After the month-long player break, the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive scene is primed to get going again. And there are plenty of reasons to think that this new season could be the best one yet. Whilst the game is still awaiting a return to the big booming stadiums and hordes of passionate fans that can only come from traditional LAN events, there are still a number of stories floating around the community that should keep things spicy for the community.
Who Will Be North America’s Finest?
2020 kicked off with a lot of speculation over which of the NA teams would emerge as the dominant force for the region. Team Liquid were undoubtedly the team for 2019, rising to number one in the world rankings and racking up the quickest Intel Grand Slam in the history of CS following their wins at the likes of IEM Sydney and ESL One Cologne.
However, they were outdone by rivals Evil Geniuses at the StarLadder Berlin Major, a tournament they were tipped to win in most esports betting picks, and were forced to watch on as EG romped to the title at the follow up ESL One New York competition.
Evil Geniuses haven’t dropped off either, adding in the experience of former Liquid coach Zews and leapfrogging Liquid in the world rankings last month for the first time since their win in New York. It looks like the EG momentum is primed to kick on and continue, whilst Liquid rounded off last season with a lot of uncertainty hanging over their coach Adren and the roles of each one of their players. They are currently ranked 8th in the world, their worst standing since May 2018.
Throw into the mix the likes of Gen.G and 100 Thieves, unknown quantities with more than enough skill to upset the odds on their day, and things are looking pretty exciting in the North American region.
The New Look Astralis
Danish side Astralis are quite probably the best team to ever grace the game of Counter-Strike. The only side to have won four Major Championships, including the last three on the bounce, they are absolute royalty on the server and have revolutionized the community in how they play, practice and exist as a competitive gaming org.
It was therefore a huge shock to the world of CS when it was announced that star performers Gla1ve and Xyp9x would be stepping away from the game on medical leave after experiencing severe burnout.
Losing arguably the two players most instrumental to their success, Astralis were forced to patch together a side that included JGUi and Snappi. The results spoke for themselves, as the CS world witnessed a team that had previously never missed out on at least a semi-final place crash out of both DreamHack Spring Masters and the BLAST Showdown in the qualifying rounds.
It has been reported that Gla1ve will return to the side sometime next month after his three month break, but the org remains tight-lipped on when fans can expect to see Xyp9x return to the fold. Astralis have since Esetag as well as JUGi, throwing up the possibility of seeing the first ever six man roster and leaving plenty wondering just how good this new look Astralis side could be, and whether it will ever be able to match the heights of the past.
