The fifteenth-best player in the world for 2024 has finally achieved what had long eluded him — an individual triumph on LAN. Turkish star rifler İsmailcan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş was named MVP of PGL Masters Bucharest 2025, where Aurora Gaming completed their championship run by defeating Legacy in a tense 3–2 grand final. This title marks XANTARES’s first-ever LAN MVP and only the second of his career, following his online-era award from DreamHack Open Summer 2020 Europe with BIG.
The road to a historic moment
For XANTARES, this trophy represents far more than individual recognition — it’s the culmination of a decade-long evolution. From his early days with Space Soldiers, where he drew global attention for his mechanical precision, through years of highs and lows with BIG, to building the Turkish powerhouse Aurora, this moment symbolizes persistence and growth.
Aurora’s campaign in Bucharest was defined by discipline and resilience. The team overcame Astralis, fnatic, and GamerLegion, displaying some of the most structured and confident Counter-Strike of the event. In the grand final against Legacy, it was XANTARES who served as the emotional and tactical core of the team, anchoring Aurora and denying the Brazilians a full comeback on the decisive Nuke (13–11).
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The champion’s numbers
Across 23 maps played, XANTARES recorded an average rating of 1.27, ranking third overall at the event. In the grand final, he topped the server with a 1.36 rating and a +4.08% round swing, proving decisive in Aurora’s narrow victory.
He placed among the leaders in nearly every statistical category:
- K-D differential: +75 (2nd)
- ADR: 90.7 (2nd)
- KPR: 0.82 (4th)
- Round Swing: +2.41% (4th)
- Impact rating: 1.58 (2nd)
- KAST: 73.8%
His consistency in clutch moments and his unrelenting composure allowed Aurora to secure crucial rounds, while his blend of cold precision and calculated aggression made him the defining figure of the grand final.
Finally — well-deserved recognition
Despite years of elite performances, XANTARES had never before captured a LAN MVP title. He was often labeled as a “carry player” who produced outstanding numbers but fell short of individual trophies. That narrative has now changed.
This victory not only cements XANTARES’s individual greatness but also establishes Aurora as a legitimate global contender. In 2025 alone, he had already earned three EVP awards — at BLAST Bounty Season 1, IEM Katowice, and the Esports World Cup — but Bucharest became the stage where he proved that Turkish Counter-Strike can win the biggest LAN events.
A symbol of a new era for Turkish CS
Aurora’s triumph — and XANTARES’s MVP — go beyond the numbers. They stand as a testament to how far Turkish Counter-Strike has come. The years spent building rosters, experimenting with systems, and finding stability have finally paid off.
PGL Masters Bucharest 2025 became the event where XANTARES not only earned his long-awaited individual accolade but also closed the chapter of years of pursuit and near-misses. The Turkish legend finally has his LAN MVP — and with it, validation of a career built on relentless dedication and belief.
