TL;DR
- BIG climbed 46 ranking spots to become world #1 through dominant online performances
- Evil Geniuses rose from 12th to top-5 with improved coaching and home comfort advantages
- Astralis, Natus Vincere, and Team Liquid all struggled with organizational issues and performance consistency
- The transition to online play revealed significant differences in team adaptation capabilities
- Traditional powerhouse teams showed vulnerability without live audience energy and LAN pressure

BIG’s remarkable journey to Counter-Strike’s summit represents one of the most dramatic ranking transformations in recent esports history. Their triple-crown achievement at CS Summit 6, DreamHack Masters Spring, and ESL Pro League Season 12 qualifiers demonstrates how quickly team fortunes can shift in the digital competitive landscape.
The German squad’s explosive rise saw them leapfrog 46 positions since January, overtaking established powerhouses that previously dominated the scene. What makes this ascent particularly noteworthy is how they accomplished it with minimal fanfare, building momentum steadily rather than through flashy individual performances.
BIG and Evil Geniuses take advantage of CSGO’s online tournaments
BIG constructed a remarkably balanced lineup featuring Johannes “tabsen” Wodarz, Tizian “tiziaN” Feldbusch, Florian “syrsoN” Rische, Ismailcan “XANTARES” Dörtkardeş, and Nils “k1to” Gruhne – a combination that proved unexpectedly effective against elite competition. Their statistical dominance became evident when examining map-specific performance metrics.

The competitive ecosystem underwent a seismic transformation as traditional LAN dominators faltered while online specialists flourished. Teams like Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev’s Natus Vincere, who controlled the early 2020 season, found themselves struggling to maintain form in the remote competition environment.

Evil Geniuses mirrored BIG’s success trajectory, surging from 12th position in June to secure a top-five ranking following their commanding CS Summit 6 North America victory. EG’s Tarik “tarik” Celek publicly expressed preference for continuing online competition, highlighting how certain organizations adapted more effectively to the new normal.
The psychological advantage of competing from familiar environments cannot be overstated. Both BIG and EG maximized this factor, while historically successful franchises failed to replicate their previous achievements under changed conditions.
Natus Vincere, Team Liquid, and Astralis struggle in recent CSGO tournaments
Several legendary organizations that fans traditionally associated with competitive excellence failed to maintain their standards during the online transition. The gap between past glory and current performance revealed fundamental challenges in adaptation.
Astralis encountered issues extending beyond simple performance slumps. Operating with substitute players, the Danish dynasty that practically owned CSGO’s top ranking plummeted to 10th position since May’s conclusion.

Uncertainty surrounds the return timelines for in-game leader Lukas “gla1ve” Rossander and rifler Andreas “Xyp9x” Højsleth, compounded by minimal organizational transparency regarding internal discord. The situation appears increasingly dire for what was recently Counter-Strike’s most formidable team.
Natus Vincere falls sharply in CSGO world rankings
Natus Vincere dropped three positions from first to fourth following consecutive disappointing showings that contrasted sharply with their consistent IEM Katowice 2020 form. The CIS powerhouse appears drastically different from the squad that dominated opposition during the Polish tournament.

With superstar s1mple as the lone exception, underwhelming contributions across the roster have created a competitive hole that threatens to deepen if online competition persists.
Team Liquid underperforms in CSGO’s turbulent North American scene

Team Liquid’s North American campaign similarly disappointed expectations. Since their 2019 Intel Grand Slam triumph, Liquid has faced challenges sustaining peak form.
When operating optimally, Liquid demonstrates clear top-five global capability, effortlessly overwhelming less accomplished opponents. However, the summer season exposed vulnerabilities in mental resilience when deprived of live audience energy.
The current professional break period offers organizations crucial reflection time to analyze what separates successful online adapters from struggling traditional powers. The fundamental question remains: are we witnessing temporary anomalies or permanent power shifts?
BIG’s blueprint for success provides valuable lessons for other teams navigating the online competitive landscape. Their methodical approach to roster construction, focusing on complementary skill sets rather than individual star power, demonstrates alternative pathways to competitive success.
Evil Geniuses’ coaching enhancement with Wilton “zews” Prado illustrates how strategic staffing decisions can yield immediate competitive dividends in the remote play environment.
The demonstrated performance gap between LAN specialists and online adapters suggests potential long-term implications for tournament organization and team development strategies.
If BIG’s trajectory proves sustainable, it challenges conventional wisdom about team building and competitive preparation. The emergence of new contenders from relative obscurity indicates that the competitive ecosystem may be more dynamic than previously assumed.





The ongoing smaller regional tournaments during the break period offer glimpses into potential future contenders. These competitions provide valuable data points for assessing which organizations have best internalized the lessons from BIG and Evil Geniuses’ successful adaptations.
Action Checklist
- Analyze team-specific map win rates across different tournament formats to identify adaptation patterns
- Review coaching staff changes and their correlation with performance improvements
- Monitor roster stability versus performance consistency across 3-month periods
- Track organizational communication transparency and its impact on fan engagement and performance
- Compare individual player performance metrics between LAN and online environments
No reproduction without permission:Game Guides Online » BIG claims top spot in latest CSGO world rankings, Na’Vi falls How CSGO's online era reshaped competitive rankings with rising teams and falling giants
