After years of consistency and dozens of near misses, Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato finally earned what he long deserved — his first HLTV x 1xBet MVP medal. The Brazilian rifler led FURIA to victory at the Thunderpick World Championship 2025 in Malta, playing one of the most stable tournaments of his career.
Eight years in the making
The road to this moment was long. Since debuting in 2017, KSCERATO has appeared in the HLTV Top 20 four times and collected 22 EVP awards. Yet the elusive MVP always slipped away. His reliability made him a symbol of modern Brazilian Counter-Strike, but the ultimate recognition finally arrived this week. At the Malta event, he showed peak form:
- Rating 3.0: 1.18
- ADR: 88.3
- KPR: 0.79
- KAST: 78.2%
- MK Rating: 1.17
- All 11 maps above a 1.00 rating
This consistency allowed KSCERATO to outperform teammates yuurih and molodoy, who also had standout performances.
A calm and decisive leader
FURIA showed a balance and control that the team had lacked for a long time. KSCERATO became their anchor. He led the team in damage with 88.3 per round and 102.2 in round wins, finishing with a +24.1 differential. His steady play helped the squad dominate without relying on flashy moments.
A flawless playoff run
FURIA’s championship run in Malta was convincing from start to finish:
- 2–0 vs OG (Nuke 13–10, Inferno 13–9) — KSCERATO opened the tournament with a confident 1.10 rating.
- 2–0 vs The MongolZ (19–15 Dust2, 13–11 Mirage) — a tense match where he saved rounds in overtime through smart trades.
- 2–0 vs Aurora (13–11 Train, 13–5 Overpass) — a dominant semifinal; his 1.35 rating led all players.
- 3–2 vs Natus Vincere (6–13, 9–13, 13–8, 13–5, 13–1) — an epic grand final comeback from 0–2, sealed by KSCERATO’s 1.21 rating.
Finally crowned
Proud MVP winner 🏅 @kscerato pic.twitter.com/v7eVAHi3jM
— HLTV.org (@HLTVorg) October 19, 2025
For fans, this was the long-awaited moment. Once labeled “the best player without an MVP”, KSCERATO has now joined the elite. His story is one of patience, discipline, and relentless work. In HLTV’s official photo, where he holds the Thunderpick trophy with quiet pride, lies a fitting symbol — a player who never needed big words to prove greatness and has now been rewarded for it.
Community reaction
Social media quickly filled with praise. Analysts called it “the most deserved MVP of the year”, while Brazilian fans celebrated it as “a moment of national pride.”
After years of struggles for the region, this title felt like a true comeback for Brazilian CS.
The mix of FalleN’s experience, molodoy’s aggression, YEKINDAR’s composure, and KSCERATO’s consistency gave FURIA a perfect balance. This championship showed that the team’s formula finally works.
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Career impact
With this MVP, KSCERATO cements his position among the best riflers in the world. He is almost certain to appear in the HLTV Top 20 of 2025. Meanwhile, FURIA now look like real contenders for future trophies, including the Esports World Cup 2026. The Thunderpick World Championship 2025 delivered more than just an exciting final. It ended one of the longest MVP droughts in Counter-Strike history. Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato has finally received the recognition he deserved — the MVP medal Brazil had been waiting for.
