diff --git a/amxmodx/CMisc.cpp b/amxmodx/CMisc.cpp
index 3d304cc2..ea576ea5 100755
--- a/amxmodx/CMisc.cpp
+++ b/amxmodx/CMisc.cpp
@@ -83,6 +83,19 @@ void CPlayer::PutInServer()
 	ingame = true;
 }
 
+int CPlayer::NextHUDChannel()
+{
+	int ilow = 1;
+
+	for (int i=ilow+1; i<=4; i++)
+	{
+		if (channels[i] < channels[ilow])
+			ilow = i;
+	}
+
+	return ilow;
+}
+
 bool CPlayer::Connect(const char* connectname, const char* ipaddress)
 {
 	name.assign(connectname);
@@ -98,6 +111,9 @@ bool CPlayer::Connect(const char* connectname, const char* ipaddress)
 	initialized = true;
 	authorized = false;
 
+	for (int i=0; i<=4; i++)
+		channels[i] = 0.0f;
+
 	const char* authid = GETPLAYERAUTHID(pEdict);
 
 	if ((authid == 0) || (*authid == 0) || (strcmp(authid, "STEAM_ID_PENDING") == 0))
diff --git a/amxmodx/CMisc.h b/amxmodx/CMisc.h
index 313d97bf..d0d2aed5 100755
--- a/amxmodx/CMisc.h
+++ b/amxmodx/CMisc.h
@@ -114,6 +114,8 @@ public:
 	String death_weapon;
 	int newmenu;
 	int page;
+
+	float channels[5];
 	
 	Vector lastTrace;
 	Vector thisTrace;
@@ -139,6 +141,8 @@ public:
 
 	inline void Authorize() { authorized = true; }
 
+	int NextHUDChannel();
+
 };
 
 // *****************************************************
diff --git a/amxmodx/amxmodx.cpp b/amxmodx/amxmodx.cpp
index 20d2de6f..6d0d9216 100755
--- a/amxmodx/amxmodx.cpp
+++ b/amxmodx/amxmodx.cpp
@@ -309,6 +309,25 @@ static cell AMX_NATIVE_CALL show_motd(AMX *amx, cell *params) /* 3 param */
 	return 1;
 }
 
+static cell AMX_NATIVE_CALL next_hudchannel(AMX *amx, cell *params)
+{
+	int index = params[1];
+	if (index < 1 || index > gpGlobals->maxClients)
+	{
+		LogError(amx, AMX_ERR_NATIVE, "Invalid player %d");
+		return 0;
+	}
+
+	CPlayer *pPlayer = GET_PLAYER_POINTER_I(index);
+	if (!pPlayer->ingame)
+	{
+		LogError(amx, AMX_ERR_NATIVE, "Player %d not in game", index);
+		return 0;
+	}
+	
+	return pPlayer->NextHUDChannel();
+}
+
 static cell AMX_NATIVE_CALL set_hudmessage(AMX *amx, cell *params) /* 11 param */
 {
 	g_hudset.a1 = 0;
@@ -333,10 +352,11 @@ static cell AMX_NATIVE_CALL set_hudmessage(AMX *amx, cell *params) /* 11 param *
 
 static cell AMX_NATIVE_CALL show_hudmessage(AMX *amx, cell *params) /* 2 param */
 {
-	int len = 0;
+		int len = 0;
 	g_langMngr.SetDefLang(params[1]);
 	char* message = NULL;
 	
+	bool aut = (g_hudset.channel == -1) ? true : false;
 	if (params[1] == 0)
 	{
 		for (int i = 1; i <= gpGlobals->maxClients; ++i)
@@ -347,6 +367,11 @@ static cell AMX_NATIVE_CALL show_hudmessage(AMX *amx, cell *params) /* 2 param *
 			{
 				g_langMngr.SetDefLang(i);
 				message = UTIL_SplitHudMessage(format_amxstring(amx, params, 2, len));
+				if (aut)
+				{
+					g_hudset.channel = pPlayer->NextHUDChannel();
+					pPlayer->channels[g_hudset.channel] = gpGlobals->time;
+				}
 				UTIL_HudMessage(pPlayer->pEdict, g_hudset, message);
 			}
 		}
@@ -363,7 +388,14 @@ static cell AMX_NATIVE_CALL show_hudmessage(AMX *amx, cell *params) /* 2 param *
 		CPlayer* pPlayer = GET_PLAYER_POINTER_I(index);
 		
 		if (pPlayer->ingame)
+		{
+			if (aut)
+			{
+				g_hudset.channel = pPlayer->NextHUDChannel();
+				pPlayer->channels[g_hudset.channel] = gpGlobals->time;
+			}
 			UTIL_HudMessage(pPlayer->pEdict, g_hudset, message);
+		}
 	}
 	
 	return len;
@@ -3736,6 +3768,7 @@ AMX_NATIVE_INFO amxmodx_Natives[] =
 	{"message_end",				message_end},
 	{"module_exists",			module_exists},
 	{"mkdir",					amx_mkdir},
+	{"next_hudchannel",			next_hudchannel},
 	{"num_to_word",				num_to_word},
 	{"parse_loguser",			parse_loguser},
 	{"parse_time",				parse_time},
diff --git a/plugins/adminchat.sma b/plugins/adminchat.sma
index 7bef77d6..ffbc9834 100755
--- a/plugins/adminchat.sma
+++ b/plugins/adminchat.sma
@@ -100,7 +100,7 @@ public cmdSayChat(id)
 	
 	new Float:verpos = g_Pos[i][1] + float(g_msgChannel) / 35.0
 	
-	set_hudmessage(g_Values[a][0], g_Values[a][1], g_Values[a][2], g_Pos[i][0], verpos, 0, 6.0, 6.0, 0.5, 0.15, g_msgChannel)
+	set_hudmessage(g_Values[a][0], g_Values[a][1], g_Values[a][2], g_Pos[i][0], verpos, 0, 6.0, 6.0, 0.5, 0.15, -1)
 
 	if (get_cvar_num("amx_show_activity") == 2)
 	{
@@ -292,7 +292,7 @@ public cmdTsay(id, level, cid)
 	get_user_authid(id, authid, 31)
 	get_user_name(id, name, 31)
 	userid = get_user_userid(id)
-	set_hudmessage(g_Values[a][0], g_Values[a][1], g_Values[a][2], tsay ? 0.05 : -1.0, verpos, 0, 6.0, 6.0, 0.5, 0.15, g_msgChannel)
+	set_hudmessage(g_Values[a][0], g_Values[a][1], g_Values[a][2], tsay ? 0.05 : -1.0, verpos, 0, 6.0, 6.0, 0.5, 0.15, -1)
 
 	if (get_cvar_num("amx_show_activity") == 2)
 	{
diff --git a/plugins/cstrike/statsx.sma b/plugins/cstrike/statsx.sma
index 138e6410..6d4c0b07 100755
--- a/plugins/cstrike/statsx.sma
+++ b/plugins/cstrike/statsx.sma
@@ -264,20 +264,20 @@ public plugin_cfg()
 
 // Set hudmessage format.
 set_hudtype_killer(Float:fDuration)
-	set_hudmessage(220, 80, 0, 0.05, 0.15, 0, 6.0, fDuration, (fDuration >= g_fHUDDuration) ? 1.0 : 0.0, 1.0, 2)
+	set_hudmessage(220, 80, 0, 0.05, 0.15, 0, 6.0, fDuration, (fDuration >= g_fHUDDuration) ? 1.0 : 0.0, 1.0, -1)
 
 set_hudtype_endround(Float:fDuration)
-	set_hudmessage(100, 200, 0, 0.05, 0.55, 0, 0.02, fDuration, (fDuration >= g_fHUDDuration) ? 1.0 : 0.0, 1.0, 1)
+	set_hudmessage(100, 200, 0, 0.05, 0.55, 0, 0.02, fDuration, (fDuration >= g_fHUDDuration) ? 1.0 : 0.0, 1.0, -1)
 
 set_hudtype_attacker(Float:fDuration)
-	set_hudmessage(220, 80, 0, 0.55, 0.35, 0, 6.0, fDuration, (fDuration >= g_fHUDDuration) ? 1.0 : 0.0, 1.0, 3)
+	set_hudmessage(220, 80, 0, 0.55, 0.35, 0, 6.0, fDuration, (fDuration >= g_fHUDDuration) ? 1.0 : 0.0, 1.0, -1)
 
 set_hudtype_victim(Float:fDuration)
-	set_hudmessage(0, 80, 220, 0.55, 0.60, 0, 6.0, fDuration, (fDuration >= g_fHUDDuration) ? 1.0 : 0.0, 1.0, 4)
+	set_hudmessage(0, 80, 220, 0.55, 0.60, 0, 6.0, fDuration, (fDuration >= g_fHUDDuration) ? 1.0 : 0.0, 1.0, -1)
 
 set_hudtype_specmode()
 {
-	set_hudmessage(255, 255, 255, 0.02, 0.87, 2, 0.05, 0.1, 0.01, 3.0, 1)
+	set_hudmessage(255, 255, 255, 0.02, 0.87, 2, 0.05, 0.1, 0.01, 3.0, -1)
 }
 
 #if defined STATSX_DEBUG
diff --git a/plugins/imessage.sma b/plugins/imessage.sma
index da695ea4..567e9bd2 100755
--- a/plugins/imessage.sma
+++ b/plugins/imessage.sma
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ public infoMessage()
 	if (g_Current >= g_MessagesNum)
 		g_Current = 0
 	
-	set_hudmessage(g_Values[g_Current][0], g_Values[g_Current][1], g_Values[g_Current][2], X_POS, Y_POS, 0, 0.5, HOLD_TIME, 2.0, 2.0, 1)
+	set_hudmessage(g_Values[g_Current][0], g_Values[g_Current][1], g_Values[g_Current][2], X_POS, Y_POS, 0, 0.5, HOLD_TIME, 2.0, 2.0, -1)
 	show_hudmessage(0, g_Messages[g_Current])
 	client_print(0, print_console, g_Messages[g_Current])
 	++g_Current
diff --git a/plugins/include/amxconst.inc b/plugins/include/amxconst.inc
index 058fae53..dd59f0ee 100755
--- a/plugins/include/amxconst.inc
+++ b/plugins/include/amxconst.inc
@@ -11,9 +11,9 @@
 #endif
 #define _amxconst_included
 
-#define AMXX_VERSION		1.60
-#define AMXX_VERSION_NUM	160
-stock const AMXX_VERSION_STR[]="1.60"
+#define AMXX_VERSION		1.61
+#define AMXX_VERSION_NUM	161
+stock const AMXX_VERSION_STR[]="1.61"
 
 #define ADMIN_ALL		0	/* everyone */
 #define ADMIN_IMMUNITY		(1<<0)	/* flag "a" */
diff --git a/plugins/include/amxmodx.inc b/plugins/include/amxmodx.inc
index 67e72e97..8699c0c0 100755
--- a/plugins/include/amxmodx.inc
+++ b/plugins/include/amxmodx.inc
@@ -127,7 +127,11 @@ native register_event(const event[],const function[],const flags[],cond[]="", ..
 */
 native register_logevent(const function[], argsnum,  ... );
 
-/* Sets format for hudmessage. */
+/**
+ * Sets format for hudmessage. 
+ * Note - as of AMX Mod X 1.61, setting the channel to -1
+ *  will automatically choose the next available HUD channel for a player.
+ */
 native set_hudmessage(red=200, green=100, blue=0, Float:x=-1.0, Float:y=0.35, effects=0, Float:fxtime=6.0, Float:holdtime=12.0, Float:fadeintime=0.1, Float:fadeouttime=0.2,channel=4);
 
 /* Displays HUD message to given player. */
@@ -895,3 +899,8 @@ native abort(error, const fmt[]="", {Float,_}:...);
  *  module_exists("dbi")
  */
 native module_exists(const logtag[]);
+
+/**
+ * Returns the next valid hudchannel for a user, from 1-4.
+ */
+native next_hudchannel(player);
diff --git a/plugins/scrollmsg.sma b/plugins/scrollmsg.sma
index 248fe5e3..7bc1f857 100755
--- a/plugins/scrollmsg.sma
+++ b/plugins/scrollmsg.sma
@@ -73,7 +73,7 @@ public showMsg()
 		g_xPos = 0.35
 	}
 
-	set_hudmessage(200, 100, 0, g_xPos, 0.90, 0, SPEED, SPEED, 0.05, 0.05, 2)
+	set_hudmessage(200, 100, 0, g_xPos, 0.90, 0, SPEED, SPEED, 0.05, 0.05, -1)
 	show_hudmessage(0, g_displayMsg)
 }
 
diff --git a/plugins/timeleft.sma b/plugins/timeleft.sma
index 47ef78c0..c27e476f 100755
--- a/plugins/timeleft.sma
+++ b/plugins/timeleft.sma
@@ -256,9 +256,9 @@ public timeRemain(param[])
 					setTimeText(arg, 127, tmlf, players[i])
 					
 					if (flags & 16)
-						set_hudmessage(255, 255, 255, -1.0, 0.85, 0, 0.0, 1.1, 0.1, 0.5, 1)
+						set_hudmessage(255, 255, 255, -1.0, 0.85, 0, 0.0, 1.1, 0.1, 0.5, -1)
 					else
-						set_hudmessage(255, 255, 255, -1.0, 0.85, 0, 0.0, 3.0, 0.0, 0.5, 1)
+						set_hudmessage(255, 255, 255, -1.0, 0.85, 0, 0.0, 3.0, 0.0, 0.5, -1)
 					
 					show_hudmessage(players[i], arg)
 				}