Navi CS2 Star jL Breaks into HLTV Top 20, Secures Fifth Place

KYIV, Ukraine — Justinas “jL” Lekavicius, a standout player for NAVI‘s CS2 team, has earned a spot in HLTV.org’s Top 20 Players of the Year for the first time in his career, securing an impressive fifth place in the rankings. The announcement, made on January 9, 2025, highlights jL’s exceptional performance throughout 2024, including two MVP awards and four EVP titles.

In 2024, jL maintained an average rating of 1.13, with standout performances at the PW Shanghai Major Europe RMR A and ESL Pro League Season 20, where he achieved ratings of 1.29 and 1.28, respectively. His MVP awards came from the PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 and ESL Pro League Season 20, while his EVP titles were earned at IEM Rio 2024, IEM Cologne 2024, Esports World Cup 2024, and BLAST Premier: Spring Final 2024.

“Justinas has been a cornerstone of our team’s success,” said a NAVI spokesperson. “His dedication and skill have been instrumental in our achievements this year.”

Joining jL in the HLTV Top 20 are fellow NAVI players Dziugas “dziugss” Steponavicius, Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov, and Valeriy “b1t” Vakhovskiy. Steponavicius, a rising star from NAVI Junior, is expected to make a significant impact in 2025.

NAVI’s next challenge will be the BLAST Bounty Spring 2025 tournament closed qualifier, scheduled to take place online from January 14 to 19. The team will look to build on their 2024 success as they aim for another strong showing in the competitive CS2 scene.

Meanwhile, Team Spirit‘s Danil “donk” Kryshkovets dominated the year-end HLTV Awards, claiming Player of the Year, Rookie of the Year, Opener of the Year, and Highlight of the Year. His record-breaking performance at the PW Shanghai Major solidified his status as one of the brightest talents in the esports world.