Welcome to “Clootch Unwraps 2016”
Welcome to “Clootch Unwraps 2016,” a series where I recap and highlight the best moments of the year in CS:GO. In this article, I’ll be focusing on the most improved teams of 2016. These teams have made significant progress and are now considered some of the best in the world.
Dignitas
Ah, Dignitas. This Danish team has always shown potential but struggled to consistently perform at a high level. However, things have turned around for them this year. They have become one of the best teams in the world, even winning EPICENTER, a tournament where they were considered the underdogs.
At the beginning of the year, Dignitas made some changes to their lineup. They said goodbye to Kjaerbye and tenzki and brought in cajunb and Magiskb0y instead. These additions have had a significant impact on the team’s performance, bringing much-needed consistency.
September was a particularly strong month for Dignitas. They reached the semifinals in two consecutive international tournaments, Dreamhack Open Bucharest and StarLadder Series 2 Finals. This showed that they were capable of competing at a high level and had truly improved.
Dignitas continued their winning streak at EPICENTER in October. Despite facing tough competition, they managed to defeat top teams like Na’Vi and Virtus.pro, solidifying their position as a top team in the world.
Virtus.pro
Virtus.pro has shown significant improvement over the past year, despite making no major roster changes. They started the year off in a bit of a slump but quickly turned things around.
The turning point for Virtus.pro was their win at ELEAGUE Season 1. This tournament reignited their winning ways and brought them back to the forefront of the CS:GO scene.
They continued to prove their dominance at Dreamhack Bucharest, where they defeated Cloud9 and Dignitas. This victory showcased their winning mentality and solidified their place as a top team.
New York was another highlight for Virtus.pro. They defeated SK Gaming in the semifinals of the tournament and showcased some incredible gameplay, including an impressive pistol round clutch by Snax. While they didn’t win the tournament, their performance was a testament to their improvement.
Cloud9
Cloud9 is another team that has seen tremendous improvement this year. At the start of the year, they were not considered one of the top teams in the world, but they quickly turned things around.
The addition of Stewie2k and autimatic to the Cloud9 roster played a significant role in their improvement. These young talents helped the team achieve great results and were crucial in their big international wins throughout the year.
One of their standout performances was at the ESL Pro League Season 4 Finals, where autimatic picked up an impressive 70 kills in the finals against SK Gaming. This victory showcased their ability to challenge top teams on an international level.
Cloud9’s transformation from an average NA team to a team that can compete with the best in the world is nothing short of impressive.
Luminosity Gaming/SK Gaming
While it may seem strange to consider Luminosity Gaming/SK Gaming as one of the most improved teams, they have shown significant growth this year. They started the year off strong but were not yet considered the dominant force they are today.
The addition of fnx, TACO, and coach zews played a major role in their improvement. With this lineup, they made history and became the best in the world.
Luminosity Gaming had a strong start to the year, reaching the semifinals of prestigious tournaments like Starseries Season 14 and Dreamhack Leipzig. However, their breakthrough came at MLG Columbus, where they claimed their first Major title and solidified their position as world champions.
ESL One Cologne was another major win for Luminosity Gaming/SK Gaming. They proved themselves as the best in the world by claiming their second Major of the year.
Honorable Mention – OpTic Gaming
OpTic Gaming has steadily improved throughout the year, putting up solid results at offline events. While they may not have won many prestigious tournaments, their consistent improvement has not gone unnoticed.
The addition of tarik to the roster has helped the team challenge stronger international competition. They have steadily improved as a team and deserve recognition for their progress.
So, who do you think has improved the most in CS:GO this year? Let us know your thoughts!