James Banks’ spot in the final trio for Talent of the Year 2025 quickly became one of the most discussed moments at the start of the HLTV Community Awards. The host and journalist responded with an emotional message to fans. He thanked the community for its support and made it clear that he does not take the nomination for granted. For Banks, reaching the top three is not a formality. Instead, he sees it as a genuine honor earned through years of work on the biggest stages in Counter-Strike.
Banks’ reaction: gratitude and respect for the community
Shortly after the final voting round began, Banks addressed fans on X. He stressed that community support alone made his place among the finalists possible. Even after years at the highest level, he admitted that moments like this still matter deeply to him.
With the community’s amazing support, I’m Top 3 for Talent of the Year. I never take this for granted — I love my job and give it everything I have. If you can vote for me one last time, I’d be incredibly grateful.
The post gained thousands of views within hours. It also drew dozens of replies, quickly becoming one of the clearest signals that the final voting stage was underway. For many fans, it reinforced that Talent of the Year is about more than popularity. It reflects the bond between the scene and its audience.
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Talent of the Year 2025 finalists
The following names reached the decisive stage of the Community Awards:
- Freya Spiers
- Chad Burchill (SPUNJ)
- James “BanKs” Banks
Voting runs from December 24 to December 31. The winner will be announced on January 10 at the HLTV Awards ceremony in Belgrade. However, only HLTV users registered before December 9 are eligible to vote.
Community reaction: support, jokes, and debate
Banks’ presence in the top three sparked a strong and divided response. Fans reacted across social media and the HLTV forums.
On one side, many openly backed Banks and called his nomination fully deserved:
- “Banks, you are not top 3 — you are top 1”
- “100% deserved”
- “Done again! Sorry SPUNJ!”
These reactions highlight Banks’ role as one of the most recognizable figures in modern CS2 broadcasts, from studio desks to Major arenas.
At the same time, a large part of the community favored other candidates. Most comments pointed toward SPUNJ or Freya:
- “SPUNJ wins this one easily”
- “Freya deserves it”
- “Freya or Spunj, no way Banks is getting it”
There was also criticism aimed at the final trio itself:
- “Is this a joke??? How are spunj and banks finalists”
- “Banks here is insane”
Still, even skeptical voices often acknowledged the overall quality of the finalists. One popular comment summed up the mood perfectly:
F*ck me, all 3 is FIRE. But Freya my queen
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Context and significance
Talent of the Year has long been one of the most emotional HLTV Awards categories. The result depends entirely on fan voting. In 2025, the race clearly shows a split in the community. It is a choice between a studio analyst, a major-arena host, and the leading female voice in modern CS broadcasting.
For James Banks, making the top three already signals strong community trust. Now, the final decision rests with the voters. The last days of voting will determine who becomes the face of the year.
