Paker_Games has secured the top prize of $5,000 by winning the HLTV Fantasy Spring 2026 season, capping off an impressive journey that began just two years ago.
The 32-year-old accountant from Cheltenham only started competing in Fantasy during 2024, though he's been following Counter-Strike since 2014. After beating the entire celebrity league in his first two complete seasons, he aimed for a top 10 finish this time around—and exceeded all expectations.
"The pressure during Stage 3 and the playoffs was definitely there," Paker_Games shared. "Ironically, I was feeling relaxed and good about my position until Stage 2 finished and I had a lead of 21 points. You can't really ask for a better position with only two games left, but it now felt like anything except winning would be a failure."
Despite a rough Andrey "tN1R" Tatarinovich selection in Stage 3, he managed top 20% finishes in both final games, ultimately winning by 22 points. Timixfyy claimed second place and $2,000, expressing "pure joy and relief" despite knowing he couldn't overtake the leader. Realvancen rounded out the podium with $1,000, beating isthisreallajjf in what he jokingly described as "pretty easy," though he lamented finishing just two points from second.
Making history, rickastley123 finished fourth to become the first player ever to crack the top 10 three times, earning a special $300 bonus. Jurodiwy is close behind with two top 10 appearances after placing seventh.
In the celebrity bracket, HLTV senior writer Danish "Nohte" Allana dominated from start to finish. "Despite my best efforts to nearly troll my lead away, finally playing all the games in a season paid off," he commented. Alex "hawka" Hawkins and Alex "Mauisnake" Ellenberg took second and third, while Lucy "LucyLuce" Eastwood edged Harry "NER0" Richards for fifth thanks to a bold double Falcons pick at the Cologne Major.
