iM tops b1t; bags #19 in HLTV's Top 20

Romania's star rifler Mihai "iM" Ivan has re-entered HLTV's Top 20 at #19, above his NAVI teammate b1t. iM also appeared in the list last year at #16. After an eye-catching run with GamerLegion, NAVI grabbed the stellar Romanian after which iM became the first Romanian to get his hands on a Counter-Strike Major trophy. iM went through a massive role change when NAVI let go of jL and added makazze to their main roster, despite which he performed consistently at big events.

NAVI came into 2025, bagging Team of the Year at HLTV Awards for winning four S-tier events and securing runners-up positions at three others. iM put up solid numbers to kick the year off, as NAVI made back to back semi-final appearances at BLAST Bounty Season 1 and IEM Katowice 2025. iM narrowly missed out on an IEM Katowice EVP.

Justik was more vocal in terms of cheering for you, and then makazze is very aggressive. He just goes in, he maybe says a few words, and that's it. Because he likes to go first, it's hard to compare them. And for sure, we knew it takes time for me, him, and for the whole team to build something as a team.
iM on makazze replacing jL

NAVI could not replicate their 2024's highs in 2025 but iM still ended up bagging EVPs at the StarLadder Budapest 2025 Major and ESL Pro League Season 22. At ESL Pro League Season 22, iM seldom dipped below the 1.00 rating mark in the group stage and even saved the day in NAVI's do or die match against The MongolZ in the 2-2 pool. iM delivered a colossal 2.15 rating on the first map Nuke and also topped the charts in the next to confirm NAVI's playoffs spot at ESL Pro League.

After a good start to the year, NAVI hit a roadblock and just could not get past the quarter-finals, recording a string of disappointing top eight placements at big events.

iM's best map of the year came in a losing cause against MOUZ at IEM Cologne 2025. A monumental 30-frags on Mirage went in vain as the rest of NAVI's individuals failed horribly. iM sat on 30 frags, an ADR of 134 and a HLTV rating of 2.18 at the end of the map while none of his teammates even hit double figures.

Overall, iM's performances at some of the year's biggest events under pressure this year earns him a spot in the lower end of HLTV's Top 20. His deepest run came at Thunderpick World Championship where NAVI made a grand-final appearance .