Upsets and Ambiguity in Counter-Strike
In the world of Counter-Strike, upsets and ambiguity are nothing new. Teams that were once considered to be world-beaters can often fall to underdogs in the semifinals or finals. Even strong rosters like NiP or Astralis can struggle to achieve the expected results. In the last three months, the absence of the top SK Gaming roster and the inconsistent performance of other top teams have made professional play highly unpredictable. This period can easily be called “The Uncertainty Era.”
Formerly Defined Dynasties
In Counter-Strike, eras are typically defined by the most successful team at the time. In Global Offensive, Ninjas in Pyjamas dominated the scene for almost two years, with an incredible 87 map win-streak. However, their dominance started to fade in late 2013, when their longtime rival, VeryGames, looked poised to overtake them. From then on, a series of tournament victories by LDLC and Fnatic would lead to a new era of leadership in the scene.
Fnatic would go on to dominate in late 2015 and early 2016, with challenges from Na’Vi and Luminosity. However, Luminosity’s victories in MLG Columbus and ESL One Cologne 2016 would dethrone Fnatic as the top team. Yet, in the last three months, SK has struggled to maintain their position, leading to increased uncertainty in the scene.
Other Opacities
The lack of a single dominant team is just one factor contributing to the recent uncertainty in Counter-Strike. The inconsistent results of other top contenders, like Virtus.pro, Na’Vi, and NiP, as well as the disintegration or reconstruction of competitive teams, have added to this opacity. Virtus.pro, in particular, has shown both impressive and disappointing performances, while Na’Vi has been inconsistent since making roster changes.
Other teams, like NiP, Cloud9, Mousesports, Dignitas, G2, Immortals, and EnVyUs, have also had mixed results and have not been able to consistently place high in tournaments.
This prolonged period of uncertainty can be attributed to several factors, including roster changes and the controversial coaching rule change implemented by Valve. The emergence of high-level Brazilian and Asian teams has also increased the unpredictability of results.
In the coming months, the identity of this era will become clearer. If SK fails to reclaim their dominance and the inconsistency of other emerging contenders continues, the uncertainty seen in the second half of 2016 may define this era of Counter-Strike.
What do you think defines this era of Counter-Strike? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter @GAMURScom.
For feedback, you can find me on Twitter @WallabeeBeatle.
Photo credit: Valve’s YouTube