IEM Cologne 2025 took place from July 23 to August 3, 2025, at the LANXESS Arena in Cologne, Germany. Team Spirit defeated MOUZ 3-0 to win the championship, and donk was named MVP of the event, earning his ninth HLTV x 1XBET MVP award in his career.
donk’s overall tournament statistics were impressive: his average rating reached 1.50, second only to s1mple in Cologne MVP history.
His rating was at least higher than that of other competitors at the event (such as sh1ro’s 1.29).
His individual stats also include an average of 0.97 kills per round (KPR), 105.2 ADR, and a 62/41 K/D, 99.8 ADR, and 1.53 rating in the Grand Finals against MOUZ.
He was equally consistent in the knockout stage, averaging a 1.47 rating in the playoffs, helping Spirit easily dominate strong opponents like Natus Vincere and MOUZ.
Professional Background & Record Significance
Danil “donk” Kryshkovets was born on January 25, 2007, and is currently 18 years old. He has been playing for Team Spirit since 2023, winning HLTV Player of the Year in 2024 and earning multiple MVP awards at top tournaments.
As of IEM Cologne, he currently holds nine HLTV MVP titles, tied with NiKo (Nikola Kovac) and second only to GeT_RiGhT’s 10 pure rifler MVPs.
Liquipedia notes that donk won five HLTV MVPs (tied with ZywOo) in his first full professional year and set a new record for the highest “Big Event” rating (1.70 at Katowice 2024).
He is the youngest Grandmaster MVP winner in CS history (17 years, 324 days old).
Image source: HLTV
Post-match Interview & Emotional Story
In his post-match interview, donk said, “Coach Hally said it would be a surprise if we even made it out of the group stage,” and that winning the championship was even more than expected. He admitted that his pre-match form was unstable, with several losses to average teams, but he ultimately triumphed through teamwork and unwavering execution.
During the championship ceremony, he broke down in tears. Recalling last year’s crushing group stage defeat in Cologne, he said this victory carried the meaning of “making up for last year’s regrets.” This scene also demonstrated his growth and strong mental resilience.
Key Stats
| Metric | Value |
| Age | 18 years |
| 9th HLTV MVP | Yes |
| Overall Rating | 1.50 |
| Kills Per Round (KPR) | 0.97 |
| Average Damage per Round (ADR) | 105–105.2 |
| Grand Final Rating | 1.53 |
Conclusion
donk dominated IEM Cologne 2025 with outstanding performance and statistics, demonstrating his exceptional form and consistent play at the top level of CS2. In just approximately 20 months, he amassed nine MVP trophies, tying the record of NiKo, the renowned rifler in CS history, and falling just one player short of GeT_RiGhT’s cohort. This pace and scale are unprecedented. Furthermore, his mental and technical growth in crucial matches has been a key driver of Team Spirit‘s victories. Donk is expected to continue breaking records and solidify his position as the top rifler of the CS2 era. Gocsgo brings you more CS2 related news and unboxing information.