Valve Brings Cache Back to CS2 in Latest Update

<p>After years of waiting, Cache is officially back in Counter-Strike 2. Valve’s latest update brings the classic map into regular play, adds several smaller map tweaks, and continues polishing CS2’s animations and sound. Load up a server, clear Forklift, and take a fresh look at one of Counter-Strike’s most familiar battlegrounds.</p><h2>Cache Joins Competitive and Core Game Modes</h2><p>Cache is now available in several regular&nbsp;<a href="/wiki//main-cs2-game-modes" target="_self">CS2 modes</a>, giving players room to learn the reworked version before any bigger map-pool decision happens. For now, Valve has added it to:</p><ul><li>Competitive</li><li>Casual</li><li>Deathmatch</li><li>Retakes</li></ul><p>Cache has not been added to Premier or the Active Duty pool yet. Instead, Valve is letting the map settle in core modes first, where players can test angles, callouts, executes, and rotations at a lower pressure level. For a map with this much Counter-Strike history and a lot of changes, that slower return is reasonable.</p><p>Cache remains a map built around clean structure, fast decisions, and heavy mid control. A-site fights near Forklift, mid duels that open rotations, and late B hits with tight utility will feel familiar to longtime players, while newer CS2 fans should be able to read the layout quickly.</p><h2>Key Gameplay Difference in Valve’s Cache Rework</h2><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:null/null;" src="/uploads/de_cache_2_6ff2984aad.avif" alt="de_cache_2.avif" width="null" height="null"></figure><p>The biggest gameplay change on Cache is the removed mid window. In the older version, that angle gave players extra vision across mid and had a real impact on how teams fought for control, used boosts, and reacted to fast pressure.</p><p>Valve also made several smaller map updates alongside Cache’s return:</p><ol><li><a href="/wiki/overview-map-dust2" target="_self">Dust II</a>: Mid Box, often called Xbox, now reveals a previously hidden jump spot, giving players another detail to account for in mid control.</li><li>Office: Collision was added to the tarp over the boxes near CT spawn, which should make movement and interactions in that area more consistent.</li><li>Stronghold and Poseidon: Both maps were updated to their latest Community Workshop versions.</li></ol><h3>Early Performance Results for Valve’s Cache Build</h3><p>Early performance tests for Valve’s Cache build look encouraging, especially for players who care about stable frames during utility-heavy rounds. In testing shared by ThourCS2 and reported by BO3, Valve’s version was compared with FMPONE’s Workshop version at 1080p, with Reflex enabled and 2x MSAA.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.34%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Cache version</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Average FPS</th><th style="border-style:solid;">1% lows</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Valve build</td><td style="border-style:solid;">726 FPS</td><td style="border-style:solid;">388.3 FPS</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">FMPONE Workshop version</td><td style="border-style:solid;">592.7 FPS</td><td style="border-style:solid;">294.4 FPS</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>Valve’s Cache showed a 22.5% higher average FPS and a 31.9% improvement in 1% lows. For most competitive players, that second number is the one to watch. Stronger 1% lows usually mean fewer sudden frame drops when the round gets chaotic.</p><p>If these early results hold up, Valve’s build should feel smoother in the exact moments where CS2 players need clean tracking and quick reactions.</p><h2>Animation Fixes and Sound Updates</h2><p>Valve also made several smaller fixes aimed at the everyday feel of CS2. These changes are not as flashy as a map release, but they matter during real rounds, especially when movement, sound, or weapon handling feels slightly off.</p><p>The update includes:</p><ul><li>Minor Animgraph 2 adjustments for viewmodel animations.</li><li>A fix for&nbsp;<a href="/skins/talon-knife" target="_self">Talon</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/skins/karambit" target="_self">Karambit</a>&nbsp;knives during defuse animations, so they are held correctly.</li><li>Small sound mix changes across the game.</li><li>A fix for the&nbsp;<a href="/skins/c4" target="_self">C4</a>&nbsp;equip sound, which now gets interrupted properly by other equipment sounds.</li><li>Removal of a first-person death sound that could play when a music kit death cue was not audible.</li><li>A shader fix for overly dark, chunky silhouettes on objects such as&nbsp;<a href="/wiki/overview-map-mirage" target="_self">Mirage</a>&nbsp;railings.</li><li>A fix for rare cases where players could end up holding no weapon after switching hands following a&nbsp;<a href="/skins/grenades" target="_self">grenade</a>&nbsp;throw.</li></ul>

Monte Win CCT Season 3 Global Finals

<p><a href="/teams/monte" target="_self">Monte</a>&nbsp;got revenge when it mattered most. After losing to&nbsp;<a href="/teams/heroic" target="_self">HEROIC</a>&nbsp;in the upper final, they came back in the best-of-five grand final, won 3-1, and lifted the CCT Season 3 Global Finals trophy. From a 13-0 stomp on Nuke to the final rounds on Ancient, here is how Monte closed the series.</p><h2>Grand Final Recap: Monte Take the Series 3-1</h2><p>Monte beat HEROIC on April 26, 2026, in the grand final of the $75,000 CCT Global Finals 2026 event in Vila Nova de Gaia, Portugal. The final scoreline was 3-1, with Monte winning Nuke 13-0, Dust2 13-9, and Ancient 13-10. HEROIC’s only reply came on Inferno, where they took a clean 13-5 win to keep the series alive for one more map.</p><p>The result carried extra weight because HEROIC had already beaten Monte 2-1 in the upper final one day earlier. Monte did not arrive at the title match as a flawless favorite.</p><h3>Nuke Blowout and Dust2 Comeback</h3><p>Nuke gave Monte the perfect start. They crushed HEROIC 13-0, winning every single round and setting the pace for the whole final. HEROIC looked stuck from the first gun rounds, while afro’s AWP kept finding openings and turning key moments into easy-looking picks.</p><p>Dust2 was a very different map. HEROIC went up 8-4, but Monte stayed calm after the side switch. Their CT setup worked round by round, and the comeback ended with a 13-9 win.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:25%;"><col style="width:25%;"><col style="width:25%;"><col style="width:25%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Map</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Winner</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Score</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Key story</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Nuke</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Monte</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-0</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Total control from start to finish</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Dust2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Monte</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-9</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Comeback after trailing 4-8</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Inferno</td><td style="border-style:solid;">HEROIC</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-5</td><td style="border-style:solid;">HEROIC kept the series alive</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Ancient</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Monte</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-10</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Monte closed out the title</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>Inferno was HEROIC’s best answer, as they won 13-5 and forced Monte to work for the trophy. Ancient then became the decider in practice. Monte built enough of a lead, handled the late pressure, and finished the map 13-10 to win the series.</p><h2>afro’s Standout Performance and AZUWU’s Closing Impact</h2><p><a href="/players/afro" target="_self">Aurélien “afro” Drapier</a>&nbsp;was Monte’s main star in the final. He finished the four-map series with 68 kills and 43 deaths, giving him a 1.58 K/D ratio. His AWP had real impact across the match, especially when Monte needed clean openings and stable rounds.</p><p>The key numbers from the final show why afro stood out:</p><ul><li><a href="/players/afro" target="_self">afro</a>: 68-43 K-D, 1.58 K/D ratio, 92.2 ADR, 82.9% KAST, 1.45 rating</li><li><a href="/players/azuwu" target="_self">AZUWU</a>: 62-51 K-D, 1.22 K/D ratio, 80.6 ADR, 76.3% KAST, 1.22 rating</li><li><a href="/players/xfl0ud" target="_self">xfl0ud</a>: 50-53 K-D, 78.8 ADR, 72.4% KAST, 1.11 rating</li><li><a href="/players/susp" target="_self">susp</a>: 52-51 K-D, 1.05 rating</li></ul><p><a href="/players/azuwu" target="_self">Oscar “AZUWU” Bell</a>&nbsp;also had a big say in Monte’s win. His late impact on Ancient helped close the map 13-10, stopping HEROIC from turning the ending into a long fight. HEROIC had good moments from xfl0ud and susp, but they did not have enough firepower across the full series to match Monte’s best players.</p><h2>CCT Global Finals Playoff Path and Early Eliminations</h2><p>Monte’s playoff run was not a straight road, but they handled every setback well. They started with a 2-0 win over Betclic, then beat&nbsp;<a href="/teams/nip" target="_self">Ninjas in Pyjamas</a>&nbsp;2-1. HEROIC pushed Monte into the lower bracket with a 2-1 win, but Monte answered by beating NIP again and earning a rematch in the grand final.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:25%;"><col style="width:25%;"><col style="width:25%;"><col style="width:25%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Stage</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Match</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Result</th><th style="border-style:solid;">What happened</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Playoffs opener</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Monte vs Betclic</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-0</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Monte started clean</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Upper bracket</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Monte vs&nbsp;<a href="/teams/nip" target="_self">NIP</a></td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-1</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Monte survived a tighter series</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Upper final</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Monte vs HEROIC</td><td style="border-style:solid;">1-2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">HEROIC sent Monte down</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Lower final</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Monte vs NIP</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-1</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Monte won the rematch</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Grand final</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Monte vs HEROIC</td><td style="border-style:solid;">3-1</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Monte took the trophy</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>The bracket was rough for several teams. 100 Thieves lost to&nbsp;<a href="/teams/big" target="_self">BIG</a>&nbsp;1-2, then went out against NIP after close map losses on Mirage and Anubis. Sharks beat Betclic after losing their opener, but BIG ended their run. BIG also fell later, with NIP knocking them out 2-1.</p><p>Monte left Portugal with the trophy, a big win over HEROIC, and real momentum for their next test.</p>

Stake Ranked Field Takes Shape as StarLadder Locks In the 2026 Roadmap

<p>StarLadder has locked in the full 2026 Stake Ranked schedule, and Episode 2 already has most of its LAN spots filled through the Valve rankings. The picture is getting clear fast, with invited teams set and qualifiers still deciding the last seats. Check the field, the qualifier road, and the remaining dates now.</p><h2>Six invited teams already set for the next LAN stop</h2><p>Episode 1 gave Stake Ranked a strong start.&nbsp;<a href="/teams/g2" target="_self">G2</a>&nbsp;won the Barcelona event on April 4, beating BetBoom 2-1 in the final. After dropping Anubis 10-13, G2 bounced back with a 13-11 win on Ancient and finished the job 13-9 on Dust2. They made the whole run without losing a series, and&nbsp;<a href="/players/matys" target="_self">Matúš Šimko “MATYS”</a>&nbsp;led the grand final with a 54-43 K-D and a 1.30 rating. That kind of finish made the event feel like a real stop on the 2026 CS2 calendar, not just filler between bigger tournaments.</p><p>Now the focus moves to Episode 2, set for May 27-30 in the Schengen region. The event will again feature eight teams and a $100,000 prize pool. Six direct invites are already locked in through the Global VRS.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:50%;"><col style="width:50%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Team</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Global VRS rank on April 6</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/teams/9z" target="_self">9z Team</a></td><td style="border-style:solid;">13</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/teams/heroic" target="_self">HEROIC</a></td><td style="border-style:solid;">21</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Alliance</td><td style="border-style:solid;">23</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/teams/3dmax" target="_self">3DMAX</a></td><td style="border-style:solid;">24</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/teams/faze" target="_self">FaZe Clan</a></td><td style="border-style:solid;">26</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/teams/nip" target="_self">Ninjas in Pyjamas</a></td><td style="border-style:solid;">28</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><h3>Qualifiers will decide the final two places</h3><p>The fight for the last two LAN spots in Episode 2 is tight, and there is no easy path through it. StarLadder kept the format simple and brutal, which makes every match matter.</p><p>Here is how the qualifier road works:</p><ul><li>The open qualifier took place on April 21 and 22 on FACEIT.</li><li>Two teams advanced from that stage.</li><li>Those two teams moved into a 16-team closed qualifier running from April 29 to May 3.</li><li>Fourteen more teams joined there through VRS invites.</li><li>Every closed qualifier match is single-elimination and best-of-three.</li><li>Only two teams survive and make it to the LAN finals.</li><li>The LAN stage then switches to a double-elimination best-of-three bracket.</li></ul><p>For up-and-coming rosters, this is the kind of run that can change how people see them. Stake Ranked is clearly built to give rising teams a real chance to break through, and this format makes sure nobody gets a free pass.</p><h2>The remaining 2026 event dates after Episode 2</h2><p>The rest of the year is now set, and the spacing leaves little room for teams to drift. There is a midsummer stop, then a packed autumn stretch that should keep the VRS race moving almost nonstop.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:50%;"><col style="width:50%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Event</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Dates</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Episode 3</td><td style="border-style:solid;">July 15-18, 2026</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Episode 4</td><td style="border-style:solid;">October 1-4, 2026</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Episode 5</td><td style="border-style:solid;">October 27-30, 2026</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Episode 6</td><td style="border-style:solid;">November 17-20, 2026</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>Qualification dates for Episodes 3 through 6 are still to be announced, but the big picture is already clear. Stake Ranked has committed to a steady 2026 rhythm with five more LAN stops after G2’s first title run, and every team hovering near the cut line now has a fixed set of targets. In Counter-Strike terms, the field is taking shape, the calendar is locked, and the pressure starts well before the server goes live in late May.</p>

Vitality Turns Project H Into an Official CS2 Academy Team

<p><a href="/teams/vitality" target="_self">Vitality</a>&nbsp;has turned Project H into its official CS2 academy team, giving the roster a real path to grow under one of the biggest names in the game. This piece breaks down the move, the players, and the early signs around the squad. Read on to see why this team is worth watching.</p><h2>From Internal Project to Full Academy Launch</h2><p>On April 22, Vitality made Project H its first official CS2 academy team. This was not a last-minute stack built for hype. The roster had already been playing together for months, and now it gets full backing from the org. With coach Pablo “VdaK1NG” Escobar and team manager Matthieu Péché behind the squad, the team will also work with the main Vitality setup through practice, feedback, bootcamps, and LAN events. For CS2 fans, that makes this a real long-term project, not just a short trial run.</p><h3>Katkame Leads a Young International Core Alongside lucaZ, Reqqen, Dafra1D, and patrenzo</h3><p>Katkame, the 16-year-old French AWPer was already getting attention before this academy move, and that says a lot about how highly he is rated. He looks like the kind of prospect who can become must-watch once he gets more reps against stronger teams.</p><p>Around him, Vitality has built an international five with clear roles:</p><ul><li>Thiebault Ulysse “Katkame” as the young AWP talent to watch</li><li>Luca-Adrian Gavrilut “lucaZ” bringing experience from NAVI Junior</li><li>Kirill Polieiko “Dafra1D” leading the team in-game</li><li>Aleks Frolov “Reqqen” adding firepower on the rifles</li><li>Patrick Hauer “patrenzo” rounding out the roster</li></ul><p>This is not a random mix of young players thrown together for officials. The squad has a real structure behind it, with Dafra1D handling the calling and Reqqen giving the team more punch in the server. For CS2 fans, it already feels like a roster built to improve fast and play proper Counter-Strike.</p><h3>VdaK1NG’s Role and the Team’s Early Competitive Momentum</h3><p>Pablo Escobar “VdaK1NG” has been a key part of this project for a while. He first joined Vitality as a data analyst, worked with the early version of Project H, and then stayed on as head coach once the team kept showing progress. For a young squad, that kind of steady voice can matter a lot. It helps the players build better habits, settle into their roles, and level up without losing structure.</p><p>Their early results already give fans something to track:</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.34%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Match</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Result</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Key detail</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">vs. Metizport</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Win</td><td style="border-style:solid;">A strong result that helped build early momentum</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">vs. Drama on Dust II</td><td style="border-style:solid;">8-13 loss</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Project H struggled to close key rounds</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">vs. Drama on Mirage</td><td style="border-style:solid;">4-13 loss</td><td style="border-style:solid;">A rough map, but a useful test for a young roster</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>Even in that series loss, Katkame stood out as the team’s top player with a 30-30 K-D and 86 ADR across the two maps. That is the kind of stat line fans notice right away. The team is still raw, but the pieces are there, and the early matches already feel like the start of a real grind rather than a short trial.</p>

Falcons hand the reins to karrigan after kyxsan’s benching

<p><a href="/teams/teamfalcons" target="_self">Falcons</a>&nbsp;made a big roster switch.&nbsp;<a href="/players/kyxsan" target="_self">Damjan Stoilkovski “kyxsan”</a>&nbsp;is out,&nbsp;<a href="/players/karrigan" target="_self">Finn Andersen “karrigan”</a>&nbsp;is in, and the team wants a captain who can help them close big playoff games. This move could shape the next chapter for one of CS2’s biggest projects. Read on to see what changed and what it means.</p><h2>kyxsan’s Bench Move Ends a Promising Falcons Spell</h2><p><a href="/players/kyxsan" target="_self">kyxsan</a>&nbsp;leaves the active roster after 16 months with Falcons, a stretch that began in January 2025 when he arrived with&nbsp;<a href="/players/teses" target="_self">René Madsen “TeSeS”</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/players/degster" target="_self">Abdul Gasanov “degster”</a>, and his spell as in-game leader gave the team some real highs, even if the full breakthrough never came.</p><p>During that run, Falcons:</p><ul><li>Won their first CS trophy at PGL Bucharest;</li><li>Made six more grand finals;</li><li>Stayed in the mix at top events through early 2026.</li></ul><p>The latest final came at BLAST Bounty Finals in January 2026, which kept Falcons in the spotlight as one of the scene’s biggest projects.</p><p>After the benching, kyxsan said on X that the timing was “unfortunate” with the Cologne Major close, but added that he respected the decision and called the stint a good experience.</p><h3>Strong Runs, One Trophy, and a Ceiling Still Unbroken</h3><p>Falcons’ peak under&nbsp;<a href="/players/kyxsan" target="_self">Damjan Stoilkovski</a>’s lead came at PGL Bucharest 2025, where they swept&nbsp;<a href="/teams/g2" target="_self">G2</a>&nbsp;3-0 in the grand final with 13-5 on Mirage, 13-7 on Nuke, and 13-8 on Ancient. kyxsan posted a 40-31 K-D and a 1.25 rating in that series, while&nbsp;<a href="/players/degster" target="_self">degster</a>&nbsp;earned player of the match honors after a 46-30 K-D, 1.21 rating, and 79.7% KAST. That was the kind of complete, composed title run Falcons had been chasing.</p><p>At BLAST Bounty 2026 Season 1 Finals, Falcons reached another grand final but were swept 3-0 by&nbsp;<a href="/teams/parivision" target="_self">PARIVISION</a>. Even in defeat,&nbsp;<a href="/players/niko" target="_self">Nikola Kovač “NiKo”</a>&nbsp;was so strong that HLTV named him MVP, citing a 1.20 event rating, four map awards, and elite round-winning damage numbers. That kind of contrast can sting inside a contender: star output was there, trophies were not.</p><p>IEM Rio was a snapshot of the same pattern. Falcons beat&nbsp;<a href="/teams/spirit" target="_self">Spirit</a>&nbsp;2-0 to reach the playoffs, then snapped&nbsp;<a href="/teams/vitality" target="_self">Vitality</a>’s 18-match win streak with a 2-1 victory in the Group A upper final. The map scores were 13-10 on Mirage, 6-13 on Dust2, and 16-14 on Nuke, with&nbsp;<a href="/players/monesy" target="_self">Ilya Osipov “m0NESY”</a>&nbsp;leading the way on 59-45 and a 1.41 rating. kyxsan’s own line in that series was 40-51 with a 0.98 rating. A third-place finish is respectable, but for a roster this expensive and this gifted, respectable rarely feels like enough.</p><h2>karrigan Closes the FaZe Chapter and Takes the Falcons Captaincy</h2><p><a href="/teams/faze" target="_self">FaZe</a>&nbsp;have officially closed the book on&nbsp;<a href="/players/karrigan" target="_self">Finn Andersen</a>’s second run with the team, ending a five-year stretch that added some huge wins to his legacy. He lifted eight LAN trophies in that time, including the Antwerp Major in 2022 and Intel Grand Slam Season 4 in 2023. He also led FaZe to Major finals in Copenhagen, Shanghai, and Budapest, which says a lot about how often his teams stayed in the fight at the top.</p><p>Now he is heading to Falcons as the new in-game leader, and that tells the whole story of what Falcons want next. This team already has firepower. What it has been missing in the biggest moments is a captain with deep playoff reps and the nerve to keep rounds under control when the pressure spikes.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:50%;"><col style="width:50%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Topic</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Details</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">FaZe exit</td><td style="border-style:solid;">karrigan ends a trophy-filled second spell</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Main achievements</td><td style="border-style:solid;">8 LAN titles, including a PGL Major Antwerp 2022 and ESL Grand Slam Season 4</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Big-match record</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Reached multiple Major finals</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Falcons role</td><td style="border-style:solid;">New captain and in-game leader</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Why Falcons made the move</td><td style="border-style:solid;">More structure and better closing power</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><h2>A NiKo Reunion Sets the Tone for Falcons’ Next Phase</h2><p>This move also revives an old partnership.&nbsp;<a href="/players/karrigan" target="_self">karrigan</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/players/niko" target="_self">Nikola Kovač</a>&nbsp;played together on FaZe in 2017 and 2018, winning seven titles, and now they reunite with zonic behind them and a high-firepower core around them. Falcons’ current group features&nbsp;<a href="/players/niko" target="_self">NiKo</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/players/teses" target="_self">TeSeS</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/players/monesy" target="_self">m0NESY</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/players/kyousuke" target="_self">kyousuke</a>, and now karrigan, with PGL Astana on May 9 set to be the first real test of the new structure. A team that already had stars has now handed the wheel to a captain built for pressure.</p>

Vitality Complete a Historic Run at IEM Rio 2026

<p><a href="/teams/vitality" target="_self">Vitality</a>&nbsp;did more than win a trophy in Rio. They handled the pressure, closed the event in strong style, secured a second Grand Slam, and gave fans a real reason to call this team one of the best ever. Keep reading for the full match story.</p><h2>Spirit Crumble as Vitality Take the Final in a Straight Win</h2><p>Vitality swept&nbsp;<a href="/teams/spirit" target="_self">Spirit</a>&nbsp;3-0 in the IEM Rio 2026 grand final and stayed in control when the pressure got heavy. The series looked close at times, especially on the first two maps, but Vitality were the better team in the key rounds and punished every mistake. By the time the match reached Dust2,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/spirit" target="_self">Team Spirit</a>&nbsp;looked out of answers and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/vitality" target="_self">Team Vitality</a>&nbsp;were already in full control.</p><p>Their map score:</p><ul><li>Mirage, 16-13: Spirit had chances, but Vitality closed the most important rounds in the over times;</li><li>Nuke, 13-10: another tight map that slipped away late;</li><li>Dust2, 13-5: a one-sided finish with Vitality fully locked in.</li></ul><p>That clean win gave Vitality the Rio trophy, $125,000 in prize money (and $170,000 for the organization), and something even bigger, their second Grand Slam title. For CS2 fans, this was not just a final win. It was a statement that Vitality can handle any stage, any crowd, and any pressure.</p><h3>Mirage and Nuke Slip Away Before Dust2 Becomes a One-Way Finish</h3><p>Mirage was the first sign that Spirit were in trouble. They came out hot, built a 5-1 lead on the T side, and later pushed ahead 11-8, but they still could not close their own map pick. Vitality dragged the game into overtime, then took over when it mattered most.&nbsp;<a href="/players/ropz" target="_self">Robin “ropz” Kool</a>&nbsp;hit the late multi-kills that broke Spirit’s momentum and helped flip Mirage into a 16-13 win.</p><p>Nuke felt even harsher for Spirit. They posted a strong 8-4 CT half and looked ready to level the series, but the second half slipped fast. Vitality stole key low-buy rounds, crushed Spirit’s economy, and never gave them room to recover.&nbsp;<a href="/players/apex" target="_self">Dan “apEX” Madesclaire</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/players/zywoo" target="_self">Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut</a>&nbsp;were everywhere in the important rounds, and Spirit slowly lost control of the map.</p><p>Dust2 was the clean finish. Vitality opened 5-0 on CT, led 8-4 at halftime, won the second pistol, and shut the game down at 13-5. Spirit only found one round after the break, and by then the series was already gone.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.33%;"><col style="width:33.34%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Map</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Key story</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Final score</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Mirage</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Spirit led early, but Vitality forced OT and stole the map</td><td style="border-style:solid;">16-13 Vitality</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Nuke</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Spirit had the better first half, then lost control after halftime</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-10 Vitality</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Dust2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Vitality snowballed from the start and closed with ease</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-5 Vitality</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>By the end of Dust2, Vitality looked fully locked in, while Spirit looked out of answers.</p><h2>ZywOo Drives the Title Push With Another MVP Performance</h2><p>The grand final’s best raw series numbers belonged to&nbsp;<a href="/players/ropz" target="_self">ropz</a>, who went 62-35 with 94 ADR and a 1.38 rating, but the tournament still ended with another MVP medal for&nbsp;<a href="/players/zywoo" target="_self">Mathieu Herbaut</a>, his 31st on HLTV. That split says plenty about Vitality right now. They do not need one player to carry every map because the whole team can take over different moments of the same match.</p><p><a href="/players/zywoo" target="_self">ZywOo</a>&nbsp;still drove the title push from start to finish. In Rio’s playoff matches, he averaged a 1.56 rating across seven maps and cleared a 1.44 rating on six of them. His quarterfinal against&nbsp;<a href="/teams/navi" target="_self">NAVI</a>&nbsp;was absurd, including a 2.53 rating performance that opened the playoff run with a statement. In the semifinal against&nbsp;<a href="/teams/furia" target="_self">FURIA</a>, he dropped 49 kills against 27 deaths with 97 ADR, then followed it by helping close Spirit out in the final.</p><h2>The Playoff Route That Put Vitality on Championship Sunday</h2><p>Vitality’s path to the Rio title was not a clean speedrun, and that made the trophy run hit even harder. They started by sweeping RED Canids, winning 13-4 on Nuke and 13-6 on Overpass. ZywOo was locked in from the start, finishing that series with a 45-18 K-D and a 2.08 rating. After that, Vitality took down&nbsp;<a href="/teams/g2" target="_self">G2</a>&nbsp;in a three-map series, then ran into&nbsp;<a href="/teams/teamfalcons" target="_self">Falcons</a>&nbsp;in the Group A upper final. That was the bump in the road, as Falcons won 2-1, ended Vitality’s 18-match streak, and pushed them into the tougher side of the bracket.</p><p>From there, Vitality looked even sharper on stage. They crushed&nbsp;<a href="/teams/navi" target="_self">Natus Vincere</a>&nbsp;13-4 on Mirage and 13-6 on Dust2 in the quarterfinal, but the semifinal against&nbsp;<a href="/teams/furia" target="_self">FURIA</a>&nbsp;was tighter because of the crowd and the emotion around Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo’s last title chance in Rio, but Vitality still closed both maps 13-10. By the time the final arrived, the team had already played through the pressure points that usually crack contenders.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:25%;"><col style="width:25%;"><col style="width:25%;"><col style="width:25%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Stage</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Opponent</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Result</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Key detail</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Group Stage</td><td style="border-style:solid;">RED Canids</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-0 win</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Strong start, ZywOo dominated</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Group Stage</td><td style="border-style:solid;">G2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-1 win</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Tough series, Vitality stayed in control</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Upper Final</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Falcons</td><td style="border-style:solid;">1-2 loss</td><td style="border-style:solid;">18-match streak ended</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Quarterfinal</td><td style="border-style:solid;">NAVI</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-0 win</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-4 Mirage, 13-6 Dust2</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Semifinal</td><td style="border-style:solid;">FURIA</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-0 win</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Two close 13-10 map wins</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>By the time the grand final started, Vitality had already survived the hard part and looked ready to close.</p><h3>FURIA Miss the Final and Falcons Lock Up Third Place in Rio</h3><p>FURIA came close to a dream finish in Rio, but their run ended just short of the grand final, and the last day got even tougher with a 2-0 loss to Falcons in the third-place match. Both maps were close at 13-11, first on Dust2 and then on Mirage, but Falcons were better in the late rounds and handled the pressure more cleanly.</p><p>The big difference came from Falcons’ star duo.&nbsp;<a href="/players/monesy" target="_self">Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov</a>&nbsp;put up a 42-34 K-D with a 1.37 rating, while&nbsp;<a href="/players/niko" target="_self">Nikola “NiKo” Kovač</a>&nbsp;followed with 45-35 and a 1.33 rating. When the score got tight, both players kept finding impact and shut down FURIA’s chances of a comeback.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:20%;"><col style="width:20%;"><col style="width:20%;"><col style="width:20%;"><col style="width:20%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Player</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Team</th><th style="border-style:solid;">K-D</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Rating</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Impact</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/monesy" target="_self">m0NESY</a></td><td style="border-style:solid;">Falcons</td><td style="border-style:solid;">42-34</td><td style="border-style:solid;">1.37</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Strong in key rounds</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/niko" target="_self">NiKo</a></td><td style="border-style:solid;">Falcons</td><td style="border-style:solid;">45-35</td><td style="border-style:solid;">1.33</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Helped close both maps</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/kscerato" target="_self">KSCERATO</a></td><td style="border-style:solid;">FURIA</td><td style="border-style:solid;">51-33</td><td style="border-style:solid;">1.57</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Best player despite the loss</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>For FURIA,&nbsp;<a href="/players/kscerato" target="_self">Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato</a>&nbsp;did everything he could. He ended the match with 51 kills, 33 deaths, 109.5 ADR, and a 1.57 rating, which made the loss even harder to take. The Rio crowd had real hope after FURIA’s deep run, but Vitality stopped them in the semifinal, and Falcons finished the job to claim third place.</p><h2>A Rio Trophy Seals Vitality’s Second Grand Slam and Strengthens Their Legacy</h2><p>This was the win that changed the scale of the season. With Rio, Vitality completed ESL Grand Slam Season 6 and became the first team ever to win two Grand Slams. The run took 11 months and included IEM Dallas 2025, ESL Pro League Season 22, IEM Krakow 2026, and now IEM Rio 2026. ropz also moved to three Grand Slam titles personally, the most by any player.</p><p>The language coming out of the team after the final matched the result.&nbsp;<a href="/players/apex" target="_self">apEX</a>&nbsp;said there was “no doubt” Vitality are the best team in history, while ZywOo said the team had already won four trophies this year and felt like it “cannot stop.” That confidence no longer sounds like heat-of-the-moment talk. After Rio, it sounds like a fair reading of the server.</p>

IEM Rio 2026 Day 3

<p>Day 3 in Rio flipped the event on its head.&nbsp;<a href="/teams/mouz" target="_self">MOUZ</a>&nbsp;got back on track,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/furia" target="_self">FURIA</a>&nbsp;kept the home crowd dream alive, four teams were sent packing, and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/teamfalcons" target="_self">Falcons</a>&nbsp;broke&nbsp;<a href="/teams/vitality" target="_self">Vitality</a>’s streak to blow the race wide open. Here’s the quick breakdown of the scores, star players, and biggest swings. Dive in and catch up on all the action.</p><h2>MOUZ steady the ship, while FURIA keep Brazil’s arena dream alive</h2><p>Day 3 gave MOUZ the kind of win they badly needed. After a messy exit in Rotterdam, this looked like a team that had finally cleared its head and gone back to basics. The calls were cleaner, the pace felt right, and the whole squad played with more confidence. At the same time, FURIA kept the Brazilian crowd fully locked in, adding even more weight to the home playoff story.</p><h3>A reset in mindset helps MOUZ move past their recent slump</h3><p>MOUZ did not just beat&nbsp;<a href="/teams/auroragaming" target="_self">Aurora</a>, they looked comfortable again. The 2-0 win came with a 13-4 score on Dust2 and a 13-8 finish on Mirage, and the difference was easy to see. They were calmer in mid-rounds, sharper in duels, and much more willing to trust their first read instead of forcing the perfect play every round.&nbsp;<a href="/players/brollan" target="_self">Brollan</a>&nbsp;led the way with a 32-18 K-D and a 1.63 rating, giving MOUZ the steady firepower they needed while the rest of the team kept the map under control.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:50%;"><col style="width:50%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Match detail</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Result</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Opponent</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Aurora</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Series score</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-0</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Dust2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-4</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Mirage</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-8</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Best player</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Brollan, 32-18 K-D, 1.63 rating</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>That kind of bounce-back matters in a tournament like this. For MOUZ, it felt less like a flashy pop-off and more like a proper reset.</p><h3>FURIA turn a comeback win into fresh belief on home soil</h3><p>FURIA gave the home crowd a day to remember. The first test was a wild reverse against&nbsp;<a href="/teams/navi" target="_self">NAVI</a>&nbsp;in the upper-bracket semifinal. After getting smashed 3-13 on Mirage, FURIA hit back hard with a 13-4 win on Dust2 and then held their nerve on Nuke, closing it 16-13 after falling behind 2-9 early. That kind of comeback can change the mood of a whole team, and it felt like FURIA started believing even more with every round they stole back.</p><p><a href="/players/yuurih" target="_self">yuurih</a>&nbsp;was the key piece in that series, finishing with a 41-35 K-D and a 1.26 rating.&nbsp;<a href="/players/kscerato" target="_self">KSCERATO</a>&nbsp;also made the team’s mindset clear after the match: FURIA want to become the Brazilian side that finally wins a big event at home.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:50%;"><col style="width:50%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">FURIA vs NAVI</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Result</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Series score</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-1</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Mirage</td><td style="border-style:solid;">3-13</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Dust2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-4</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Nuke</td><td style="border-style:solid;">16-13</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Best-rated FURIA player</td><td style="border-style:solid;">yuurih, 41-35 K-D, 1.26 rating</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>Later in the day, FURIA backed it up with another big result. They beat MOUZ 2-0 to lock in a direct semi-final spot, taking Mirage 13-5 and Dust2 13-9. This time, Molodoy was the standout with a 33-16 K-D and a 1.59 rating, while KSCERATO delivered one of the loudest moments of the day with an ace on Dust2 to push FURIA to match point. It was not just a win. It felt like Brazil’s playoff dream got even louder.</p><h2>Elimination matches clear the field as 3DMAX, HOTU, B8, and RED Canids bow out</h2><p>Aurora and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/spirit" target="_self">Spirit</a>&nbsp;both made it through, but the path was not the same.</p><p>Aurora handled&nbsp;<a href="/teams/b8" target="_self">B8</a>&nbsp;with very little trouble. The series ended 2-0, with a 13-7 win on Mirage and a 13-6 result on Overpass.&nbsp;<a href="/players/xantares" target="_self">XANTARES</a>&nbsp;was the clear star, taking over the server with a 44-19 K-D and a 1.86 rating. His Mirage was especially sharp, where he posted a 1.90 rating and gave B8 almost no space to settle into the game.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:50%;"><col style="width:50%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Aurora vs B8</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Result</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Series score</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-0</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Mirage</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-7</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Overpass</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-6</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Best player</td><td style="border-style:solid;">XANTARES, 44-19 K-D, 1.86 rating</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>Spirit had to work much harder. RED Canids came out swinging and stole Mirage, giving the home crowd a real reason to believe. After that, Spirit reset well and shut the door hard, winning Ancient 13-8 and crushing Overpass 13-2.&nbsp;<a href="/players/donk" target="_self">Donk</a>&nbsp;was the biggest reason the series flipped, finishing with a 55-38 K-D and a 1.60 rating. RED Canids had their moments through dav1deuS and drop, but once Spirit found their rhythm, the gap in firepower was too big.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:50%;"><col style="width:50%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Spirit vs RED Canids</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Result</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Series score</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-1</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Mirage</td><td style="border-style:solid;">8-13</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Ancient</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-8</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Overpass</td><td style="border-style:solid;">13-2</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Best player</td><td style="border-style:solid;">donk, 55-38 K-D, 1.60 rating</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><h2>Spirit recover from early danger and finish the day with a playoff ticket, leaving G2 behind</h2><p>Spirit’s Day 3 run felt like a proper lower-bracket grind. They looked shaky at first against RED Canids, but by the time the playoff decider against&nbsp;<a href="/teams/g2" target="_self">G2</a>&nbsp;came around, they looked much more locked in. The 2-0 win was not a stomp, but it was controlled in the moments that mattered most, with Spirit taking Mirage 13-7 and then closing Dust2 13-11 to punch their ticket to the playoffs.</p><p>A few things stood out in that series:</p><ul><li><a href="/players/tn1r" target="_self">tN1R</a>&nbsp;led the server with a 39-30 K-D and a 1.57 rating</li><li><a href="/players/magixx" target="_self">magixx</a>&nbsp;came up huge in key rounds and finished at 36-24 with a 1.45 rating</li><li><a href="/players/sh1ro" target="_self">sh1ro</a>&nbsp;quietly did his job all series, ending at 36-23</li><li>Spirit stayed calm on Dust2 even without donk hard-carrying the map</li><li>G2 never got enough help around their core, and stand-in tAk ended at 16-33 with a 0.56 rating</li></ul><p>That is what made the result feel convincing. Spirit did not need a flashy blowout to prove they were the better team. They won the clutches on Mirage, kept their spacing clean on Dust2, and handled the pressure better from start to finish. After starting the day one loss away from going home, they turned it around, grabbed a playoff spot, and sent G2 packing before the arena stage.</p><h2>Falcons bring Vitality’s winning run to an end and grab the direct path to the semi-finals</h2><p>Falcons gave the tournament its biggest shake-up of the day by beating Vitality 2-1 in the Group A upper-bracket final. They opened with a 13-10 win on Mirage, got hit back 6-13 on Dust2, then edged out Nuke 16-14 in overtime after Vitality nearly pulled off a huge recovery from a 3-9 T-side start. That win snapped Vitality’s 18-match streak and sent Falcons straight to the semi-finals, while Vitality were pushed into a much tougher route.</p><p>A few things made this result hit harder:</p><ul><li><a href="/players/monesy" target="_self">m0NESY</a>&nbsp;was the biggest difference-maker, ending the series at 59-45 with a 1.41 rating</li><li>He was at his best on Nuke, where the decider turned into a pressure-heavy slugfest</li><li><a href="/players/kyxsan" target="_self">kyxsan</a>&nbsp;helped Falcons land the first punch with strong impact on Mirage</li><li><a href="/players/zywoo" target="_self">ZywOo</a>&nbsp;had a rare quiet series by his standards, finishing with a 0.94 rating</li><li>Falcons now have the cleanest path into the arena after locking the semi-final spot</li></ul><p>That result changed the mood of the whole event. Vitality no longer look untouchable, and the title race feels much more open now. Falcons have the bracket advantage, FURIA have the crowd behind them, Spirit are still alive after their lower-bracket run, and MOUZ remain a dangerous team even after slipping late in the day.</p>

NIP Overhaul Their AWP Role with stavn Replacing r1nkle

<p><a href="/teams/nip" target="_self">NIP</a>&nbsp;are changing things after a rough run of close losses.&nbsp;<a href="/players/r1nkle" target="_self">r1nkle</a>&nbsp;is out,&nbsp;<a href="/players/stavn" target="_self">stavn</a>&nbsp;is in, and the team is making a fresh move on the&nbsp;<a href="/skins/awp" target="_self">AWP</a>&nbsp;to get back on track. Check out what led to the switch and what it could mean for NIP’s next chapter.</p><h2>Why NIP Moved On From r1nkle After Cologne Setback</h2><p><a href="/teams/nip" target="_self">Ninjas in Pyjamas</a>&nbsp;benched r1nkle on April 15 after missing out on the IEM Cologne Major. The decision came after a string of close losses where the team looked competitive, but could not close key maps. r1nkle’s individual level was not the main problem either. He held a 1.08 rating in 2026, though that dropped to 1.02 against&nbsp;<a href="/teams" target="_self">top 50 teams</a>. In the end, this looked more like a role change than a move based only on stats.</p><h3>The Results That Pushed NIP to Make a Change</h3><p>The last few events made the situation hard to ignore. NIP had enough firepower to stay in matches, but when the pressure hit, the team kept slipping.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:25%;"><col style="width:25%;"><col style="width:25%;"><col style="width:25%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Event</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Opponent</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Series Score</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Key Details</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/teams/parivision" target="_self">PARIVISION</a></td><td style="border-style:solid;">1-2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Lost Ancient 11-13, won Mirage 13-6, lost Dust2 8-13</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Stake Ranked in Barcelona</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/teams/gl" target="_self">GamerLegion</a></td><td style="border-style:solid;">1-2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Lost 13-6, 13-11, 13-11 while needing a top-three finish</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Stake Ranked in Barcelona</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/teams/heroic" target="_self">HEROIC</a></td><td style="border-style:solid;">0-2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Lost Nuke 14-16 in OT, then Mirage 7-13</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><h3>r1nkle’s Numbers Were Not the Real Issue</h3><p>r1nkle still showed up in these matches. Against PARIVISION, he posted 52-38 with a 1.13 rating. Against GamerLegion, he was NIP’s best player with 58-44 and a 1.29 rating. Even in the final loss to HEROIC, he stayed positive at 37-34 with a 1.06 rating.</p><p>That is why this move feels bigger than one player getting cut after a bad event. NIP were not getting blown out. They were losing the rounds and maps that decide everything, and the team clearly felt the AWP role needed a reset.</p><h2>stavn Returns to Competition in a New Role as NIP’s Main AWPer</h2><p>Stavn gives NIP a very different kind of AWP move. At 24, he is coming back after eight months away from competition, and he is stepping into the main sniper role instead of his more familiar rifle-heavy job. That makes this signing stand out right away.</p><p>His break from play was serious and personal. After leaving&nbsp;<a href="/teams/astralis" target="_self">Astralis</a>&nbsp;in January, stavn shared that therapy helped him feel more stable and ready to compete again after dealing with the loss of his brother. For a lot of fans, that already makes this comeback feel bigger than a normal roster change.</p><p>Key positives for NIP:</p><ul><li>stavn is not an unproven pickup, he has already spent years at the top level</li><li>he was ranked among the world’s best players for four straight years</li><li>his peak came in 2023, when he was one of HEROIC’s key stars in deep runs at major events</li><li>he already knows&nbsp;<a href="/players/sjuush" target="_self">sjuush</a>&nbsp;and Xizt from earlier parts of his career</li><li>he also has older connections with Snappi, which could help the team settle faster</li></ul><p>His time in Astralis did not fully click, even with a 1.06 rating across 285 maps. Still, NIP are not taking a gamble on a raw player or a long-term experiment. They are bringing in a proven name and asking him to pick up the big green in a new setup.</p><h2>How This Move Could Change NIP</h2><p>On paper, this switch gives NIP something they badly lacked during the Cologne chase: shared habits.&nbsp;<a href="/players/snappi" target="_self">Snappi</a>&nbsp;and Xizt both pointed to late-round errors, overpeeks, and missed chances in close games. stavn will not fix that on his own, but his deeper top-level résumé and familiarity with key teammates should help steady mid-round calls and make the AWP role less volatile. If that happens,&nbsp;<a href="/players/xkacpersky" target="_self">xKacpersky</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/players/cairne" target="_self">cairne</a>&nbsp;can spend more time leaning into their own fights instead of patching holes. Missing Cologne still hurts, but this is a clear attempt to stop the same story from repeating in every 13-11 finish.</p>

IEM Rio 2026 Group Stage Day 2

<p>Day 2 in Rio changed everything fast. Four teams made the playoffs, four teams got knocked out, and the rest are now fighting to stay alive. The pressure is rising, every map matters, and one bad game can end the run. Check the full breakdown to see who moved on, who crashed out, and who still has a shot.</p><h2>Group A takes shape as Vitality recover and Falcons dominate to lock in playoff spots</h2><p><a href="/teams/vitality" target="_self">Vitality</a>&nbsp;booked a playoff spot and reached the Group A upper final, but&nbsp;<a href="/teams/g2" target="_self">G2</a>&nbsp;made them work for every round. Even without Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač, G2 broke Vitality’s 24-map win streak with a 13-5 win on Mirage, then nearly closed the series on Inferno before Vitality escaped 16-13 in overtime. Dust2 stayed close until the last stretch, where Vitality edged it 13-11.&nbsp;<a href="/players/zywoo" target="_self">Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut</a>&nbsp;led Vitality with a 52-42 K-D and a 1.22 rating, while&nbsp;<a href="/players/matys" target="_self">Matúš “MATYS” Šimko</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/players/heavygod" target="_self">Nikita “HeavyGod” Martynenko</a>&nbsp;were the sharpest fraggers in the server for G2.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:50%;"><col style="width:50%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Vitality vs G2</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Stats</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Series result</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Vitality 2-1 G2</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Map scores</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Mirage 5-13, Inferno 16-13 OT, Dust2 13-11</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Vitality best player</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/zywoo" target="_self">ZywOo</a>, 52-42 K-D, 1.22 rating</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">G2 best player</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/matys" target="_self">MATYS</a>, 56-41 K-D, 1.26 rating</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Other standout</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/heavygod" target="_self">HeavyGod</a>, 49-42 K-D, 1.24 rating</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p><a href="/teams/teamfalcons" target="_self">Falcons</a>&nbsp;had a much easier time. They crushed&nbsp;<a href="/teams/spirit" target="_self">Team Spirit</a>&nbsp;2-0 with a 13-4 win on Anubis and a 13-5 finish on Mirage to lock their playoff place.&nbsp;<a href="/players/monesy" target="_self">Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov</a>&nbsp;was on fire with 35 kills, 19 deaths, 90.5 ADR, and a 1.87 rating, while&nbsp;<a href="/players/niko" target="_self">Nikola “NiKo” Kovač</a>&nbsp;added 28-15 and a 1.52 rating.&nbsp;<a href="/teams/spirit" target="_self">Spirit</a>&nbsp;never got into the game, and even&nbsp;<a href="/players/donk" target="_self">Danil “donk” Kryshkovets</a>&nbsp;could not change the pace.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:50%;"><col style="width:50%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Falcons vs Spirit</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Stats</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Series result</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Falcons 2-0 Spirit</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Map scores</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Anubis 13-4, Mirage 13-5</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Falcons best player</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/monesy" target="_self">m0NESY</a>, 35-19 K-D, 90.5 ADR, 1.87 rating</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Other standout</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/niko" target="_self">NiKo</a>, 28-15 K-D, 1.52 rating</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Spirit note</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/donk" target="_self">donk</a>&nbsp;ended the series with a 0.71 rating</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><h3>Falcons’ composure becomes a side story as the team pushes past Spirit amid transfer talk</h3><p><a href="/teams/teamfalcons" target="_self">Team Falcons</a>’ 2-0 win over Spirit hit harder because it came with a lot of noise around&nbsp;<a href="/players/kyxsan" target="_self">Damjan “kyxsan” Stoilkovski</a>’s future. The team still looked fully locked in, winning 13-4 on Anubis and 13-5 on Mirage, with&nbsp;<a href="/players/monesy" target="_self">Ilya Osipov</a>&nbsp;farming at 35-19 and a 1.87 rating. After the match,&nbsp;<a href="/players/kyxsan" target="_self">kyxsan</a>&nbsp;kept it simple: “My job is to come here and to play, and that’s what I’m doing.” He also said Falcons are used to rumors and pressure, so the focus stays on “the right things,” which is just playing the game. That mindset showed all series long. Falcons never looked tilted, never forced the pace, and kept their comms clean while Spirit fell flat. In a playoff race, that kind of ice-cold CS matters.&nbsp;</p><h2>The Group A survival matches knock out Gentle Mates and Liquid after wins for RED Canids and 3DMAX</h2><p>Group A’s lower bracket turned ruthless on Day 2, and two teams were sent home in very different ways. RED Canids had to grind through a scrappy three-map series against&nbsp;<a href="/teams/gentlemates" target="_self">Gentle Mates</a>, while&nbsp;<a href="/teams/3dmax" target="_self">3DMAX</a>&nbsp;took full advantage of&nbsp;<a href="/teams/liquid" target="_self">Liquid</a>’s collapse to stay alive.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:25%;"><col style="width:25%;"><col style="width:25%;"><col style="width:25%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Match</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Result</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Map stats</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Standout player</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">RED Canids vs Gentle Mates</td><td style="border-style:solid;">RED Canids 2-1</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Mirage 13-9, Ancient 4-13, Overpass 13-10</td><td style="border-style:solid;">chayJESUS, 48-38 K-D, 1.26 rating</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">3DMAX vs Liquid</td><td style="border-style:solid;">3DMAX 2-0</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Nuke 16-14 OT, Ancient 13-5</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/lucky" target="_self">Lucky</a>, 54-29 K-D, 95.0 ADR, 1.78 rating</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>RED Canids started well on Mirage, then got blown out on Ancient before closing the series on Overpass after the score was tied 10-10. Renan “reNTU” Cardoso came out hot with a 1.54 rating on the opener, but Richard “chayJESUS” Seidy was the real closer. He took over the decider with a 1.84 rating and 120.0 ADR, helping send Gentle Mates out after a fifth straight loss.</p><p>Liquid’s exit was even rougher to watch. They had Nuke under control at 11-4 and still let 3DMAX bring it back, then lost 16-14 in overtime after throwing away a 4v2 in the final OT round. Ancient was one-way traffic after that.&nbsp;<a href="/players/lucky" target="_self">Lucas “Lucky” Chastang</a>&nbsp;farmed the whole series, and 3DMAX earned the next shot at G2 while Liquid crashed out in last place.</p><h2>Group B swings toward FURIA and MOUZ as both sides secure their place in the arena</h2><p>Group B tilted hard on Day 2, and both playoff spots were earned in very different ways.&nbsp;<a href="/teams/furia" target="_self">FURIA</a>&nbsp;gave the crowd the comeback it wanted, while&nbsp;<a href="/teams/mouz" target="_self">MOUZ</a>&nbsp;shut the door with a much cleaner series.</p><p>FURIA vs&nbsp;<a href="/teams/navi" target="_self">NAVI</a>:</p><ul><li><a href="/teams/navi" target="_self">Natus Vincere</a>&nbsp;came out flying and smashed Mirage 13-3, looking ready to run away with the series.</li><li>FURIA hit back hard on Dust2 with a 13-4 win, powered by a strong T side and much sharper mid-round calls from&nbsp;<a href="/players/fallen" target="_self">Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo</a>.</li><li>Nuke became the real test. NAVI led 9-3, but FURIA stayed alive, won the late clutches, and closed the decider 16-13.</li><li><a href="/players/yuurih" target="_self">Yuri “yuurih” Santos</a>&nbsp;led the server for FURIA with 41-35 and a 1.26 rating, giving the team the firepower it needed when the pressure peaked.</li></ul><p>That win gave the Brazilian crowd exactly what it wanted, a home team pushing into the arena stage with real belief behind it.</p><p>MOUZ vs&nbsp;<a href="/teams/auroragaming" target="_self">Aurora</a>:</p><ol><li>MOUZ looked in control from the start and won Dust2 13-4, despite coming into the match with shaky recent form on the map.</li><li>Mirage was more competitive, but MOUZ still closed it 13-8 without losing grip of the series.</li><li><a href="/players/brollan" target="_self">Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin</a>&nbsp;led the way at 32-18 with 84.9 ADR and a 1.63 rating.</li><li><a href="/players/xertion" target="_self">Dorian “xertioN” Berman</a>&nbsp;added 26-22 with 90.7 ADR, while&nbsp;<a href="/teams/auroragaming" target="_self">Aurora Gaming</a>&nbsp;never got enough from&nbsp;<a href="/players/xantares" target="_self">Ismailcan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş</a>, who ended on a 0.64 rating.</li></ol><h2>B8 and HOTU stay alive in elimination play, sending Passion UA and Legacy out of Rio</h2><p><a href="/teams/b8" target="_self">B8</a>&nbsp;stayed alive with a clean 2-0 over Passion UA, but the series had extra context because Passion UA were still without&nbsp;<a href="/players/senzu" target="_self">Azbayar “Senzu” Munkhbold</a>&nbsp;due to roster registration issues. Even so, B8 earned it. They came back from an 8-4 halftime deficit on Overpass, locked down the second half, and then rolled through Mirage once the game opened up.&nbsp;<a href="/players/s1zzi" target="_self">Daniil “s1zzi” Vinnyk</a>, only 16, was the clear difference-maker, while&nbsp;<a href="/players/esenthial" target="_self">Dmytro “esenthial” Tsvir</a>&nbsp;gave B8 strong backup.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:50%;"><col style="width:50%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">B8 vs Passion UA</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Stats</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Series result</td><td style="border-style:solid;">B8 2-0 Passion UA</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Map scores</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Overpass 13-9, Mirage 13-3</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">B8 top player</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/s1zzi" target="_self">s1zzi</a>, 36-17 K-D, 92.5 ADR, 1.58 rating</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Second standout</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/esenthial" target="_self">esenthial</a>, 1.32 rating</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Passion UA best player</td><td style="border-style:solid;">FaNg, 32-30 K-D, 1.24 rating</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p><a href="/teams/hotu" target="_self">HOTU</a>&nbsp;also kept their run going by knocking out&nbsp;<a href="/teams/legacy" target="_self">Legacy</a>&nbsp;in convincing fashion. Dust2 was still competitive for a while, but once HOTU settled in on the T side, the match started to slip away from the hometown squad. Ancient then turned into a blowout.&nbsp;<a href="/players/n0rb3r7" target="_self">David “n0rb3r7” Danielyan</a>&nbsp;led the charge,&nbsp;<a href="/players/mizu" target="_self">Dmitry “mizu” Kondratev</a>&nbsp;followed closely, and Legacy could not recover once the pace got away from them.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:50%;"><col style="width:50%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">HOTU vs Legacy</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Stats</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Series result</td><td style="border-style:solid;">HOTU 2-0 Legacy</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Map scores</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Dust2 13-7, Ancient 16-4</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">HOTU top player</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/n0rb3r7" target="_self">n0rb3r7</a>, 39-28 K-D, 1.41 rating</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Second standout</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/mizu" target="_self">mizu</a>, 36-28 K-D, 1.23 rating</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><h2>The bracket after Day 2: who carries momentum forward and which matchups now define the next stage</h2><p>The playoff race in Rio is now fully set. Vitality, Falcons, FURIA, and MOUZ have already locked their spots, but Day 3 will decide who gets the better path in the arena bracket. Winning the group means a straight trip to the semifinals. Finishing second or third means an extra playoff match in the quarterfinals.</p><p>The next matches are now the real focus:</p><ul><li>Group A upper final: Vitality vs. Falcons</li><li>Group A lower bracket: Spirit vs. RED Canids</li><li>Group A lower bracket: G2 vs. 3DMAX</li><li>Group B upper final: FURIA vs. MOUZ</li><li>Group B lower bracket: Aurora vs. B8</li><li>Group B lower bracket: NAVI vs. HOTU</li></ul><p>That setup gives Day 3 a lot more weight. The teams already through are now fighting for a cleaner road to the trophy, while everyone in the lower bracket is playing pure do-or-die Counter-Strike. One win can put a team right into the arena spotlight. One loss sends them home. At this stage, there is no room to save strats or ease into a series. Every map now feels like playoff CS already.</p>

FaZe Unveils “FaZe Up Next”

<p><a href="/teams/faze" target="_self">FaZe</a>&nbsp;has launched FaZe Up Next, a new academy project aimed at finding and shaping the next young guns for its CS2 future. The move also comes at a time when fans are watching the main team closely. Read on to see what FaZe has confirmed, why the timing matters, and what could happen next.</p><h2>Inside FaZe Up Next and Its Role in Player Development</h2><p>FaZe launched FaZe Up Next on April 14 as an academy project built to help younger players grow through practice and real matches. FaZe has not revealed the full roster yet, but the idea is already clear. This is meant to be a proper path for prospects who could eventually fight for a place on the main CS2 team.</p><p>The project is built around a few key goals:</p><ul><li>Develop young talent in a more structured setting;</li><li>Give players official match experience, not only scrims;</li><li>Create a stronger pipeline into FaZe’s senior roster.</li></ul><p>Academy systems have become one of the cleaner ways to build long-term depth in Counter-Strike. Dust2.us pointed to MOUZ NXT, Young Ninjas, and NAVI Junior as obvious reference points, and NAVI Junior is the sharpest recent example. The project has already produced two current&nbsp;<a href="/teams/navi" target="_self">NAVI</a>&nbsp;main-team players, while&nbsp;<a href="/teams/fut" target="_self">FUT</a>, the team that won PGL Bucharest 2026 over&nbsp;<a href="/teams/astralis" target="_self">Astralis</a>&nbsp;by a 3-1 score, was largely built on former NAVI Junior pieces.</p><h2>How the Academy Could Feed Into FaZe’s Main Counter-Strike Team</h2><p><a href="/teams/faze" target="_self">FaZe Clan</a>’s senior team has enough pedigree to make any academy graduate pay attention. The organization remains the first international roster to win a Counter-Strike Major, and its current CS2 group,&nbsp;<a href="/players/karrigan" target="_self">karrigan</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/players/broky" target="_self">broky</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/players/twistzz" target="_self">Twistzz</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/players/frozen" target="_self">frozen</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="/players/jcobbb" target="_self">jcobbb</a>, still sits in the global mix, with No. 34 in the&nbsp;<a href="/teams" target="_self">Valve ranking</a>. An academy gives FaZe a place to test raw aim, decision-making, and temperament before those players ever touch a tier-one server under the full pressure of the badge.</p><h3>Why the Timing of the Reveal Adds to Roster Talk Around FaZe</h3><p>FaZe launched FaZe Up Next on April 14 as an academy project focused on helping younger players grow through practice and official matches. The full roster is still unknown, but the goal is easy to read: FaZe wants a clearer path for prospects who could one day break into its main CS2 squad.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:50%;"><col style="width:50%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Focus area</th><th style="border-style:solid;">What it means</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Player growth</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Young players get a more structured setup to improve</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Match experience</td><td style="border-style:solid;">The project is built around real games, not just scrims</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Future depth</td><td style="border-style:solid;">FaZe can track and develop talent for its senior team</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Fan interest</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Supporters get a fresh group of prospects to watch</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>For CS2 fans, that makes this more than a side project. Academy teams can be where the next sharp aimer or smart mid-round caller starts building a name. If FaZe handles it well, FaZe Up Next could become the first step for players chasing a spot on the main roster.</p><h2>What Has Been Confirmed So Far — and What FaZe Has Yet to Reveal</h2><p>So far, FaZe has confirmed the existence of the program, its development-first purpose, and the plan for academy players to compete rather than only scrim. What has not been publicly detailed is just as notable: no player names, no coach, no tournament calendar, no regional focus, and no full explanation of how quickly FaZe Up Next could turn into an active CS2 roster. For now, the project is official, the talent hunt is on, and the next announcement should matter a lot.</p>

Match of the Day at BLAST Open Lisbon 2025 - FaZe Clan vs Spirit

<h2>The last time FaZe defeated Spirit was exactly a year ago in the quarterfinals of PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen 2024.</h2><p>At the moment, FaZe have been showing inconsistent performances, and it seems that the team led by Leonid "<a href="/en/players/chopper" target="_self">chopper</a>" looks much stronger. However, even they are not playing perfectly.</p><p>The rosters from last year differ by only one player: in FaZe, instead of&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/ropz" target="_self">ropz</a>, who is currently playing for Vitality, the well-known American player&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/elige" target="_self">EliGE</a>&nbsp;has taken his place.</p><h4>How did these teams perform in their previous matches in the tournament?</h4><p>The first match of the tournament featured Spirit against the Mongolian team The Huns, who, despite the efforts of the young player Yesuntumur "<a href="/en/players/nin9" target="_self">nin9</a>" Gantulga, could not withstand the world's top-ranked team. Young talents&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/donk" target="_self">donk</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/magixx" target="_self">magixx</a>, with their personal&nbsp;<a href="/en/configs" target="_self">CS2 CFG</a>&nbsp;that are popular among CS2 fans, were in excellent form and left no chance for their opponents.</p><p>However, in their second game of the tournament against MOUZ, just like in their previous encounter against this team, Spirit failed to secure a victory and lost 1-2 in the series.</p><p>As for FaZe Clan, they lost their first match against the revamped Virtus.pro roster 1-2 but later secured a 2-0 victory over Astralis, who have been displaying very inconsistent performances this year.</p><p>Can&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/karrigan" target="_self">karrigan</a>&nbsp;and his team claim victory today and prove their strength once again?</p>