The tenth instalment of Valve sponsored majors will begin on January 22nd, in the United States. The major is being hosted by ELEAGUE, who made their Counter Strike debut in 2016, with their first two season of televised competition. The major is comprised very similarly to the last nine majors, with 16 of the world’s finest, battling for a 1 million dollar prize pool, with the victor taking the bulk of that and also the recognition as world champions.
The tournament roster features old gods, rising forces, and those that have been challenging the rule of top teams their entire career. The major will offer these teams the first chance of the new year to solidify their rule, dethrone the current champions, or impose the threat of dark horses. With the opportunity for success, there also comes the opportunity for disappointment; for many teams, the ELEAGUE major offers either the final chance to prove that they can continue existing in their current form, or the possibility of their weaknesses ripping them apart, leaving the opening months of 2017 to uncertainty.
Without further ado, the ELEAGUE major preview, presented by GosuGamers:
The Legends
The following eight teams are those that made the playoffs of the last major of 2016, ESL One Cologne. By making the playoffs, these teams attained the status as legends, gaining direct invite to the ELEAGUE major.
SK Gaming (FalleN, fer, coldzera, TACO, fox)
Looking Back
The Brazilian side of SK was, without any doubt, the most impressive team of 2016, taking both Majors in dominating fashion. They began the year after making a roster change at the end of 2015, bringing in two new players, a change which seemed to light a fire, that then turned to a blaze. With top finishes in the first months of 2016, they won their first event at MLG Columbus, the first major of two in 2016. They would then move on to win two more tournaments, leading into Cologne, where they would take the second, and final major title for 2016. After ESL One Cologne, something shifted within the roster, that lead to an inability to win a tournament, despite retaining a very high level of play.
From 2016 into 2017
Although the shift affected their ability to win, they continued to place highly, never dropping below top four finishes for the rest of the year. Also, despite the consistency of play, they decided to make a roster change, in hopes of regaining their title-winning play. One note to the roster change that SK made is that fox is currently a stand-in, which means that he will not take the position within the team permanently, leaving SK Gaming without a final fifth until after the major. Going into ELEAGUE, SK will be planning to make waves, showing the rest of the scene that they will not be shaken by a roster change.
The Major
The potential fire power within the core of SK, and the in-game leading of FalleN, still leaves the opportunity for playoffs on the table. With fox, the team has had two months of playtime and practice, leaving the other competitors to wonder just how dangerous SK will be; if they are smart, they will not underestimate the seemingly wounded Brazilians. The results of the ELEAGUE major for SK will likely carry an asterisk, unless they place well, and it seems that a realistic goal is to retain legend status, with little hope for making top four or the finals. SK will play their first match against HellRaisers, appearing as the slight favourites.
Team Liquid (nitr0, EliGE, Hiko, jdm64, Pimp)
Looking Back
The story of Team Liquid throughout 2016 was one of pride and also of disappointment. After picking up CIS star player, S1mple, the future looked bright, and success seemed to be within reach. After months of mediocre placements, Liquid entered the first major of 2016, without much hope, especially considering they could not use their AWPer, Koosta, instead using the player in which Koosta was replacing, adreN. However, Liquid would have a miracle group stage, making it out, to face CLG in the quarters, where the granted quick defeat to their NA brothers. In the semis, they lost two heart-breaking games against what is now SK Gaming, thus being eliminated. The summer of 2016 brought even more mediocre results, eventually leading to the announcement that S1mple would be leaving. However, he would play in three final tournaments with them, one of which would be ESL One Cologne. Heading into the final tournament with S1mple, Liquid was unsure of how they would fair, but once again, they would come to surprise the world. They swept through every stage of the tournament, decimating legends, giving the Americans a direct path to the finals, where they would face SK Gaming. Despite the great play leading to the finals, the North Americans would get brushed aside by the Brazilians, taking second place, which is also the highest an NA team has ever placed. After the major, S1mple left, and Liquid changed into a completely different team.
From 2016 to 2017
The latter half of the year would bring inactivity and more disappointment from the North Americans, as they filled S1mple’s vacancy with Danish player, Pimp. While Pimp is not a disappointing player, was not able to provide what the CIS player did, leaving the team without positive results. Having failed to qualify for ELEAGUE and ECS, Liquid would only play in two more tournaments after Cologne, ESL One New York and EPL Season 4 finals. The latter of the two, EPL, would be there final tournament, where they would bomb out in 7-8th place.
The Major
With the last two majors bringing the only real success that Liquid has achieved, they will hope to bring some of the vigour and skill that accompanied them at Cologne. The difference this time, however, is that they will not field S1mple. It seems unlikely that Liquid will achieve a deep placing at the ELEAGUE major, and a reasonable goal is to aim to keep legend status. For many, it looks as if the major will be the final hurrah for the North American’s, and if they fail, then it is likely that a change will be made. Liquid will kick off on day one against EnVyUs, in a match-up that could grant them victory if they are firing on all cylinders. This will be the first time that Liquid has been on LAN since October, however, and it is unknown what to expect.
Fnatic (olofmeister, dennis, twist, KRiMZ, disco doplan)
Looking Back
Fnatic entered 2016 as the best team in the world, fielding the best player in the world, Olof. They would take the first place at their first three tournaments of the year, leading into MLG Columbus. However, they were struck with devastation, finding out that Olofmeister was injured, leading to a drop in his performance. Columbus brought them their lowest placing since their roster formed. After that, the summer would bring no more victories, but the team still managed to take 3-4th placements all throughout. Much like SK, however, these placements were not enough for the Swedish legends, leading to a surprise roster swap, with Godsent, another promising Swedish team.
From 2016 into 2017
Since the controversial swap, Fnatic failed to create success, leading to the reacquisition of KRiMZ. The hope in bringing KRiMZ back is that they have reunited one of the most legendary duos in CS history, with him and Olofmeister. If the two regain their previous dominance, Fnatic will likely gather some of their old success. After bringing KRiMZ back, the team has still failed to produce results, ending the year at the lowest point they have ever been at.
The Major
Since the finals months of 2016 leave almost nothing to go off of, and the few results that are available to view are not favourable, the expectations for the Swedes are quite low, where the highest of predictions has them keeping their legend status, but no further. Fnatic must be careful in the group stage, as the major hosts the strongest teams in the world, and their legend status is no guarantee. It is also likely that, much like Liquid, the ELEAGUE major is the final chance for the once great team. They will break into day one to face G2, the slumping, yet dangerous French players.
Virtus.Pro (TaZ, NEO, pasha, byali, Snax)
Looking back
Virtus.Pro is the longest lasting line-up in Counter-Strike, having not made a roster change for over three years, and also never experiencing a shift in play that causes them to fall from grace. When 2016 began, it did seem, however, that VP was reaching the possible end of their roster, with a very poor EPL Season three, being sent to relegation. That did not last long, as VP pulled a classic move, that is a unique quality of the Poles; they bounced back, when they seemed weakest. VP is perhaps the most up and down team in CSGO, in the long run, but they are also likely the most dangerous. The had a roller coaster in 2016, taking three titles, but also falling short many times.
From 2016 to 2017
There was as short time, after the demise of SK, when they seemed as if they would be the best team in the world. They held that for about a month, then were struck by inactivity. They ended 2016 on a relatively low note, going out in 5-8 at ELEAGUE Season two, being eliminated by FaZe. Despite the loss, it was close and VP even out-fragged FaZe, leaving the result as one of the closest of the year. VP has already opened up 2017, playing at WESG last week, going out in a surprise 3rd place, considering the competition at the tournament.
The Major
Virtus.Pro is well known for always showing up during the biggest games, fielding some of the best players of all time; Snax being known as one of the highest rated players at majors, using cunning and skill to outperform any team, and any other player in the world. VP comes into the major seeming weak, after the last two tournaments being less-than adequate, but it is important to note that VP never enters a game without being danger, and never goes into a tournament without being considered contenders. They will go into ELEAGUE with the opportunity to win not far off, and with almost guaranteed playoff placement. It is likely that VP will make the semis, as they are the most dangerous team in the world, once placed into a best-of-three, and no team will feel safe when going head to head with the Polish giants. VP will be against OpTic in the first round, looking to solidify their position as the NA killers.
Astralis (dev1ce, dupreeh, Xyp9x, kjaerbye, gla1ve)
Looking Back
Astralis, in many ways, is the team that was always supposed to be the champion, but could never reach it. They went through 2015 as one of the best teams in the world, but entered 2016 on a lower stretch of results. As 2016 went on, they kept falling from the top, farther and farth, until they reached the limit. They replaced in-game leader, Karrigan, with gla1ve, and this change seemed to refill them with the ability to be winners again. The Danes have always been powerful, but they seem to now be entering a phase of strength that they may not have ever experienced, launching them to the top of the scene.
From 2016 to 2017
After acquiring gla1ve, their performances have seen a sharp rise, giving them a victory at ECS, and a second place finish at ELEAGUE. The attributing factors of their sharp rise include a more accepted system by gla1ve and dominating performances by star-player, device, along with strong play from both Kjaerbye and xyp9x. Ending 2016 on the high note of winning ECS, Astralis looks to place no lower than top 4 at the major, with their sights on the title. Many top analysts have Astralis predicted to win the major, with good reason.
The Major
Astralis boasts one of the best players in the world in Dev1ce, while also surrounding him with some of the most dangerous fraggers in the world, in the forms of dupreeh and Kjaerbye. Astralis’ map pool is among the most developed in the scene, and if they continue their form from the end of last year, they are the definite favourites to win the major. They are a guaranteed lock to make the playoffs, with nearly the same degree of assurance to make top four. It is unlikely that they will go into any best-of-three on the back foot and will not be the underdogs in any scenario. Astralis will face the Swedes of Godsent in the first round of the major, where they are clear favourites, expected to go 1-0 very quickly.
FlipSid3 Tactics (B1ad3, markeloff, WorldEdit, wayLander, electronic)
Looking Back
FlipSid3 comes into the major as the least likely of the legends, simply because of their lack of results throughout 2016. They coasted through the year, lurking at the bottom of the top 10, taking the role as a gatekeeper, giving entry to those better than them. They shocked the CounterStrike world at Cologne, when they upset Ninjas in Pyjamas, stealing their legend spot, and achieving it for their first time. Despite them seeming weaker than the others, FlipSid3 is not a team to forget about, as they have the leadership of one of the great IGLs in CounterStrike, who gives them a silent edge in best-of-threes, where they are surprisingly dangerous.
From 2016 to 2017
After ESL One Cologne, where they achieved their best result of making the playoffs of the major, Flipsid3 had a rough end to the year, taking part in many competitions, yet falling short each time. They suffered many group stage exits, losing to teams that would cower at the sight of higher ranked teams. They completed the year with these poor results, coming into the new year without much hope for making the leap to becoming a top team. One change in the timeline, however, is that they recently won DreamHack Leipzig, the first tournament of the year. This was against lower-tiered competition, but the CIS team managed to impose their dominance on the lesser-skilled teams. They come into the major looking to hold desperately to their legend status.
The Major
FlipSid3 is a team driven by tactics and sporadic play from the likes of WorldEdit, who has proven to have quite a high skill ceiling, but also has shown an inability to harness such power at all times. For B1ad3’s team, the most reasonable prediction is to either go out in groups or to retain their legend status, but go out in the quarterfinals; any result beyond would come as a great surprise, as they have not proven themselves to having the ability to make such a leap. FlipSid3 will kick off against FaZe, where their tactics will have to overcome the tremendous skill within the mixed roster.
Gambit Esports (Dosia, AdreN, Zeus, mou, HObbit)
Looking Back
Similar to FlipSid3, Gambit enters the major as surprise legends, having gathered their status in what many would see as a one-off, never to happen again. The CIS team emerged in 2016 to join F3 at the bottom of the top 10, and sometimes dropping below, with few instances where they proved themselves. They made several roster changes over last year, leaving them to miss many events, but making both majors through the qualification process, and gaining legend status at the last one. After Cologne, they made one roster move that has proved successful, albeit offering a small sample size.
From 2016 to 2017
In October, Gambit picked up former Na’Vi member, Zeus, who would take over as the in-game leader. Zeus has been a part of the CounterStrike scene for a long time, so with him, be brought knowledge, experience, and leadership, much of which was lacking in the former Gambit line-up. Alone with picking up Zeus, they also brought in HObbit, an inexperience, yet skilful youngster, who has shown glimpses of greatness, which must continue into the major. After the roster was set, they took place in a few lower-tiered tournaments, but found victory twice, showing dominance over the second tier of Counter-Strike. They managed to grab the title at DreamHack Winter, which sported teams such as North, Cloud 9, and OpTic, managing best-of-three wins over Godsent and Renegades, neither of which are terrible teams.
The Major
Gambit approaches the major as dark horses, where they have the ability to upset some of the better teams, and may surprise many by being competitive in series play. The keys to victory for Gambit are for HObbit to show his true potential, for mou and AdreN to be stable fraggers, and for the others to bring experience and leadership to the table during the big games. If they get off on the right foot at the major, they can likely achieve the quarterfinals, retaining their legend status, and proving that 2017 will be a year when another CIS team rises toward the top. They will face North in the first round of the Major, coming in as slight underdogs, but not easily counted out, as North have experienced their own problems leading up to ELEAGUE.
Natus Vincere (Guardian, flamie, Seized, Edward, S1mple)
Looking Back
Na’Vi, like Fnatic, entered 2016 as one of the top teams, being the only ones besides the Swedes to take titles, yet never beating their heated rivals. They continued taking first and second place spots, leading into the first major of the year, where, again like Fnatic, their best player, Guardian, was known to be suffering from a wrist injury. They made the finals of the major, but got batted down by SK Gaming. They continued with disappointing performances throughout the summer, never being able to win another tournament, and their placing were getting lower. They, just like SK and Fnatic, took the chance to make a roster move, kicking Zeus, and picking up S1mple.
From 2016 into 2017
After picking up the Ukrainian star, Na’Vi was expected to begin the climb back to the top, but in an even more explosive manner this time, as they fielded three of the best players in the world, with flamie, Guardian, and S1mple. The trio is seen as one of the most powerful in the game, where only two need to go off in order for the team to triumph or any other in the world. Shortly after the trio joined forces, they won ESL One New York, perhaps hinting at a future of dominance; this would not be the case, however. They failed to qualify for EPL Season 4, dropped out in the semis of Epicenter, and bombed out in last place at IEM Oakland, causing uncertainty to take over the image of the team. They ended last year early, however, giving them much time to improve upon their failures, and bootcamp, in an attempt to fulfil the potential that could give them victory.
The Major
Na’Vi’s potential at the major is shrouded in darkness, as many fear they will continue their poor play from the end of 2016, but not forgetting that this team is filled with potential superstars. With time to practice, they have likely solved many of their problems coming in the major, where they look to show the CS scene that they are ready to take the mantle as a top team. No result lower than semifinals will likely please the CIS titans, seeing that their ceiling of play is among the highest in the game. If they have their three stars show up to play, they will prove to potentially rise as victors. The most realistic prediction for S1mple’s team is the quarter finals, however, as not much is known about what form they will enter the tournament in. As the first days of matches takes place, the world will have a better feel of where Na’Vi sits in the scene, and if they will rise to their potential. They will take on MouseSports, where they enter as likely favourites, despite their flaws.
Stay tuend to GosuGamers for the latest news, streams, and information regarding the major.
Images: ELEAGUE Website , Astralis Twitter, Flipsid3 Twitter, VP Twitter, Team Liquid Twitter, Starix Twitter
