The IEM Katowice event has just finished. With that comes a shift in the rankings. Most impressive is the huge leap the IEM Katowice winners in Gambit Esports took. They managed to jump up 11 ranks and are currently sitting comfortably at 4th. place in the world. The recent success of Gambit seems telling for, perhaps, a different era of Counter-Strike, one where CIS Counter-Strike has established itself to be just as capable as EU or NA Counter-Strike.
Joining Gambit in the top five are two additional CIS teams in Natus Vincere and finalists of IEM Katowice Virtus.pro. Whilst NAVI has been in contention for a top-five spot, seemingly always, the recent spark of Virtus.pro has lit a fire in the professional Counter-Strike scene. Even Spirit, taking down the giants of Astralis at IEM Katowice, are currently placed within the top 10 rankings.
Whilst there are still four European rosters remaining in the top 10, and perhaps it would be too rash to suggest a CIS dominated era, one thing is for sure – CIS Counter-Strike is evolving rapidly and is showing no signs of slowing down.
