2023 is set to be one of the best years for competitive CS:GO. For the first time in eons, there doesn’t seem to be a clear favorite at the start of the season, with numerous teams looking to snatch the top spot. Vitality, Faze, G2, Team Liquid, Heroic, and NaVi all seem like title threats in the right conditions. The stage is set for a year of contenders going head-to-head to claim the counter strike throne. The playing field could not be more equal at the start of the 2023 tournament season.
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| NiKo (right center) lifting the Katowice trophy with his cousin huNter-(left center). |
With Katowice coming to a close, G2 have finally lifted the prestigious trophy that had been eluding them for years. Fourth time’s the charm for
NiKo, the man who had previously lost 3 grand finals on the same stage. Justin Savage, known under the in-game alias
jks, became the first player to lift the trophy in back-to-back years with different rosters. The man in question was a sub for Faze Clan in their 2022 tournament run, playing a pivotal role in their eventual tournament victory. Ironically, the team they beat in the final that year happened to be G2, making the victory in 2023 that much more deserved.
The current ongoing event, ESL Pro League Season 17, will be a litmus test to see if G2 can maintain their form from Katowice and build upon their success. If they fail to do so, other teams are lined up at their doorstep, looking to take their place as the best current roster.
Faze Clan, the best team of 2022 has had an uncharacteristically quiet start to the year, going out in the lower bracket final against Team liquid. Their captain and in game leader, Finn “Karrigan” Andersen, is bound to adapt from these early struggles and create a winning formula for the roster in their next LAN showing a couple of days from now. The CS:GO veteran is no stranger to facing adversity, having been on the losing side of some of the greatest matches in the history of the game. Despite this, Karrigan has always found his way to success, being the first in game leader to win a major with an international roster. Doing so at The PGL Antwerp Major in 2022. Counting Faze out would be a foolish move.
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| Karrigan at the Antwerp Major RMR. |
Next up, Vitality have recently been consistently improving their tournament results. The international project, featuring the ex-Astralis duo of dupreeh and Magisk, are mostly an unknown entity coming into the next season of pro league. The team has struggled with inconsistent results, finishing in the quarter finals of Katowice 2023. However, they have shown signs of excellence, when they won the previous season of pro league during the final months of 2022. On paper, the team is truly loaded with talent, featuring the Isreali rifling prodigy Spinx and the fierce AWPing extraordinaire ZywOo. Also, Vitality have a lot to play for, as spectators were previously exposed to what the team was actually capable of when playing at full capacity. A deep run in the tournament would signal a massive shift and set the French organization in the right direction, providing that everything goes according to their plan.
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| The current international roster of Vitality. |
The surprise team of 2022, Team Liquid are also looking to establish themselves in the new year. Having a respectable run in Katowice and coming in 2nd in the Blast Premier: World Finals 2022, the team is looking to make it over the final hurdle and finally lift a trophy. With the signing of Latvian wonderkid YEKINDAR in October 2022, the team have risen from mediocrity to contenders. Despite this, they have yet to win a LAN trophy with their new roster, with their last tournament victory being in 2019. The team has shown incredible improvement under the leadership of their new coach daps, elevating the stagnating team to potential dark horse candidates to win the entire tournament.
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| YEKINDAR and Nitr0 having a friendly debate. |
The last two rosters, Navi and Heroic are both powerhouse teams not to be underestimated. Heroic are coming off their most successful year in 2022, being major finalists in Rio and Blast Premier: Fall Finals 2022 champions. Casper Møller, known under the nickname CadiaN, is one of the best
in-game leaders in modern day counter strike. Having demonstrated his qualities with consistent top finishes, the Danish organization is on the hunt for more trophies to add to their cabinet in 2023.
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| CadiaN showing his signature intensity at the Blast Premier: Fall Finals. |
The same thing cannot be said about NaVi, a team that have seemingly lost their mojo since the abrupt departure of their in-game leader Boombl4 in the middle of 2022. The struggle to find solutions to their vacant IGL role has been futile so far, with only one tournament win since the event occurred. Their tournament placings have been on a downward trend with Viktor “sdy” Orudzhev being replaced by NaVi Junior prospect npl after just six months on the team. It is yet to be determined if this iteration of the team will be a success but jumping to conclusions would imprudent. Even a wounded animal still has its pride.
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| NaVi prospect npl pictured sitting next to s1mple (left). |
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