IEM Cologne 2026 Major Invite Battle

<p>The fight for IEM Cologne 2026 invites is getting very tight. The April 6 VRS lock is close, SINNERS jumped into the race after winning in Bucharest, and some big teams are still battling for a safe spot. A few final LAN results can still shake up the order, so nothing is locked yet. Follow the last matches closely to see who makes the cut.</p><h2>Why the April 6 VRS Lock Is the Defining Moment</h2><p>April 6 is the date that will decide who gets into IEM Cologne 2026 and who gets left sweating. That is when the ranking used for Major invites will be locked, so every result before then matters a lot more than usual. In Europe, the fight is even tighter because there are 17 spots on the line, and teams are trying to do more than just qualify. Some want to stay inside the safe invite range, while others are chasing a better position to avoid a tougher start at the event.</p><p>Why this part of the race feels so tense:</p><ul><li>The rankings stop counting after April 6.</li><li>One strong run at a late LAN can push a team into invite range.</li><li>One early exit can drop a team below the cut line.</li><li>Teams near the middle are under the most pressure.</li><li>Even teams in decent shape still want a better seed.</li></ul><h2>How SINNERS’ BC.Game Masters Run Changed the Cut-Off Picture</h2><p>SINNERS did more than win a trophy in Bucharest. Their run changed the whole invite race. They came in ranked No. 32 in the VRS and left as champions, jumping 14 places and moving into real Cologne invite range. That is a huge swing this late in the race, especially because they beat teams that were also fighting for points.</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;">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 BESTIA</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-0</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Ancient 13-8, Mirage 13-6, with Kamil “kisserek” Banak leading at 33-25 and a 1.33 rating</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">vs G2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-1</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Overpass 13-9, Dust2 5-13, Mirage 19-17, showing SINNERS could win a close playoff battle</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">vs BetBoom</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-0</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Overpass 13-4, Nuke 13-5, with SHOCK posting 32-19 and a 1.57 rating</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">vs BIG</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-1</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Nuke 11-13, Ancient 13-2, Overpass 13-11 to seal the title</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>The biggest part is not only the wins. SINNERS took points from direct rivals and pushed themselves from outside the picture into the middle of the fight.</p><h2>The Teams Still Scrapping for the Last Safe Spots</h2><p>SINNERS’ win did not just help SINNERS. It also tightened the bubble. BIG still banked a strong runner-up finish and climbed to No. 15 in the VRS, while SINNERS rose to No. 18, BetBoom to No. 20, Gentle Mates sat around No. 19, and HEROIC slipped to No. 21 after their early exit in Bucharest. That cluster is why even one semifinal can swing a team from comfort into danger.</p><p><a href="/teams/faze" target="_self">FaZe</a>&nbsp;remain the most uncomfortable big-name case. Their current Valve ranking sits at No. 24, well below the safer European positions, and earlier projections had them flirting with 19th in a region that has 17 slots. Passion UA were already only No. 27 in the pre-rush picture, and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/nip" target="_self">Ninjas in Pyjamas</a>&nbsp;were flagged as far from safe before their lone remaining shot at Stake Ranked. This is the stage of the race where one upset loss can feel like a missed flight.</p><h2>Which Remaining LAN Results Could Still Reshape the Invite Order</h2><p>The invite race is still open because several LANs land right before the April 6 lock, and a good finish in any of them can still move a team up. FaZe, BIG, Passion UA, HEROIC, BetBoom, SINNERS, Gentle Mates, Ninjas in Pyjamas, and BESTIA are all tied to events that can still change the order, while teams like&nbsp;<a href="/teams/g2" target="_self">G2</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/auroragaming" target="_self">Aurora</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/liquid" target="_self">Liquid</a>, and GamerLegion can still fight for a better starting spot.</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;">Event</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Dates</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Teams to watch</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Roman Imperium Cup VII</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Mar. 28 to 30</td><td style="border-style:solid;">G2, BIG, HEROIC, BetBoom, SINNERS, BESTIA</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">DraculaN Season 6</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Mar. 29 to Apr. 2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">FaZe, Monte, Passion UA, Aurora, Liquid</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Stake Ranked Episode 1</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Apr. 1 to 4</td><td style="border-style:solid;">HEROIC, Ninjas in Pyjamas, Gentle Mates, GamerLegion, BetBoom</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">MPKBK CIS LAN S4</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Apr. 2 to 5</td><td style="border-style:solid;">K27, 1win, HOTU, ARCRED</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Urban Riga Open 4 / HLC Belgrade PRO 2026</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Apr. 3 to 5</td><td style="border-style:solid;">FaZe, BIG, BESTIA, Passion UA, SINNERS, Liquid, Aurora</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>

Wildcard Steps Into PGL Bucharest 2026

<p>Wildcard is going to PGL Bucharest 2026 after The Huns had to drop out because their schedule in Asia overlapped. The big story here is a late team swap that changes the event just before it starts. Wildcard now gets a fresh shot to prove it can hang on a bigger stage. Check the full story to see why the switch happened and what it means for the teams in Bucharest.</p><h2>The scheduling conflict that forced The Huns to withdraw</h2><p>PGL confirmed on March 26 that The Huns would not attend Bucharest and that Wildcard would take the vacant place. The reason was straightforward. The Mongolian side was also set for the XSE GangKui Cup Season 2 Finals in Shanghai, a tournament running from April 1 to April 5, while PGL Bucharest opens on April 4 and runs through April 11 in Bucharest, Romania. With a 16-team field and a $1.25 million prize pool on the line, there was no realistic way to do both.</p><p>That withdrawal hurts more when the path that earned The Huns their berth is laid out. They beat Rare Atom 2-0 in the East Asia closed qualifier grand final, winning Inferno 13-7 and Dust2 16-13, then followed it with another 2-0 over Legion in the Asia closed qualifier, 13-5 on Dust2 and 13-11 on Nuke. In that second series, xerolte was the standout at 38-25 with a 1.73 rating and 100.6 ADR. Against Rare Atom,&nbsp;<a href="/players/controlez" target="_self">controlez</a>&nbsp;led the way with a 35-28 K-D, 85.8 ADR, and a 1.32 rating. Those numbers showed The Huns had properly earned the ticket they eventually had to surrender.</p><h2>Why Wildcard was chosen as the replacement team</h2><p>Wildcard got the call because it was the strongest team left without a spot. In the North American qualifier, it made the grand final and pushed Voca through all five maps, which showed it was close to qualifying on merit. The team also handled pressure well in the lower bracket, beating LAG in a clean 2-0 series. That gave tournament organizers a clear choice when a place opened up.</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 Voca</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-3 loss</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Won Dust2 13-8 and Anubis 13-8, but lost the last three maps</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">vs LAG</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-0 win</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Took Inferno 13-11 and Mirage 13-10</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Top Wildcard performer vs Voca</td><td style="border-style:solid;">mhL</td><td style="border-style:solid;">74-63 K-D, 1.18 rating</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Top Wildcard performer vs LAG</td><td style="border-style:solid;">reck</td><td style="border-style:solid;">36-25 K-D, 1.27 rating</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>Wildcard was not a random pick. It had already gone deep in the qualifier, stayed competitive in a long final, and looked like the most reasonable team to step in.</p><h2>What Wildcard’s late entry changes for the Bucharest lineup</h2><p>Wildcard joining late changes the feel of the event more than the number of teams. The field stays at 16, but North America now has a stronger presence, while the Asian spot goes to a team from a different region. It also gives Bucharest a slightly different competitive shape, because Wildcard is stepping into a much tougher event than the one it came through in qualifiers. This is a real chance to show it can keep up on a bigger stage.</p><p>Teams in PGL Bucharest 2026:</p><ul><li>Wildcard</li><li>Voca</li><li><a href="/teams/nrg" target="_self">NRG</a></li><li>M80</li><li><a href="/teams/parivision" target="_self">PARIVISION</a></li><li><a href="/teams/themongolz" target="_self">The MongolZ</a></li><li><a href="/teams/astralis" target="_self">Astralis</a></li><li><a href="/teams/faze" target="_self">FaZe</a></li><li>FUT</li><li><a href="/teams/legacy" target="_self">Legacy</a></li><li><a href="/teams/3dmax" target="_self">3DMAX</a></li><li><a href="/teams/b8" target="_self">B8</a></li><li>FOKUS</li><li>MIBR</li><li>BC.Game</li><li>Inner Circle</li></ul><p>That makes Wildcard’s arrival more than a late swap. It slightly changes the regional picture and adds another team that now has everything to prove when the matches go live.</p>

BLAST Rotterdam 2026 Group Stage Deciders

<p>The group stage is over, and the playoff teams are locked in.&nbsp;<a href="/teams/navi" target="_self">NAVI</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/vitality" target="_self">Vitality</a>&nbsp;went straight to the semifinals, while&nbsp;<a href="/teams/falcons" target="_self">Falcons</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/themongolz" target="_self">The MongolZ</a>&nbsp;won their decider matches to stay alive in Rotterdam. Check the key results, top fraggers, and full bracket to see who has the best path to the trophy.</p><h2>NAVI turn back Aurora and move straight into the last four</h2><p><a href="/teams/navi" target="_self">Natus Vincere</a>&nbsp;handled&nbsp;<a href="/teams/auroragaming" target="_self">Aurora</a>&nbsp;with confidence and earned a direct place in the semifinals, winning the series 2-0 without letting the match slip away. They took Anubis 13-8, then stayed calm on Nuke to close it 13-10 after Aurora briefly looked ready to push the series further. Once NAVI got control back, they did not give Aurora much space to breathe.</p><ul><li>Anubis: NAVI set the pace early and kept Aurora under pressure for most of the map.</li><li>Nuke: Aurora built some momentum, but NAVI answered with seven rounds in a row when it mattered most.</li><li>Top performer:&nbsp;<a href="/players/makazze" target="_self">Drin “makazze” Shaqiri</a>&nbsp;led the server with a 37-26 K-D, 92.3 ADR, and a 1.42 rating.</li><li>Strong support:&nbsp;<a href="/players/im" target="_self">Ivan “iM” Mihai</a>&nbsp;also had a big series with 34 kills and a 1.29 rating.</li><li>For Aurora:&nbsp;<a href="/players/woxic" target="_self">Özgür “woxic” Eker</a>&nbsp;was their best player, finishing 28-26 with a 1.02 rating.</li></ul><p>NAVI now move one step closer to the trophy, while Aurora head to the quarterfinals.</p><h2>Vitality overcome PARIVISION as ZywOo delivers the standout moment of the stage</h2><p>Vitality joined NAVI in the semifinals after a 2-0 win over&nbsp;<a href="/teams/parivision" target="_self">PARIVISION</a>, taking Mirage 13-9 and Inferno 16-12. Mirage started with&nbsp;<a href="/players/zywoo" target="_self">Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut</a>&nbsp;setting the tone, but PARIVISION kept the map alive and even edged ahead late before&nbsp;<a href="/players/mezii" target="_self">William “mezii” Merriman</a>&nbsp;stole a low-HP 1v2 to shut the door. That clutch mattered because it kept the series from slipping into the kind of grind PARIVISION wanted.</p><p>Inferno was the better map and the one people will remember. Vitality recovered from another slow opening, built an 8-6 lead, then saw the game turn into a chain of clutches and momentum swings.&nbsp;<a href="/players/ropz" target="_self">Robin “ropz” Kool</a>’s 1v2 looked like the winner, only for PARIVISION to drag the map into overtime. Then came the moment of the stage, ZywOo’s stunning 1v5 in overtime, the kind of round that can silence an arena before the replay even starts. PARIVISION never recovered.</p><p><a href="/players/zywoo" target="_self">ZywOo</a>&nbsp;finished as the best player in the server with a 45-26 K-D, 82.5 ADR, and a 1.41 rating.&nbsp;<a href="/players/flamez" target="_self">Shahar “flameZ” Shushan</a>&nbsp;added a 36-30 line with a 1.35 rating, while ropz posted 38-31 and a 1.17. For PARIVISION,&nbsp;<a href="/players/jame" target="_self">Dzhami “Jame” Ali</a>&nbsp;led the way at 39-32 with a 1.10 rating, but it was not enough to stop Vitality from taking the Group B top seed.</p><h2>Falcons outlast FURIA, while The MongolZ upset Spirit to grab the remaining playoff spots</h2><p>Falcons and The MongolZ claimed the last two playoff spots, but they got there in very different ways. Falcons had to survive a long, close series against&nbsp;<a href="/teams/furia" target="_self">FURIA</a>&nbsp;and came through 2-1 after strong finishes on Mirage and Nuke.&nbsp;<a href="/players/monesy" target="_self">Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov</a>&nbsp;led the way with 65 kills and a 1.36 rating, while&nbsp;<a href="/players/kscerato" target="_self">Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato</a>&nbsp;kept FURIA in the fight almost the whole time.</p><p>The MongolZ took the bigger headline. They beat&nbsp;<a href="/teams/spirit" target="_self">Spirit</a>&nbsp;2-0 and earned one of the biggest wins of the stage. Nuke was close, but Overpass told the story best. Spirit were up 7-1 and looked in full control, then The MongolZ fought back round by round and took the map 13-9.&nbsp;<a href="/players/mzinho" target="_self">Ayush “mzinho” Batbold</a>&nbsp;was the key player in that upset, putting up huge numbers and helping his team hold their nerve when the pressure was highest.</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;">Key detail</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Best player</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Falcons vs. FURIA</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Falcons won 2-1</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Mirage 13-11, Dust2 13-16, Nuke 13-10</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/monesy" target="_self">m0NESY</a>, 65-42 K-D, 1.36 rating</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">The MongolZ vs. Spirit</td><td style="border-style:solid;">The MongolZ won 2-0</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Nuke 13-11, Overpass 13-9 after coming back from 1-7</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/mzinho" target="_self">mzinho</a>, 47-28 K-D, 119.8 ADR, 1.85 rating</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>Both teams are now in the playoffs, but The MongolZ arrive with the bigger wave of momentum.</p><h2>Confirmed Rotterdam Playoff Bracket Matches</h2><p>The bracket is locked, and the six remaining teams now move from BLAST’s Copenhagen studio to the Ahoy Arena in Rotterdam.</p><ul><li>March 27, 19:00 (UTC+5), Aurora vs. The MongolZ, quarterfinal.</li><li>March 27, 22:30 (UTC+5), PARIVISION vs. Falcons, quarterfinal.</li><li>March 28, 19:00 (UTC+5), Vitality vs. Aurora or The MongolZ, semifinal.</li><li>March 28, 22:30 (UTC+5), NAVI vs. PARIVISION or Falcons, semifinal.</li><li>March 29, 15:30 (UTC+5), Grand Final.</li></ul><p>NAVI and Vitality earned the place in semifinals by topping their groups, but the quarterfinal pairings carry plenty of heat on their own. Falcons get a rematch with PARIVISION, while The MongolZ arrive as the team nobody will want to meet after knocking out Spirit.</p>

BLAST Rotterdam’s Last Group-Stage Contenders Set for Playoff Deciders

<p>BLAST Open Rotterdam is down to four teams still fighting for the last playoff spots.&nbsp;<a href="/teams/falcons" target="_self">Falcons</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/furai" target="_self">FURIA</a>&nbsp;are alive in Group A, while&nbsp;<a href="/teams/spirit" target="_self">Spirit</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/themongolz" target="_self">The MongolZ</a>&nbsp;made it through in Group B after win-or-go-home matches. Here is a quick look at the big results, top performers, and what the final deciders will decide, so keep reading.</p><h2>Group A narrows to Falcons and FURIA after TYLOO and NRG are knocked out</h2><p>Group A is now down to two teams after Falcons and FURIA stayed alive in the lower bracket. Falcons had a rough start against&nbsp;<a href="/teams/tyloo" target="_self">TYLOO</a>&nbsp;and lost Inferno 16-14 in overtime, but after that the series flipped hard. They crushed Ancient 13-1 and Mirage 13-2, with&nbsp;<a href="/players/niko" target="_self">Nikola Kovač “NiKo”</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/players/kyousuke" target="_self">Maksim Lukin “kyousuke”</a>&nbsp;leading the way. FURIA also had to recover after dropping Mirage 13-10 to&nbsp;<a href="/teams/nrg" target="_self">NRG</a>. From there, they took control with a 13-2 win on Nuke and a 13-7 finish on Dust2.&nbsp;<a href="/players/molodoy" target="_self">Danil Golubenko “Molodoy”</a>&nbsp;was the big difference-maker, while&nbsp;<a href="/players/kscerato" target="_self">Kaike Cerato “KSCERATO”</a>&nbsp;gave FURIA strong support when the match got close.</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;">Match</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Winner</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Score</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Best player</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Falcons vs TYLOO</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Falcons</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-1</td><td style="border-style:solid;">NiKo, 45-31, 1.43 rating</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">FURIA vs NRG</td><td style="border-style:solid;">FURIA</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-1</td><td style="border-style:solid;">molodoy, 61-29, 1.59 rating</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>With TYLOO and NRG out, Falcons and FURIA now move on to the Group A decider.</p><h2>Group B comes down to Spirit and The MongolZ following wins over 9z and Liquid</h2><p>Group B is now set for a final showdown after Spirit and The MongolZ kept their runs alive. Spirit looked sharp against&nbsp;<a target="_self">9z</a>&nbsp;and closed the series in two maps, winning 13-6 on both Overpass and Dust2.&nbsp;<a href="/players/donk" target="_self">Danil Kryshkovets “Donk”</a>&nbsp;led the way with 44 kills and a 1.78 rating, while&nbsp;<a href="/players/sh1ro" target="_self">Dmitry Sokolov “sh1ro”</a>&nbsp;also had a big series. On the other side, The MongolZ beat&nbsp;<a href="/teams/liquid" target="_self">Liquid</a>&nbsp;2-0, but that result was much closer than it looks at first glance. Ancient went to 16-14, and Mirage ended 13-10.&nbsp;<a href="/players/mzinho" target="_self">Ayush Batbold “Mzinho”</a>&nbsp;made the biggest impact for The MongolZ, while key clutch rounds from&nbsp;<a href="/players/blitz" target="_self">Garidmagnai Byambasuren “bLitz”</a>&nbsp;helped swing the series.</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;">Match</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Winner</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Score</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Best player</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Spirit vs 9z</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Spirit</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-0</td><td style="border-style:solid;">donk, 44-22, 1.78 rating</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">The MongolZ vs Liquid</td><td style="border-style:solid;">The MongolZ</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2-0</td><td style="border-style:solid;">mzinho, 45-37, 1.27 rating</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>With 9z and Liquid out, Spirit and The MongolZ move on to the Group B decider.</p><h2>The standout players and turning points</h2><p>Four performances shaped the bracket and gave Monday’s deciders real edge:</p><ul><li><a href="/players/molodoy" target="_self">molodoy</a>, FURIA: 61-29, 102.3 ADR, 1.59 rating in the series against NRG, plus a career-high 2.63 rating on Nuke.</li><li><a href="/players/donk" target="_self">donk</a>, Spirit: 44-22, 109.7 ADR, 1.78 rating in a clean 2-0 over 9z.</li><li><a href="/players/niko" target="_self">NiKo</a>, Falcons: 45-31 and a 1.43 rating in the recovery from the overtime loss to TYLOO on Inferno.</li><li><a href="/players/mzinho" target="_self">mzinho</a>, The MongolZ: 45-37, 1.27 rating, and the clutch-heavy Mirage that sent Liquid home.</li></ul><p>None of the coming series looks likely to be decided by comfort. Every team left alive has already had to survive a punch in the mouth during this group stage.</p><h2>What is at stake in the two final group-stage battles for a playoff place</h2><p>Everything now comes down to two do-or-die series. In this format, only the teams that survive the final lower-bracket matches can still reach the playoffs, so there is no room for mistakes. Falcons and FURIA will fight for one spot, while Spirit and The MongolZ will battle for the other later in the day. The winners move on to the arena stage in Rotterdam and stay in the title race. The losers are out right before the playoffs begin. For players and fans, this is the stage where every round feels heavier, because one best-of-three decides who keeps going and who goes home.</p>

BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 Day 2

<p>Day 2 in Rotterdam kept the favorites on track, but the pressure is already rising.&nbsp;<a target="_self">PARIVISION</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_self">Spirit</a>,&nbsp;<a target="_self">The MongolZ</a>, and&nbsp;<a target="_self">Vitality</a>&nbsp;all moved on, and every result made the bracket tougher. The big teams are holding strong, but the fight is getting tighter fast. Follow this article for the next round and see who keeps their run alive.</p><h2>PARIVISION outlast NIP in a three-map battle as the VRS stakes grow heavier</h2><p>PARIVISION came through a tight series against&nbsp;<a href="/teams/nip" target="_self">NIP</a>&nbsp;and showed how costly every close map can be at this stage of the event. It was not just a win, it was a match that could shape what comes next for both teams.</p><ol><li>PARIVISION won 2-1, taking Ancient 13-11, losing Mirage 6-13, and finishing the job on Dust2 13-8 after being down 6-8.</li><li>NIP had real chances to take control.&nbsp;<a href="/players/xkacpersky" target="_self">Kacper “xKacpersky” Gabara</a>&nbsp;was the best player in the series with a 53-46 K-D, 95.7 ADR, and a 1.30 rating.&nbsp;<a href="/players/r1nkle" target="_self">Artem “r1nkle” Moroz</a>&nbsp;also delivered with a 52-38 K-D.</li><li>PARIVISION stayed calmer in the key rounds.&nbsp;<a href="/players/zweih" target="_self">Ivan “zweih” Gogin</a>&nbsp;led the team in rating at 1.24, and&nbsp;<a href="/players/jame" target="_self">Dzhami “Jame” Ali</a>&nbsp;helped settle the decider when the pressure was highest.</li></ol><p>For&nbsp;<a href="/teams/nip" target="_self">Ninjas in Pyjamas</a>, this loss hurts more than the result itself. A win could have given them a big boost in the standings race, but now they drop lower and the road gets much harder.</p><h2>Spirit overpower Liquid and ruin the first test of the new-look lineup</h2><p>Spirit handled&nbsp;<a href="/teams/liquid" target="_self">Liquid</a>&nbsp;with very little trouble and won the series 2-0, taking Mirage 13-8 and Ancient 13-11. Liquid’s updated team had its first real test here, but Spirit looked sharper from the start and stayed in control when the pressure went up.&nbsp;<a href="/players/donk" target="_self">Danil “donk” Kryshkovets</a>&nbsp;was the clear star and gave Liquid problems on both maps.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized"><colgroup><col style="width:50%;"><col style="width:50%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Key point</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Details</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Series score</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Spirit 2-0 Liquid</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Map scores</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Mirage 13-8, Ancient 13-11</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Best player</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Danil “donk” Kryshkovets</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/donk" target="_self">donk</a>’s stats</td><td style="border-style:solid;">55-31 K-D, 115.2 ADR, 1.79 rating</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Liquid’s top player</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/elige" target="_self">Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski</a>, 30-32, 1.20 rating</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p><a href="/players/magixx" target="_self">Boris “magixx” Vorobiev</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="/players/tn1r" target="_self">Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich</a>&nbsp;also gave Spirit good support, while Liquid never really found a steady rhythm.&nbsp;<a href="/players/naf" target="_self">Keith “NAF” Markovic</a>&nbsp;had some decent moments, but the new group still looked like a team searching for its timing. Spirit move on with confidence, and Liquid now face a much tougher road from here.</p><h2>The MongolZ deliver the day’s biggest statement with a breakthrough win against MOUZ</h2><p>The MongolZ gave the strongest performance of the day and earned a big win that had been missing from this rivalry. They beat&nbsp;<a href="/teams/mouz" target="_self">MOUZ</a>&nbsp;2-0, took Nuke 13-11, and then fully controlled Inferno 13-3. This result stood out even more because The MongolZ had lost their previous five best-of-three series against MOUZ and had never taken a map from them before this match.</p><ul><li><a href="/players/techno" target="_self">Sodbayar “Techno” Munkhbold</a>&nbsp;led the way with a 42-24 K-D, 105.9 ADR, and a 1.73 rating.</li><li><a href="/players/910" target="_self">Usukhbayar “910” Banzragch</a>&nbsp;gave strong support with a 32-12 K-D and a 1.44 rating.</li><li><a href="/players/cobrazera" target="_self">Anarbileg “cobrazera” Uuganbayar</a>&nbsp;helped swing key rounds on Nuke.</li><li>MOUZ never recovered on Inferno and looked flat from the start.</li><li><a href="/players/spinx" target="_self">Lotan “Spinx” Giladi</a>&nbsp;was the only MOUZ player to finish the series with a rating above 0.90.</li></ul><p>For The MongolZ, this was more than just a win. It felt like a real step forward against one of the teams that had blocked them every time before.</p><h2>Vitality return in ruthless form and leave 9z with no room to respond</h2><p>Vitality came into Rotterdam looking fresh and fully prepared, and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/9z" target="_self">9z</a>&nbsp;never got a real chance to settle into the match.</p><ol><li>Vitality won the series 2-0 with a 13-3 result on Overpass and a 13-5 win on Nuke.</li><li><a href="/players/zywoo" target="_self">Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut</a>&nbsp;led the way with a 37-15 K-D, 109.4 ADR, and a 1.91 rating.</li><li><a href="/players/flamez" target="_self">Shahar “flameZ” Shushan</a>&nbsp;finished with the most kills in the server at 38-18, while&nbsp;<a href="/players/ropz" target="_self">Robin “ropz” Kool</a>&nbsp;added a strong 30-15.</li><li><a href="/players/mezii" target="_self">William “mezii” Merriman</a>&nbsp;also made a key impact with an important 1v3 on the first map.</li></ol><p>After that, the gap between the teams only became clearer. 9z could not build any momentum, and every player on the team finished the series below a 0.80 rating.&nbsp;<a href="/players/dgt" target="_self">Franco “dgt” Garcia</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/players/huasopeek" target="_self">Matias “HUASOPEEK” Ibañez Hernandez</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/players/meyern" target="_self">Ignacio “meyern” Meyer</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/players/max" target="_self">Maximiliano “max” Gonzalez</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="/players/luchov" target="_self">Luciano “luchov” Herrera</a>&nbsp;were under pressure from the start and never found a steady answer. For Vitality, it was the kind of win that sends a message early and puts the rest of the bracket on notice.</p>

BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 Day 1

<p>To start, BLAST Open Rotterdam 2026 gave its opening day an immediate edge.&nbsp;<a href="/teams/falcons" target="_self">Falcons</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/navi" target="_self">NAVI</a>,&nbsp;<a href="/teams/auroragaming" target="_self">Aurora</a>, and&nbsp;<a href="/teams/furia" target="_self">FURIA</a>&nbsp;all moved into the upper bracket, but each win came with a different shape, from a controlled sweep to a late-night grind. Read on for the full opening-day breakdown.</p><h2>Falcons overcome NRG in a confident opening sweep</h2><p>Falcons started the event with a clean 2-0 win over&nbsp;<a href="/teams/nrg" target="_self">NRG</a>, even though they had to play without&nbsp;<a href="/players/kyousuke" target="_self">kyousuke</a>&nbsp;because of visa problems. That could have made things messy, but the team looked calm from the start. Stand-in&nbsp;<a href="/players/nukleonz" target="_self">NucleonZ</a>&nbsp;did his job well, especially on defense, and gave Falcons the stability they needed early in the series.</p><p>Ancient was the more comfortable map. Falcons took control in the first half and never really let NRG settle. Dust2 was closer, mostly because Sonic gave NRG a real chance with a huge first half. Still, Falcons stayed composed, won a pair of difficult 3v5 rounds, and then grabbed a key force-buy round at 7-7. That was the moment the match shifted back in their favor.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style="border-color:hsl(0, 0%, 100%);border-style:solid;"><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;">Series score</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Falcons 2-0 NRG</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Ancient</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Falcons won 13-6</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Dust2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Falcons won 13-8</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>, 31-24, 1.30 rating</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">NRG best player</td><td style="border-style:solid;"><a href="/players/sonic" target="_self">Sonic</a>, 39-28, 1.62 rating</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><h2>NAVI fend off B8 to begin their campaign with a series victory</h2><p>NAVI got the win, but&nbsp;<a href="/teams/b8" target="_self">B8</a>&nbsp;made them work for every map. The series ended 2-1, and it never felt easy. NAVI took Mirage 13-9, lost Ancient 17-19 after a long overtime battle, then reset well and closed Dust2 13-7. B8 played with confidence from the start and kept the pressure on, turning the match into a real test instead of a simple opener.</p><ul><li>Series score: NAVI 2-1 B8;</li><li>Mirage: NAVI won 13-9;</li><li>Ancient: B8 won 19-17 in double overtime;</li><li>Dust2: NAVI won 13-7;</li><li>Best NAVI player:&nbsp;<a href="/players/im" target="_self">iM</a>&nbsp;with a 68-50 K-D and 1.41 rating;</li><li>Best overall fragger:&nbsp;<a href="/players/makazze" target="_self">makazze</a>&nbsp;with 70 kills and 101.3 ADR.</li></ul><p>Ancient was the turning point. NAVI were close to ending the series there, but B8 stayed alive with big late-round plays, including a triple kill from npl and a 1v2 clutch from&nbsp;<a href="/players/alex666" target="_self">alex666</a>. NAVI responded the right way on Dust2, built an 8-4 lead on the T side, and looked much more in control after the break.</p><h2>Aurora edge FaZe and add to their difficult 2026 start</h2><p>Aurora came through one of the closest series of the day, beating&nbsp;<a href="/teams/faze" target="_self">FaZe</a>&nbsp;2-1 after losing Nuke 11-13 and then winning Inferno 13-8 and Dust2 13-10. FaZe had their chances, but Aurora looked more settled once the match opened up. They found better timing on Inferno, took control of the early rounds on Dust2, and stayed sharp when the pressure rose late in the decider.&nbsp;<a href="/players/wicadia" target="_self">Wicadia</a>&nbsp;helped shut the door with two big double kills, while&nbsp;<a href="/players/xantares" target="_self">XANTARES</a>&nbsp;led Aurora from start to finish. On the other side,&nbsp;<a href="/players/jcobbb" target="_self">jcobbb</a>&nbsp;gave FaZe real hope, but it was not enough to turn the series around. The result left FaZe at 3-10 in best-of-three matches in 2026, which adds even more weight to a rough start to the season.</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style="border-color:hsl(0, 0%, 100%);border-style:solid;"><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;">Series score</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Aurora 2-1 FaZe</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Nuke</td><td style="border-style:solid;">FaZe won 13-11</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Inferno</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Aurora won 13-8</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Dust2</td><td style="border-style:solid;">Aurora won 13-10</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">Aurora best player</td><td style="border-style:solid;">XANTARES, 54-37, 1.25 rating</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">FaZe best player</td><td style="border-style:solid;">jcobbb, 52-44, 1.21 rating</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><h2>FURIA finish the day by holding off TYLOO in the late match</h2><p>FURIA closed the first day with a 2-0 win over&nbsp;<a href="/teams/tyloo" target="_self">TYLOO</a>, but the series was closer than the final score suggests. Mirage ended 13-8, and Overpass followed at 13-11 after a much tighter battle. TYLOO kept finding ways back into rounds, especially once the match got deeper and the pressure rose.</p><ol><li>Mirage: FURIA stayed in control for most of the map, and&nbsp;<a href="/players/fallen" target="_self">FalleN</a>&nbsp;helped stop TYLOO’s push with a key double kill at 10-7.</li><li>Overpass: TYLOO made things much harder.&nbsp;<a href="/players/zero" target="_self">Zero</a>&nbsp;opened the second half with a pistol-round ace, and TYLOO even moved ahead 9-8.</li><li>Difference makers:&nbsp;<a href="/players/kscerato" target="_self">KSCERATO</a>&nbsp;led FURIA with a 36-23 K-D and a 1.36 rating, while FalleN added a 34-28 score, a 1.29 rating, and 86.7% KAST.</li><li>Best TYLOO player:&nbsp;<a href="/players/moseyuh" target="_self">Moseyuh</a>&nbsp;stood out with 35-33 and a 1.21 rating.</li></ol><p>In the final rounds, FURIA looked calmer and cleaner, and that was enough to close the match and move on to the next round against Aurora.</p>

CS2 Reloading Overhaul

<p>This update makes every reload matter more because Valve changed how ammo works, so reloading at the wrong time can cost extra bullets. The patch also adds map guides inside matches and makes custom games easier to join. Overall, CS2 now puts more focus on timing, ammo control, and practice.</p><h2>How the New Reload System Works in Practice</h2><p>Before this update, players could reload early and keep any bullets left in the magazine. Now, those bullets are lost when the old magazine is thrown away.</p><p>What changed:</p><ul><li>Reloading a magazine-fed weapon now discards the rounds left in that mag;</li><li>The HUD shows how full the current magazine is under the ammo counter;</li><li>Reserve ammo is now shown as magazines, shells, or bullets, depending on the weapon.</li></ul><p>In practice, this makes players think more carefully before hitting reload. A quick reload after a short fight can now waste ammo and cause problems later in the round. That matters in both everyday matches and high-level play, because better timing and better ammo control can decide key moments. The update puts more value on calm decisions, especially when the pressure is high.</p><h2>Weapon and Ammo Changes Across Rifles, SMGs, and the AWP</h2><p>Valve has changed ammo reserves so weapons no longer feel the same across the board. Most guns now work with a fixed number of spare magazines, which makes ammo management more important in longer rounds. For rifles, the AK-47 and M4A1-S stay in the standard group, while the M4A4 gets a little more room to spray. The AWP is hit the hardest, with fewer spare magazines, so careless reloads can punish snipers much faster. SMGs also follow the new system, so the update puts more value on timing and discipline instead of constant top-off reloads.</p><p>These are some confirmed reserve count:</p><figure class="table"><table class="ck-table-resized" style="border-color:hsl(0, 0%, 100%);border-style:solid;"><colgroup><col style="width:50%;"><col style="width:50%;"></colgroup><thead><tr><th style="border-style:solid;">Weapon</th><th style="border-style:solid;">Extra magazines</th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">AK-47</td><td style="border-style:solid;">3</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">M4A1-S</td><td style="border-style:solid;">3</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">M4A4</td><td style="border-style:solid;">4</td></tr><tr><td style="border-style:solid;">AWP</td><td style="border-style:solid;">2</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><h2>What Map Guides and Custom Games Add to This Update</h2><p>Valve paired the ammo overhaul with tools aimed at learning and experimentation. Limited map guides are now available in Competitive and Retakes during the first five rounds of each half, with a 30 node cap. Official starter guides have been added for all Active Duty maps, and players can turn them on through the pause menu. Workshop guides are also supported for players who want something more specific than the default utility markers.</p><p>Custom games also became easier to access. Friends can now join someone playing a Practice or Workshop map through the friends menu if Open Party is enabled, whether the match is hosted locally or on a community server that allows it. That matters because this update is easier to understand by playing it than by reading patch notes. A team can load into a map, test grenade paths, scrim the first five rounds with guide support, and feel the new reload stakes almost immediately. Valve did not just change a mechanic here. It changed how players learn, prep, and survive long rounds.</p>

CS2 Update — new Genesis Collection and reworked grenade sounds

<p>Valve has released a fresh update for Counter-Strike 2, with the main highlights being a new collection of items and improved&nbsp;<a href="/en/skins/grenades" target="_self">CS2 grenade</a>&nbsp;sounds.</p><h2>What’s new?</h2><p>Genesis Collection — a brand-new collection of 17&nbsp;<a href="/en/skins" target="_self">CS2 skins</a>&nbsp;created by community authors. Available through the new Genesis Uplink Terminal, which appears in weekly drops and allows players to preview and purchase featured items.</p><p>Grenade sounds — all grenades now feature reworked sound effects: from drawing and pulling the pin to throwing and detonation. The audio is now richer and more precise, enhancing the tactical feel of the game.</p><p>Map scripting — support for cs_script based on JavaScript has been added. Map and mod creators now have greater freedom, with the included “script_zoo” pack for testing.</p><p>UI improvements — spectators can now inspect teammates’ loadouts and use zoom/pan functions in spectator view.</p><p>Technical fixes — subtick system and hit registration have been improved, alongside bug fixes and optimizations.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>This update is packed:&nbsp;<a href="/en/players" target="_self">CS2 players</a>&nbsp;get not only a vibrant skin collection but also more realistic grenade sounds, while creators of maps and mods receive new tools to experiment with.</p>

CS2 January 22, 2026 Update: Premier Season 4 Begins and Anubis Gets a Rework

<p>Valve’s January 22 patch kicks off Premier Season Four, brings Anubis back with meaningful layout changes, and ships a packed set of movement, weapon, audio, and content updates. Dive into the details below, then jump into a few matches and get hands-on with the new timings and angles.</p><h2>Premier Season Four changes: Active Duty map pool rotation and competitive rank adjustments</h2><p>Premier Season Four starts with the January update, and the biggest change is the Active Duty map pool swap: Anubis is back, and Train is removed.</p><p>This matters for CS2 players because the Premier pool is what most people practice for. When a map changes, the “normal” smokes, defaults, and mid-round calls also change, so the first weeks can feel different as everyone relearns what works.</p><p>Here is exactly what Valve changed for Season Four:</p><ol><li>Active Duty rotation: Anubis added, Train removed.</li><li>Competitive per-map rank values were adjusted.</li><li>Existing per-map Competitive Skill Groups expired, and they will show again only after getting the required wins on each map.</li></ol><p>Right after the update, matchmaking can feel less “set” while the game rebuilds confidence in your per-map results. Early wins can matter more than usual, because the system is using new games to judge your level on each map.</p><h2>Anubis layout updates: Mid drop/doors changes, new B-site utility opening, and A-site cover tweaks</h2><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:1920/1080;" src="/uploads/Anubis_1e7a423044.jpg" alt="Anubis.jpg" width="1920" height="1080"></figure><p>Anubis did not just return to the Active Duty pool unchanged. In the January update, Valve adjusted key paths and cover so fights in Mid happen on different timings, utility has new routes into B, and A-site takes and retakes play out with new protection.</p><p>For CS2 players, this kind of rework usually means old “safe” defaults need updates, because small angle shifts can change which peeks are strong and which rotations are risky.</p><ul><li>Bridge drop moved near Mid Doors;</li><li>Mid Doors orientation reversed;</li><li>Hole added between E-box and Back of B;</li><li>Bombsite A crates moved up steps onto Walkway;</li><li>Scaffolding added to pillar on Bombsite A.</li></ul><p>Mid should feel different immediately. With the drop moved closer to Mid Doors and the doors flipped, early-round info plays change, and teams can reach certain fights faster than before.</p><p>On B, the new hole between E-box and the back of site creates cleaner grenade and molotov paths. That can force defenders to move earlier when executes come in with layered utility.</p><p>A-site is about cover. Moving the crates up onto the walkway changes how defenders survive the first contact, and the added scaffolding on the pillar gives new edges for clears, spam, and late-round repositioning.</p><h2>Weapon balance and economy: MP7/MP5-SD damage &amp; fall-off changes plus PP-Bizon price cut</h2><p>Valve also nudged the&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/smg/" target="_self">SMG</a>&nbsp;tier in a direction that will show up in force buys and half-buys. The&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/skins/mp7/" target="_self">MP7</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/skins/mp5-sd/" target="_self">MP5-SD</a>&nbsp;received slightly increased damage, slightly reduced damage fall-off, and a $100 price reduction. In practical terms, that places both guns at $1,400 after the change.</p><p>The&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/skins/pp-bizon/" target="_self">PP-Bizon</a>&nbsp;gets a $100 price cut as well. Even without additional damage notes in this patch, a cheaper tag matters for teams trying to stretch a thin economy while still buying something that can flood a choke point with bullets.</p><p>Here’s the balance and economy snapshot:</p><figure class="table" style="float:left;width:100%;"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:32.83%;"><col style="width:32.83%;"><col style="width:34.34%;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Weapon</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">What changed</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Economy impact</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;"><a href="https://csspot.org/skins/mp7/" target="_self">MP7</a></td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Slight damage increase, reduced fall-off</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Price reduced by $100</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;"><a href="https://csspot.org/skins/mp5-sd/" target="_self">MP5-SD</a></td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Slight damage increase, reduced fall-off</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Price reduced by $100</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;"><a href="https://csspot.org/skins/pp-bizon/" target="_self">PP-Bizon</a></td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Price reduction</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Price reduced by $100</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>In live games, this favors “take space” rounds where a team needs to crack a site without committing to full rifles. The&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/skins/mp7/" target="_self">MP7</a>’s identity as a close-range brawler gets a bit more forgiveness, while the&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/skins/mp5-sd/" target="_self">MP5-SD</a>’s quieter profile becomes easier to justify when the buy is tight. Players who love scrappy CT-side pushes through smoke will likely test these changes immediately, especially on tighter parts of the pool where fall-off used to make&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/smg/" target="_self">SMG</a>&nbsp;duels feel coin-flippy.</p><h2>Movement overhaul: subtick landing timing, stamina removal, and updated bunnyhop window</h2><p>This update changes how movement timing works in CS2, and it can affect normal matches, not just movement servers. Jumping and landing no longer change stamina. Instead, the slowdown you get after landing is based only on when you landed with subtick precision.</p><p>Key points in this movement overhaul:</p><ul><li>Landing time is calculated with subtick precision.</li><li>Stamina changes from jumping and landing were removed; landing slowdown depends on landing time.</li><li>Bunnyhop success depends on inputs within sv_bhop_time_window and not being penalized by sv_jump_spam_penalty_time.</li></ul><p>In a real match, this shows up when trying to hop away after a bad fight or during a save. Cleaner timing should feel more consistent, while repeated jump spamming can still get punished. Servers that want the old behavior can switch back using sv_legacy_jump.</p><h2>Content rotation: community maps added/removed, Weekly Care Package collection changes, and a new Armory item</h2><figure class="image image_resized" style="width:75%;"><img style="aspect-ratio:1920/1080;" src="/uploads/New_Collection_3cc33c2591.jpg" alt="NewCollection.jpg" width="1920" height="1080"></figure><p>Valve rotated a lot of “extra” content in matchmaking alongside the January update, so the map choices and weekly drops can look different right away. For CS2 players, this affects warmups and side queues, since community maps are often where people practice aim, learn new angles, or stack games with friends.</p><p>The update also changes what can appear in Weekly Care Packages, which matters if you pay attention to drops and collections over time. On top of that, the Armory received a new Limited Edition item, giving collectors something new to chase.</p><ol><li>Maps removed from all modes: Golden, Palacio, Agency, Rooftop.</li><li>Maps added to Competitive, Casual, Deathmatch: Warden, Stronghold, Alpine.</li><li>Maps added to Wingman: Sanctum, Poseidon.</li><li>Weekly drops: Harlequin and Achroma added; Safehouse, Dust 2, 2018 Nuke, and 2018 Inferno removed from weekly drops.</li><li>Armory: new Limited Edition item,&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/skins/ak-47/" target="_self">AK47 | Aphrodite</a>.</li></ol><p>If you want to stay efficient, learn the new community maps early and keep an eye on the updated drop pool, since both can shape how your weekly routine feels in-game.</p><h2>Audio, visuals, and fixes: reduced output latency, improved weapon/knife sounds, visual fidelity updates, and bug patches</h2><p>This part of the January update is about feel and clarity, not new maps or ranks. Valve tightened audio timing, upgraded some weapon visuals, and fixed several annoying bugs that could distract during real matches.</p><ul><li>Reduced audio output latency;</li><li>Higher-fidelity knife draw and inspect sounds, and less sound overlap when swapping items fast;</li><li>More detailed base-weapon materials (<a href="https://csspot.org/skins/ak-47/" target="_self">AK47</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/skins/awp/" target="_self">AWP</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/skins/desert-eagle/" target="_self">Deagle</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/skins/mp7/" target="_self">MP7</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/skins/usp-s/" target="_self">USP-S</a>,&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/skins/pp-bizon/" target="_self">Bizon</a>, and others);</li><li>Fixes to voice, deathcam, surf collisions, visibility systems, animations, and blood decals.</li></ul><p>In play, faster audio response can make shots and steps feel more connected to what you see. Knife hits also sound different depending on primary vs alt fire, and whether you strike from the front or back, matching the damage rules. Ambient sounds no longer restart when you move between sound zones, so rotations sound steadier.</p><p>On the bug side, your own open mic now always shows correctly, a deathcam intersection issue was fixed, and surf ramps should be smoother thanks to collision fixes. Valve also improved PVS resolution for some static geometry, fixed small Butterfly Knife animation clipping, and restored missing blood decals.</p>

BLAST Bounty 2026 Finals: Quarter-final Draft Locks In the Opening Bracket

<p>The live draft show in Malta has set the BLAST Bounty 2026 Finals quarter-finals, with the bottom seeds choosing opponents and locking the first two matchdays. Check the picks, the numbers, and the exact start times, then mark the matches you do not want to miss.</p><h2>Opponent Choices for Quarter-Finals</h2><p>In the quarter-final draft, the four lowest seeds got to choose who they wanted to face from the higher-seeded teams. Think of it like picking opponents in a ranked lobby, but on stage and with a full best-of-three series on the line.</p><figure class="table" style="float:left;width:100%;"><table class="ck-table-resized" style=";"><colgroup><col style="width:24.63%;"><col style="width:24.63%;"><col style="width:24.63%;"><col style="width:26.11%;"></colgroup><tbody><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Quarter-final</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Why this opponent was chosen</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Key roster note</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Recent qualifier result (best performer)</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Liquid vs Falcons</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Liquid had first pick and chose Falcons</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Falcons use Matej “NucleonZ” Trajkoski for Maxim “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/kyousuke/" target="_self">kyousuke</a>” Lukin, and coach Danny “zonic” Sørensen is not with them</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Liquid beat Gentle Mates 2-1 (7-13, 13-9, 13-3),&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/ultimate/" target="_self">ultimate</a>&nbsp;42-32 (1.25). Falcons beat Monte 2-0 (13-10 Nuke, 13-7 Mirage),&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/monesy/" target="_self">m0NESY</a>&nbsp;42-25 (1.75).</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">HEROIC vs FURIA</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">HEROIC chose FURIA after weighing options</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">HEROIC are without AWPer Alimzhan “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/alkaren/" target="_self">Alkaren</a>” Bitimbay, using Simon “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/yxngstxr/" target="_self">yxngstxr</a>” Boije</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">HEROIC beat paiN 2-0 (13-6 Nuke, 16-14 Mirage),&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/nilo/" target="_self">nilo</a>&nbsp;44-28 (1.48). FURIA beat FUT 2-1 (13-10, 5-13, 13-11),&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/molodoy/" target="_self">molodoy</a>&nbsp;63-40 (1.46).</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">PARIVISION vs Spirit</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">PARIVISION picked Spirit as the third choice</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Ivan “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/zweih/" target="_self">zweih</a>” Gogin chose his former team and hinted at anti-strats</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">PARIVISION beat Astralis 2-0 (13-1 Dust2, 13-8 Ancient),&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/zweih/" target="_self">zweih</a>&nbsp;36-15 (1.92). Spirit beat Inner Circle 2-0 (13-8 Ancient, 13-5 Dust2),&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/donk/" target="_self">donk</a>&nbsp;42-25 (1.80).</td></tr><tr><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">GamerLegion vs Vitality</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">GamerLegion were left with Vitality</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">Milan “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/hypex/" target="_self">hypex</a>” Polowiec joked nobody expected it</td><td style="border:0.5pt solid #000000;padding:5pt;vertical-align:top;">GamerLegion beat Aurora 2-1 (16-13, 10-13, 13-5),&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/hypex/" target="_self">hypex</a>&nbsp;55-37 (1.33). Vitality beat EYEBALLERS 2-0 (19-16 Anubis, 13-8 Overpass),&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/zywoo/" target="_self">ZywOo</a>&nbsp;49-30 (1.37).</td></tr></tbody></table></figure><p>Liquid’s pick came with a twist: Keith “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/naf/" target="_self">NAF</a>” Markovic said he wanted FURIA first, but the team vote went to Falcons. The gamble is that stand-ins can break team structure, even if Falcons still have takeover players like&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/niko/" target="_self">NiKo</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/monesy/" target="_self">m0NESY</a>.</p><p>HEROIC’s choice also reflects confidence in preparation. Coach Tobias “TOBIZ” Theo explained they discussed other paths, then settled on FURIA as a matchup where an upset felt realistic, even if online results can hide details.</p><p>PARIVISION choosing Spirit is the most personal call.&nbsp;<a href="https://csspot.org/players/zweih/" target="_self">Zweih</a>&nbsp;knows Spirit’s habits, and Spirit’s Boris “<a href="https://csspot.org/players/magixx/" target="_self">magixx</a>” Vorobiev said the pick was expected based on the draft order. That kind of familiarity can feel like playing against someone who already knows your favorite mid-round moves.</p><h2>Matchday 1 and 2 (Thu, 22 Jan - Fri, 23 Jan)</h2><p>The quarter-finals are split across two days in Malta, and every match is a best-of-three. For CS2 players, that format matters because teams can adjust after map one, change their CT setups, and punish predictable mid-round calls. At the same time, there is no safety net: lose a series and the tournament ends immediately.</p><p>Thursday (22 Jan) starts with two matchups that were picked in the draft because they looked tempting or risky. Liquid open against a Falcons roster that is not at full strength, and then HEROIC play FURIA in the late match. Friday (23 Jan) finishes the round with two more series, including a tough draw for GamerLegion against Vitality and a spicy PARIVISION vs Spirit meeting with extra history behind it.</p><ol><li>Thu, 22 Jan, 16:00 CET: Liquid vs Falcons (Liquid picked Falcons first);</li><li>Thu, 22 Jan, 19:00 CET: HEROIC vs FURIA (HEROIC picked FURIA second);</li><li>Fri, 23 Jan, 16:00 CET: GamerLegion vs Vitality (GamerLegion were left with Vitality);</li><li>Fri, 23 Jan, 19:00 CET: PARIVISION vs Spirit (PARIVISION chose Spirit as third pick).</li></ol><p>Once these series begin, talk about the draft stops and the real work starts on the veto. Catching map one live helps, because early tendencies often show which team is ready to control pace and which team is still searching for answers.</p>

Vitality - ESL Pro League Season 21 Champions

<h2>Vitality secured a dominant victory over MOUZ in the grand final, showing no signs of struggle.</h2><p>After an unexpected semifinal, where MOUZ defeated Spirit despite the impressive performance of&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/donk" target="_self">donk</a>, many wondered if&nbsp;<a href="/en/players/apex" target="_self">apEX</a>&nbsp;and his squad would be able to handle such a strong opponent.</p><p>Vitality, on the other hand, had to fight hard in their semifinal match against The MongolZ, a team that always comes close but falls just short in major tournaments.</p><p>However, the grand final turned out to be completely one-sided. Out of the possible five maps, only three were played, with MOUZ failing to win more than nine rounds on any map.</p><p>The series began on the legendary&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-dust2" target="_self">map Dust2</a>, historically a strong pick for both teams. However, Vitality proved their superiority, taking the map 13-9.</p><p>Next was&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-nuke" target="_self">Nuke</a>, the map choice of MOUZ, but they completely collapsed, managing to win only four rounds.</p><p>The third and final map,&nbsp;<a href="/en/wiki/overview-map-inferno" target="_self">Inferno</a>, saw MOUZ struggling once again, as they managed to win only five rounds before Vitality closed out the series.</p><p>The MVP of the tournament was awarded to Mathieu "<a href="/en/players/zywoo" target="_self">ZywOo</a>" Herbaut from Vitality.</p>