Last Updated: Sunday January 11, 2009
Just Outside: ATS.dk, Virtus.pro
The first thing we notice about the rankings is that mTw is sitting atop its rightful perch above the rest of the world. After securing five first place finishes at LAN events last year (the most for any team), including wins at World eSports Masters and WCG 2008, they completed the year with ten top ten finishes at LAN events and making them a fairly easy choice.
Rounding out the top three are SK Gaming and Mousesports, who both made nice gains up the standings. SK Gaming, fresh off their year-end win at Dreamhack and pulling in the 2nd most in earnings for the year, has them sitting at number two. Mousesports on the other hand came in with four first place finishes on the year, and essentially had the most consistent year, good enough for number three.
Places four and five appear to be the disappointing stories of 2008, but more so for different reasons. fnatic, despite making it to more LANs than any other team, and obtaining the most top ten finishes on the year, just didn't get the podium success that one would expect. They did, however, enjoy some modicum of success for a decent year overall; this result allows them to only lose one placing since the last ranking. With Meet Your Makers, the former #1, it's a different story. While they showed some consistency on the year, and got a win at a packed ESWC 2008, the performances didn't seem to be dominating. Even given their other victories, it wasn't enough to overshadow the other teams and their stellar performances, leaving MYM with a bitter fall down four spots.
e-STRO made a huge jump in this edition of the rankings, up four spots to number six after a solid year. While they don't attend many events, they attend the important ones and place at essentially every one. For Made in Brazil, it might be a year to forget. The team seemed to be battling themselves all year and their performances didn't change their place in the rankings this time around. With a recent roster change, they will look to turn things around for this year. For Gameplay (not really Gameplay anymore) and Team Alternate, there were flashes of what they are capable of, but it never really amounted to anything on the year for them, leaving them in the number eight and nine spots.
The top ten finishes off with Evil Geniuses. Not very much can be said here as they haven't even played a match yet, but on paper, it appears that this team has a lot behind them. Everyone will be watching closely when they finally suit up for their first event of 2009.
Last Updated: Wednesday June 25, 2008
Just Outside: Frag Dominant - 28, Devastation - 28
It’s been a while since the rankings have been updated … and not a whole lot has changed at the top two spots. x3o is still fighting EG for the top spot in North America and is still one step behind. EG’s qualification for and performance at the KODE5 finals in Russia cemented their place at the top. Yet x3o and MoB’s qualification for ESWC will give these two teams a chance to overshadow EG if EG doesn’t qualify for ESWC at the ESWC Masters event in Paris (controversy aside). Rounding out the top five are two upstart teams that have grown in talent over the past few months. Sway Gaming has grown from being on the outskirts of greatness to one of the best teams in North America, and 50|Cal absorbed some of the better East Coast talent in order to take them to the next level. EG Canada’s roster moves have strengthened the team significantly since KODE5, and the return of the old zEx lineup to CS 1.6 has pushed the Guardians team straight into the top 10 without a performance under their belt. Rounding out the top 10 are the rebuilding squads Iniquity and Mug-N-Mouse and the up and coming team iPlay.zoi.
Last Updated: Wednesday June 25, 2008
Just Outside: Hell Raisers - 10
The reasons for the European Ranking directly relate to the World Ranking. So instead of retreading old territory I’ll discuss the teams not on the World Ranking. Virtus Pro with their powerful 3/5 Ukrainian roster comes in at 9th. Despite their recent troubles they have proven time and time again that they are the best in Russia and the countries that surround it. However they are losing their grasp as new talent is appearing on the scene and threatening their throne. Just look at KODE5 where Hell Raisers placed higher than they did. Rounding out the top ten is SoA who surprised the world by eliminating fnatic from the Extreme Masters Two group stage. They have under gone some roster changes since that stellar upset but still managed to place on par with fnatic and Alternate at Dreamhack.
Last Updated: Tuesday January 23, 2007
Just Outside: wNv.cn - 36, TitaNs - 31
Hacker.GM took full advantage of Star.ex not attending CPL Winter to turn its USA tour into a roaring success. After upsetting a few top teams in New York for WSVG Finals, they then went to Dallas where they put on a show placing as the highest Asian team. Project_kr was a step behind at CPL Winter and now in the ranking. Star.ex could have been a bigger story then Hacker.GM but never took the journey. XcN still holds onto the 5th spot as wNv.cn was a total bust at WSVG.
SK Gaming
Mousesports
eStro
Evil Geniuses
