We are so close to the 2018 FACEIT London Major, where the world’s best Counter-Strike teams will face off against each other. As the second Major of 2018, this will be one of the biggest CS:GO events of the year. There are many teams vying for international supremacy this time around. However, some top squads are looking for redemption, while others wish to solidify their status as the best in the world.
Travelling to the @ssearena, Wembley for the #FACEITMajor? 🇬🇧
🕒 Event timings
🎟️ Wristband collection
🚆 Travel information
🍎 Food & drink
🏟️ Seating layoutAnd more is all detailed in our event guide 👇https://t.co/Qqh470uAfw
— FACEIT (@FACEIT) August 29, 2018
If you aren’t caught up to the CS:GO scene, here’s a refresher on the top five teams to look out for at the 2018 FACEIT London Major. We’ve got a lot of familiar faces up at the apex of the competition. However, we do have a newcomer to the top of the mountain, which may surprise a few people. First, let’s take a look at the Dreamhack Masters champions, North.
5. North
Winter is here, and so is the North. This Danish team has come out of the shadows like a freight train. They have been playing very well as of late, and also boast a championship win at the recent Dreamhack Masters at Stockholm. At DHM, they would beat Natus Vincere, Mousesports, and Astralis, three top-tier teams in the world. North would show off some incredible team play, and some great individual prowess that they will be bringing to the FACEIT London Major this week.
Also, look for Mathias “MSL” Lauridsen to continue to step up for his team again. Even though he isn’t usually an AWPer for North, he would display surprising skill with the weapon. He would even outplay Astralis’ Nicolai “dev1ce” Reedtz, who many consider as one of the best AWPers in the world. We will see if the hype around North is warranted, or if people are jumping on the bandwagon too quickly. They take the fifth spot in the rankings for now, until they are able to prove themselves at the Major.
4. Mousesports
After the addition of Janusz ‘Snax‘ Pogorzelski, Mousesports has been a very consistent team. Also, they have kept a top-five position in the HLTV team rankings, with some great performances at several big events. Just recently, Mouz was able to get a semifinals finish at Dreamhack Masters. They would put up a good fight in Stockholm, even eliminating powerhouse FaZe Clan, who just barely missed the top five in our rankings.
Mousesports will need to rely on the veteran leadership of Chris “chrisJ” de Jong, as well as the firepower of their 18-year-old prodigy Robin “ropz” Kool and Snax. They must have another strong showing at the FACEIT London Major to keep their top five spot, or they risk dropping lower into the rankings come winter time.
3. Team Liquid
After the relative fall of Cloud9, Team Liquid may be the only chance for North America at any major events. They have had some strong finishes at big events like the 2018 ELEAGUE Premier, ECS Season 5, and ESL One Belo Horizonte. As a result, they look poised to make a big splash at the Major. Also, they are one of the only North American teams who have put up some good resistance against teams like Natus Vincere and MIBR.
Watch for the fiery fragging trio of Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken, Jonathan “EliGE” Jablonowski and Keith “NAF” Markovic to help kickstart their London Major. They have been playing so well together, and are living up to their nickname of “North American Astralis”. We will see if they can continue to utilize their calculated style of play to help win themselves a Major.
2. Na’Vi (Natus Vincere)
For the first time since the player break, Na’Vi is looking a bit weak heading into the Major. Before the break, they were on fire, winning StarSeries i-League Season 5, the 2018 CS:GO Asia Championship and ESL One Cologne. However, they would open up Dreamhack Masters with a loss to North American team, Ghost Gaming. They would also have to reverse sweep NRG and Ghost Gaming later on in the tournament. Finally, they would lose to eventual champions North, where they would end in sixth place.
It was a disappointing end for Na’Vi, but do not underestimate this CIS team. They still have some of the best teamplay in the tournament and are still one of the favorites to win the Major. Even though they had a few off games, we can expect them to push for a deep run. Also, superstar Aleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev and Denis “electronic” Sharipov are still playing very well. Therefore, Na’Vi is a huge threat for any team coming into the FACEIT London Major.
1. Astralis
Even though they are coming off of a crushing loss against their Danish brethren, Astralis is still the best team in the world. They have finished first in four of the last six events they have been in. No one denies their dominance this year, and with this loss at Dreamhack Masters, they will be more motivated than ever before. It is no question that their head coach, Danny “zonic” Sørensen will help buff out any kinks in their almost-unpenetrable armor.
Expect their star AWPer Nicolai “device” Reedtz to light some fireworks throughout the tournament. Also, expect some of the smartest Counter-Strike from one of the best technical teams in the world. We are excited to see how this team will confound and surprise their opponents once the FACEIT London Major rolls along.
What do you think of our top five teams at the FACEIT London Major? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below! If you want more Counter-Strike content, check us out here!
