CS:S Invite Power Rankings - Week Three


1. X3O (6-0; Previous: 1)


X3O retained the title as the only undefeated team remaining in CS:S-Invite this past week with two wins on de_nuke. X3O faced off against Team Dynamic in their Week 3:1 match. This match was particularly interesting considering it was adreN's first match against his long-time former team, Dynamic. While X3O had the advantage of started on CT-side, I'm not sure it would have made all that much difference should they have started on T-side instead. X3O as usual was in complete control, with their teamwork shining through each and every round. X3O kept up constant pressure, giving little room for Dynamic to even pick up frags, as Dynamic's Secret Operative and relliM-s- only scored 6 and 3 frags respectively. In their second match of the week, it may as well have been a completely different team in the first half as X3O struggled to pick up rounds on their CT-side against Area 51 CSS. But as you'd expect of this talented team, they returned to true form in the second half, dominating the offensive side to earn a close 16-14 victory. At 6-0 with two impressive performances (minus X3O's CT-side against Area 51), X3O has rightfully earned the top spot in the power rankings for another week.

Week 4
4:1 - X3O vs. SitA
4:2 - X3O vs. Area 51 CSS


2. Vitriolic (3-2; Previous: 6)


Vitriolic has only completed one of their de_nuke matches thus far, but it was an impressive win nonetheless. It was an exciting, high scoring, fast paced game against SitA for the team's Week 3:1 match. Both team's dominated on CT-side, while T's on each half were able to pick up just a few rounds on account of crucial 1v1 round wins. With both teams winning their CT side 12-3, the match went into overtime. Yet again, both Vitriolic and SitA struggled on T-side in the first overtime. In the second overtime, Vitriolic once again won CT-side 4-1 though this time the team finally took advantage of their lead. Vitriolic overwhelmed SitA to eventually win 26-23. The team's second match is scheduled to be played against Netcode Illuminati on de_nuke. We'll find out the outcome of that match in the coming week, but for now, Vitriolic's win against SitA, one of this season's better teams, is enough to earn the team a move-up to the second spot in the power rankings.

Week 4
4:1 - Vitriolic vs. Area 51 CSS
4:2 - Vitriolic vs. Eximius Sports


3. Netcode Illuminati (3-2; Previous: 2)


Like Vitriolic, Netcode Illuminati also only completed one match during Week 3 because those two teams have yet to play their Week 3:2 match on de_nuke. In the team's Week 3:1 match, Netcode Illuminati took on Area 51 CSS. Even though Netcode Illuminati started on the offensive side of de_nuke, it was Area 51 that was at the disadvantage. Netcode Illuminati's T-side was like a freight train plowing through Area 51 with ease. While Area 51 narrowly won the half 8-7, Netcode earned more than enough rounds needed to be relaxed on CT-side. With CHewbacca1 and frozt nearly doubling and tripling the frags of their teammates, Netcode advanced to a 3-2 record with their 16-9 win.

Week 4
4:1 - Netcode Illuminati vs. Eximius Sports
4:2 - Netcode Illuminati vs. Team Dynamic


4. SitA (4-2; Previous: 3)

SitA heads into Week 4 as the second best team in the league, boasting a 4-2 record though Week 3 wasn't as much of a success as their record indicates. The team's only victory came from a forfeit win against rSports NA. For the one match the team did play, SitA faced off against the league champions, Vitriolic, for the first time. Despite Vitriolic being the reigning champs and SitA being the ESEA Invite division rookies, I think most fans, myself included, knew very well this would be a close match up. The match met expectations as the team's both earned 12-3 scores on their CT-sides. In the first overtime, it was much of the same as both SitA and Vitriolic struggled offensively. Eventually one team had to had to drop their guard and it was SitA's defense that was overpowered and they lost the match 26-23. But by keeping pace with one of the most talented team's in the league, SitA only dropped one place in the power rankings this week to the fourth position.

Week 4
4:1 - SitA vs. X3O
4:2 - SitA vs. rSports NA


5. Team Dynamic (2-4; Previous: 4)

Team Dynamic has managed to develop a win/loss pattern this season through six matches. It might be better suited to call it a loss/loss/win pattern. Starting with their embarrassing 16-4 loss to Netcode Illuminati in Week 2, Team Dynamic was defeated in similar fashion by X3O in Week 3 on de_nuke. The team's T-side was sloppy with nose being Dynamic's only player that was consistently picking up frags each round. I'd expect X3O to win this match, but Dynamic's performance was still well below expectations in the 16-5 loss. Though as the pattern explains, Dynamic's next match was a success. Against Eximius Sports, Dynamic's scoreboard was far more balanced as the team appeared far more cohesive. Dynamic displayed excellent teamwork on T-side, something that was absent from their first match. The team's 1-1 record for Week 3 is respectable but they'll need to reverse the loss/loss/win pattern quickly should the team want to stay in playoff contention.

Week 4
4:1 - Team Dynamic vs. rSports NA
4:2 - Team Dynamic vs. Netcode Illuminati


6. Eximius Sports (2-4; Previous: 5)

Like most teams, Eximius Sports was one for two in Week 3. Against rSports NA, Eximius dominated the match, only giving up a few rounds here and there because of some miscommunication errors. Unlike their previous matches this season, it appeared as though Eximius actually put in some effort to prepare for the match since normally their teamwork has been struggling. Though against rSports, the weakest team in the league thus far, this may have just been an illusion. Nonetheless, the final score was 16-8 in favor of Eximius. On to match two, Eximius once again displayed many hints of teamwork and coordination, but some miscommuniation issues in small game situations cost Eximius a handful of rounds. The teams traded rounds back and forth in the first half and early into the second, but from then on, Dynamic was in control. Eximius lost the match 16-12. Looking ahead to Week 4, it appears as though some roster changes are in progress. The team released ANGER and jareD from their line-up while adding ridic to the line-up. The team is in need of an explosive fragger. Ridic could very well be that missing part.

Week 4
4:1 - Eximius Sports vs. Netcode Illuminati
4:2 - Eximius Sports vs. Vitriolic


7. Area 51 CSS (1-5; Previous: 7)

Area 51 CSS, while at the bottom of the division standings, has maintained the seventh position in the power rankings on account of their performances against difficult teams in Week 3. The team's first match against Netcode Illuminati was for the most part a disaster, though the 16-9 score was still decently close. Area 51 won their defensive side but just barely with an 8-7 score. The team's T-side struggles weren't so much an issue of teamwork but more so that Netcode was simply out-shooting Area 51. Deppy top fragged with six kills in ten rounds and that's not saying much. Area 51 also lost their second match, but it was a huge improvement nevertheless. Every player on Area 51 at least doubled their frag total on T-side and teamwork was on point. Area 51 headed into CT-side with an 8-7 lead, though that didn't last long as X3O rebounded in the second half. Area 51 couldn't pull through in the end as X3O dropped them 16-14. Despite being at the bottom of the standings with a 1-5 record, Area 51 has showed more promise this season in most of their matches in comparison to rSports NA at the bottom of the power rankings.

Week 4
4:1 - Area 51 vs. Vitriolic<
4:2 - Area 51 vs. X3O


8. rSports NA (2-4; Previous: 8)

rSports NA added to their losing streak with another two losses in Week 3. What started as a promising season is now a gloomy realization that rSports NA doesn't seem to be up to par with the other teams, not only in terms of talent but in terms of commitment. The team forfeited their de_nuke match against SitA and also forfeited against Vitriolic on de_cpl_strike, a match that was suppose to be played during this past week. Hopefully it was just a busy week for the players and they'll return to competition in Week 4. rSports did play one match this past week which was against Eximius Sports but the results weren't much different from a forfeit loss. While rSprots' PLR was effectively picking up a number of frags in the first half, the majority of the team struggled both individually and as a whole. rSports lost their only played match of the week by a final score of 16-8.

Week 4
4:1 - rSports NA vs. Team Dynamic
4:2 - rSports NA vs. SitA

Check out the ESEA League schedule page for SourceTV information, match times, and scores throughout the week.



- Article by Heather "sapphiRe" Mumm