After a rollercoaster of events in September, the HLTV CSGO Rankings are now changing once again. We are just starting to cool down from ESL One New York, BLAST Pro Series Istanbul, and of course, the London Major. We’ve had a plethora of events pass by us. However, now that we are reaching October, we have plenty to look forward to. We only have one significant move up the top five to speak of, but most of the teams are staying where they are. Let’s take a look at the creme of the crop of the CSGO world.
1. Astralis
The Astralis train has left the station and it looks like it has no plans of stopping any time soon. After a small hiccup at Dreamhack Masters Stockholm against North, the Danish juggernaut would continue their dominance over the Counter-Strike world. They would go through the London Major with ease by only dropping two games throughout the Challengers and Legends Stages. However, the playoffs would reveal a different kind of beast hiding within Astralis. They would not lose a single map throughout the playoffs. This showing was a kind of strength we have not seen in some time.
Their fruitful September would not even finish there either. The Danes would go straight into BLAST Pro Series Istanbul and dominate the competition once again. By plowing through the round-robin stage, they would book a trip to another Grand Finals where they would finish off MIBR in a tightly contested series. Astralis has been able to place in the top three of every CSGO event they’ve played since IEM Sydney. Also, they’ve won six events in the last nine they would participate in. It seems like they will be topping the world rankings for a while.
2. Natus Vincere
The CIS CSGO powerhouse has been, unfortunately, victim to multiple heartbreaking finishes this month. After their win at the ESL One Cologne, they would have a few disappointing finishes at the ELEAGUE Premier and Dreamhack Masters Stockholm. Many people were starting to doubt the dominance of Natus Vincere. However, they would then finish the London Major as runner-ups after losing to Astralis. It wasn’t the ending that Na’Vi was wishing for, but it was a good indicator of their strength as a team.
However, their recent performance at ESL One New York is a worrying sign for Na’Vi fans. It was an embarrassing display that has many people scratching their head, with two losses to Gambit Esports in the group stage. It is clear that although they are strong, Na’Vi still has some weaknesses that need to be addressed. They cannot rely on just the strength of their stars Aleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev and Denis “electronic” Sharipov anymore.
3. Team Liquid
Team Liquid just couldn’t catch a break this month. It must have been incredibly frustrating for Nick “nitr0” Cannella and co. to come so close to a championship, only for it to slip out of your hands. Many people still consider Team Liquid the best team in North America, and for good reason. Their perfect run through the CSGO London Major would hype critics and fans until their semifinals match against Astralis. Still, Liquid is making a mark on the Counter-Strike scene for NA and the world rankings.
ESL One New York was the perfect storm for North American CSGO teams. Huge favorites in Natus Vincere and FaZe Clan would exit early in the group stage. Both NRG Esports and Team Liquid were poised for a great playoff run. In fact, Team Liquid were the big favorites to win the whole thing once Na’Vi and FaZe were eliminated. Unfortunately, they would practically hand the ESL One trophy to Mousesports, after throwing away a lead late in the series-deciding map. Even still, Team Liquid is right at Natus Vincere’s heels for the number three spot.
4. Mousesports [⬆ 3]
Not many people would expect much of Mousesports after their lackluster performance at the London Major. Disappointing losses to MIBR, FaZe Clan and Ninjas in Pyjamas would leave a lot to be desired. There were reports of problems within the team, with Tomáš “oskar” Šťastný stating that there were communication issues within the team. It was looking like the addition of Janusz “Snax” Pogorzelski was bringing more harm than good for the European CSGO squad.
Suddenly, Mousesports would rise to the occasion at ESL One New York, just two weeks later, and end up jumping three spot in the world rankings. The communication issues that Oskar had mentioned did not seem to be apparent, as they would defeat Fnatic and Gambit with ease. Finally, they would show incredible perserverance against Team Liquid, even when their team would teeter at the edge of defeat. This win should be great for team morale, especially after their recent performances. The upcoming StarSeries should prove to be a good test of their newfound confidence.
5. MIBR [⬇ 1]
MIBR reenters the top five of the world rankings after dropping down to eight in August. The team is coming fresh off a second place finish at BLAST Pro Series Istanbul, where they would lose to Astralis in the Finals. Beforehand, they would have a deep run at the London Major, where they would make it all the way to the semifinals. Unfortunately, they would run headfirst into Natus Vincere, and get swept as a result. Still, their first Major with a new coach was a successful one.
Janko “YNk” Paunović and Tarik “tarik” Celik have helped MIBR find some decent results in the past month. No one can deny the improvements they have made throughout September, and if the trend continues, they should find themselves lifting more trophies soon. Their next confirmed events are BLAST Pro Series Copenhagen and IEM Chicago, so maybe they get their chance there.
What are your thoughts on the current CSGO World Rankings for October 1st? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! If you want more CSGO content, check us out here!
