The recent Esports World Cup 2026 Open Qualifier has led to significant movement within the Counter-Strike Valve Regional Standings. Several teams capitalized on their LAN performances to secure better placements ahead of the upcoming main event, even if they failed to claim a qualification spot.
100 Thieves and BC.Game make significant leaps
One of the main storylines from the qualifier was the battle between 100 Thieves and BC.Game in the Round of 16. 100 Thieves edged out a victory against BC.Game and subsequently defeated 1win in their following qualification match. This strong showing resulted in a 13-place gain for 100 Thieves, moving them from number 44 to 31 in the VRS rankings and putting them within striking distance of the top 30.
A primary factor in this success was the performance of their new English in-game leader, Gizmy. He finished the qualifier as the third highest-rated player at the event, securing a 1.44 rating across the 11 maps required for the star-studded roster to qualify for the EWC.
Despite their elimination at the hands of 100 Thieves, BC.Game also recorded a massive boost in their ranking. The team secured much-needed LAN victories against OG, 1win, and BASEMENT BOYS. This run catapulted BC.Game 33 places up the ladder, moving from 84 to 51. The roster, led by s1mple, continues its upward trajectory since Magisk and senzu joined the organization earlier this summer.
Fnatic and BIG continue their steady climb
Fnatic is another roster experiencing a resurgence in the standings. Although they lost their final qualification match, the team moved up 11 spots from 50 to 39. This marks a continuation of their long-term recovery, having been ranked as low as number 89 in the world earlier this year.
BIG also made a push into the upper echelon of the standings, breaking into the top 20 by moving from 22 to 18.
New challengers enter the top tiers
The effects of the qualifier extended beyond the most established names. EYEBALLERS and HOTU successfully broke into the top 30 of the VRS rankings following their recent performances. Further down the list, Sashi and JiJieHao have also established themselves as top 50 teams, capitalizing on the competitive cycle to improve their global standing.
