 replies
Tier1? One top 10 (ranked 9) dude....
2025-11-02 01:35
1
3 replies
Yeah, it's classed as a tier 1 medium LAN tournament by HLTV classification, so all accolades coming out of the tournament (including XANTARES' MVP) will be bronze. If it was tier 2, the tournament would be A-Tier and would have zero attending tier 1 teams or even have a tier 1 TO organising the tournament like PGL.
2025-11-02 01:53
4
2 replies
One top10 team. Its a tier2, no matter what HLTV thinks about it. And being ranked 9 barely cuts it as a tier1 team
2025-11-02 11:43
0
1 reply
Actually there were two attending Top 10 teams in Aurora and 3DMAX. Otherwise I agree, realistically the tournament is more akin to a tier 1.5 tournament but, at the end of the day, you decide whatever it is you want, regardless of what HLTV defines it to be.
2025-11-02 13:10
0
#70
 | 
Sweden multib
So freaking about time Way too good to be without
2025-11-01 21:24
0
that was some real passion from aurora players in the final.
2025-11-01 21:27
3
Well deserved
2025-11-01 21:28
0
time for aurora era...
2025-11-01 21:29
1
Uncle still got it
2025-11-01 21:36
0
I never thought it would be a mvp worthy tournament. Maybe because it was a Lan, or if they went on the vrs ranking
2025-11-01 21:52
2
3 replies
#88
 | 
Fiji Hennessy_l
There were 2 top 10 teams in the HLTV ranking (Aurora and 3DMax) by the time it started, and that's considered MVP-worthy
2025-11-01 23:04
3
2 replies
Never thought that 3dmax were top 10
2025-11-01 23:27
0
1 reply
#93
 | 
Fiji Hennessy_l
For real, not even they know how'd they there
2025-11-01 23:33
0
tier 3 lan mvp
2025-11-01 21:54
4
1 reply
nt device’s stomach
2025-11-02 07:40
1
#84
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
LeX | 
Russia *Tpo-_-JI.b*
Congratz!
2025-11-01 22:06
1
at 30yo
2025-11-01 22:17
0
#86
Faceit premium user Faceit level 8  | 
 | 
France EL_SANIN
so onlinetares meme doesnt exist anymore?...
2025-11-01 22:29
0
Finally gz xantarress
2025-11-01 22:30
1
Oh man hes so beautiful I can see angel wings
2025-11-01 23:10
0
Well deserved, congrats!
2025-11-01 23:27
0
Oldest MVP pretty sure
2025-11-02 00:06
0
Very deserved. GGs Mr. Xantares!
2025-11-02 01:32
0
#101
 | 
Russia I_D_R_C
finally,deserved
2025-11-02 02:19
0
those stats are no joke tho, he seemed easily better than everyone else congratz legend
2025-11-02 07:42
0
ZywoO robbed
2025-11-02 07:48
0
#107
Faceit level 8  | 
DZ | 
Algeria SilverQuick
Glad to see him get his 1st MVP ever
2025-11-02 08:02
0
thought he was like 25 or something. even though I lost some, still GZ!
2025-11-02 08:20
0
1 reply
How would you think that lmao
2025-11-02 10:28
0
#109
Faceit level 7  | 
 | 
Algeria Maxmeister
crazy if you think about it , Alhamdullilah bro congrats
2025-11-02 08:35
0
#115
 | 
Germany Ktus
its just A tier tournament. Aulola highest ranked team in this tournament but almost lost to legacy xD
2025-11-02 11:50
2
2 replies
#120
 | 
Brazil Z00MMM
Almost... lol... based on the post-game player statistics, Legacy deserved to win...
2025-11-02 14:47
0
1 reply
Copium
2025-11-02 21:26
0
#119
 | 
Brazil Z00MMM
He deserved it, he carried Aurora on his shoulders...
2025-11-02 14:45
0
Love to see the amount of turkish flagged numbfucks praising a tier 2 studio tournament. Xantares will retire as a "top tier" rifler with nothing to prove he is one. If the turkish forum users wish to argue I can give you a list of 100 players that are better than him. So they can shut the fuck up and maybe consider overdosing on meds to make this world a better place.
2025-11-02 19:20
1
3 replies
Aww shit dude is fuming
2025-11-02 21:27
2
Yes, I'm waiting for a better 100 list than that.
2025-11-02 22:22
0
nice ragebait
2025-11-03 08:51
0
TURKISH BOT.
2025-11-03 04:42
0
1 reply
#144
Faceit level 8  | 
 | 
Turkey Sendurmen
flair, at least better than simple He didn't quit because he couldn't play the game
2025-11-06 08:00
0
late but well deserved.
2025-11-03 06:24
0
Keep schooling (:
2025-11-03 08:48
0
#133
Old school: User been here for more than 10 years  | 
 | 
Croatia Raiken786
thats a real mvp. Carrying his team in the finals !
2025-11-03 13:08
0
Welcome back Harry Kane (the star player that won his first trophy at the age of 31)
2025-11-03 13:59
2
#138
Faceit level 10  | 
molodoy | 
Kazakhstan aqua4kz
Legend
2025-11-03 21:16
5
Rising sun over the world=aurora. Expect more achievements in the future
2025-11-06 07:43
0
Congrats my guy!
2025-11-09 07:04
0
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