William “mezii” Merriman finished 12th in HLTV’s Top 20 Players of 2025. This marks his first appearance on the list. The British rifler earned his spot through a standout year with Vitality and strong performances at the biggest events of the season. mezii was especially impactful at Super-Elite tournaments. He averaged a 1.17 rating at the highest level and earned three EVP awards, two of them at Majors. These peaks played a decisive role in his final ranking.
From the UK scene to the world’s best
mezii’s journey to the top was gradual. He started in the UK scene, playing local LANs while studying at university. Early teams like London and Vexed UK showcased his talent, but international opportunities came later. His first real exposure to top-level Counter-Strike came with GamerLegion and later Cloud9’s ambitious “Colossus” project. The latter failed competitively, but it gave mezii valuable experience. After a short rebuild period with Endpoint, he returned to Tier 1 with fnatic.
At fnatic, mezii took on multiple roles, including in-game leader. This responsibility lowered his raw stats but improved his understanding of the game. That experience later became crucial in Vitality.
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Vitality and a historic 2025
mezii joined Vitality at the end of 2023. In 2025, with the addition of ropz, the team entered one of the most dominant runs in Counter-Strike history. Vitality won multiple Tier-1 trophies, completed the ESL Grand Slam, and claimed two Major titles in the same year.
Within this system, mezii played a supportive but vital role. He filled difficult positions, stabilized rounds, and stepped up when pressure peaked. His value often showed more in playoffs than in group stages.
Majors defined mezii’s season
The Majors were the foundation of mezii’s Top 20 case. At the BLAST.tv Austin Major, he raised his level in playoffs. He averaged a 1.19 rating and earned an EVP award as Vitality lifted the trophy.
At the StarLadder Budapest Major, mezii reached his highest peak. He finished the event with a 1.23 rating overall and delivered a 1.41 rating in the grand final. Vitality secured their second Major of the year, and mezii claimed his third EVP of 2025. Across both Majors, he averaged 1.18, placing him among the strongest performers at Valve events.
Strengths and limitations
mezii finished the year with 3 EVP awards and 12 VP awards across 16 events. He contributed to multiple grand finals and remained reliable deep into tournaments.
However, his ranking stopped at 12th for clear reasons. His statistics against top-5 teams were modest. He also lacked frequent extreme peaks compared to players above him. In arenas and elimination matches, his averages remained solid but not dominant. Like classic support stars of earlier eras, mezii’s impact often went beyond raw numbers.
Why mezii ranked 12th
mezii earned 12th place because his best performances came at the most important events. His Major playoffs and finals pushed Vitality over the line when titles were on the line. At the same time, uneven form during the second half of the year and lower impact against elite teams prevented a Top 10 finish. His ranking reflects a balance between clutch excellence and statistical restraint.
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Looking ahead
Getting that recognition for all the hard work throughout the year is always great, mezii said. But the main goal is still the team winning.
For mezii, 2025 represents both a breakthrough and a benchmark. He proved he belongs among the world’s elite and that he can deliver on the biggest stages in Counter-Strike. The challenge for 2026 is consistency — turning those Major peaks into an entire year at the same level.
