Dorian “xertioN” Berman finished 16th in HLTV’s Top 20 Players of 2025, powered by 1xBet and SkinClub, earning his second consecutive appearance after a season of consistent deep runs and strong performances against elite opposition. The Israeli rifler developed internationally from the start of his career and broke through in 2021 after Dennis “sycrone” Nielsen scouted him for MOUZ NXT, where he won two WePlay Academy League titles before joining MOUZ’s main roster in August 2022 and establishing himself as one of the scene’s most aggressive space-takers.
A season defined by deep runs and tough opponents
After breaking into the Top 20 in 2024, xertioN backed it up in 2025 with another year of high-impact performances. MOUZ consistently went deep at major events, and xertioN frequently found himself playing against the strongest teams in the world in playoffs and big-stage series.
His year featured two Big Event EVPs, including one at the Elite Event IEM Chengdu, plus several near-misses at the BLAST.tv Austin Major and IEM Cologne. A solid run at the StarLadder Budapest Major further strengthened his case. At the same time, HLTV highlighted the theme that followed him all year: high peaks often came with deep valleys. That volatility became part of his 2025 story.
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Key results and awards
xertioN’s ranking is built on both consistency and volume. Across the calendar, he collected strong showings at a wide range of top events:
- EVP at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025 (MOUZ won the event)
- EVP at BLAST Bounty Season 2 Finals
- EVP at IEM Chengdu 2025 (Elite Event)
- Strong runs at BLAST.tv Austin Major, IEM Cologne, and StarLadder Budapest Major
That constant presence in later stages was crucial. HLTV specifically pointed to his value across nine notable events, including both Majors and Cologne.
The turning point: Spinx joins, MOUZ stabilize
MOUZ’s year began with turbulence. Early results dipped, and the team soon made a major leadership move. After Katowice, MOUZ brought in Lotan “Spinx” Giladi, while Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin took over the in-game leading responsibilities.
For xertioN, the shift mattered. He admitted that the start of the year demanded an adjustment period, both emotionally and in-game, due to role changes and the arrival of a new star. But once MOUZ settled, results quickly followed. That first big signal came at PGL Cluj-Napoca, where MOUZ lifted a trophy in front of a crowd. xertioN wasn’t flawless, but he delivered when it mattered and earned an EVP in a title-winning run.
Big-stage progress, but finals remain the wall
One of the strongest arguments for xertioN’s 16th place was his ability to show up in high-stakes environments. At the BLAST.tv Austin Major, he produced some of his most complete big-stage Counter-Strike of the year and played a key role in MOUZ’s deep playoff run.
The next big statement came at IEM Cologne, where MOUZ finally managed to beat Vitality after months of frustration. xertioN delivered a huge performance in that series, and he later called that win his favorite moment of the year.
But when the trophy was truly within reach, the same pattern returned: finals. HLTV noted that xertioN’s output often dropped at the last step. His numbers in grand finals were one of the biggest reasons he didn’t climb higher than 16th.
xertioN himself echoed that point. He explained that in finals he sometimes loses focus by thinking too much about the bigger picture—communication, team structure, opponent ideas—instead of playing with the same direct confidence he has earlier in tournaments.
Why HLTV ranked xertioN 16th
HLTV’s reasoning is clear: xertioN earned his place through event volume and repeatable impact. He posted strong individual metrics across the year, including standout damage output and meaningful contribution to round wins.
However, the same issue kept him from pushing into the higher positions: a lower conversion rate in finals and the most critical series. Strong events often turned into VP-level tournaments rather than more EVPs, because his peaks did not always hold in the final stretch.
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xertioN’s message for 2026
Despite another Top 20 finish, xertioN made it clear he wants more than consistency. He wants trophies—and he wants to be better in the matches that decide them. His closing goal for next year was simple and blunt: win trophies, and unlock the level he believes he still hasn’t shown in finals.
