The Game Awards have announced their six nominees for the Best Esports Athlete in their 2025 event.

The Game Awards is the biggest night in gaming, where the best games of the year are honored and new games are revealed. It’s a must-watch for any fan of video games, happening on December 7 this year.

You can vote for your favorite games in over 30 categories now at The Game Awards website. Let your voice be heard and help decide who wins the biggest awards in gaming!

There are three esports-focused awards and we at Esports Kingdom have brought you a look in to each of the nominees.

• Best Esports Athlete (this article)
• Best Esports Team
• Best Esports Game

And the nominees are…

Brock “brawk” Somerhalder

Brock Somerhalder, better known in the competitive scene as “brawk”, is a standout American player in the game Valorant. He has been active since 2020 and is currently a member of the team NRG. Over the course of his career he has built up strong results and viewership numbers — for example, the tournament Valorant Champions 2025 peaked at 1,473,642 viewers when he was competing.

In 2025, brawk had a landmark year. NRG captured the Valorant Champions title and he was named tournament MVP, recognising his consistent impact across the event and especially during the Grand Final. His performance helped NRG secure the big prize and underscored his position as one of the top players in Valorant for the year.

Jung “Chovy” Ji‑hoon

Jung Ji-hoon, popularly known as “Chovy”, is a South Korean mid-laner for the team Gen.G in the game League of Legends. He began his pro career in 2017, and has established himself as one of the most mechanically gifted and consistent players in the LCK, earning multiple MVP awards and finals appearances.

In 2025, Chovy continued his dominant run. He helped Gen.G complete an undefeated 18-0 run during the 2025 LCK Spring Split regular season. Later in the year he claimed the Mid-Season Invitational (MSI) title, being named Finals MVP. His personal accolade haul and his team’s success cemented 2025 as one of his strongest years to date.

Jason “f0rsakeN” Susanto

Jason Susanto, known in the Valorant scene as “f0rsakeN”, is an Indonesian-born gamer who competes as the in-game leader for the team Paper Rex. Over his career he has been a staple of the Pacific region’s competitive scene and has collected numerous first-place finishes.

In 2025, f0rsakeN really made his mark: he earned the MVP award at the VCT Masters Toronto 2025 when Paper Rex claimed the title. Further, he embraced a new role as strategic and emotional leader for his squad, stepping up his contribution beyond pure mechanics. These developments positioned him as a serious contender for top-tier Valorant talent in 2025.

Kakeru “Kakeru” Watanabe

Kakeru Watanabe is a Japanese professional fighting-game player specialising in Street Fighter 6. He achieved major milestone status by winning the prestigious Capcom Cup 11 in 2025, marking him as a top competitor in the international scene.

However, later in 2025 Kakeru announced his retirement from professional competition, citing health issues and signalling a shift in focus toward streaming and content. Despite the decision to step back, his 2025 Capcom Cup win remains a highlight and a fitting capstone to his pro career.

Saul “MenaRD” Leonardo

Saul Leonardo, better known as “MenaRD”, is a Dominican-Republic fighting-game athlete and one of the most accomplished names in Street Fighter history. He has earned multiple major titles, including two Capcom Cups and multiple EVO championships.

His 2025 season was exceptional: MenaRD took home his third EVO championship by winning EVO Japan 2025 and the main EVO 2025 event, following his prior EVO Japan success in 2024. This string of high-profile victories reinforced his status as a top-tier competitor in the Street Fighter sphere.

Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut

Mathieu Herbaut, known online as “ZywOo”, is a French professional player for the team Team Vitality and one of the leading figures in the game Counter‑Strike 2 (and its predecessor CS:GO). He has been awarded multiple HLTV Player of the Year titles and holds records for MVP awards and major tournament victories.

In 2025, ZywOo further solidified his legacy: he amassed a string of MVP awards, overtook previous records for total MVPs, and claimed his second Major title at the BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025. His performance across the year marked him as arguably the best player in CS2 for 2025.