Spotlight on the Top 20: Virtus.pro
The CIS team ended 2020 with style with multiple tournament wins.
In this series, we take a look at the teams that finished 2020 in the top 20 rankings. Today we take a look at number 12.
Name: Virtus.pro
Origin: Russia
2020 did not look like a year, that Virtus.pro would look back on with joy. The team struggled with the performances in the first half of the year ultimately leading to the departure of Dauren “AdreN” Kystaubayev. Since then the results kept improving. The team ended the year with three trophies and ended as number 2 on the money list of 2020.
Active roster:
Timur “buster” Tulepov
Alexey “qikert” Golubev
Dzhami ”Jame” Ali
Mareks ”YEKINDAR” Galinskis
Sanjar “SANJI” Kuliev
Transfers in 2020:
In: Mareks ”YEKINDAR” Galinskis
Out: Dauren “AdreN” Kystaubayev
Highlight of the year – Flashpoint 2
After a surprising win at IEM New York CIS, there were high hopes that Virtus.pro could be a dangerous team to face in Flashpoint 2. The CIS team had to go through a qualifier to even be at the event. Here they dismantled teams like Cloud9, Gen.G, MAD Lions, BIG, fnatic, and OG in the Grand Final securing them a whopping $500.000. Even more impressive was the fact, that none of the Virtus.pro players finished the tournament in the top 10 rankings individually. A pure team performance from the CIS team.
The future:
By winning DreamHack Open in December Virtus.pro cemented their position as a team to count on when the 2021 season launches. The team is invited to the Play-in at IEM Katowice, and will definitely be one of the rosters to keep an eye on to qualify. With an average age of 22, the roster seems to be exactly where they are supposed to be, so don’t be surprised, if Virtus.pro ends 2021 in the top 10 of the world rankings.
