Valve release Major-deciding ranking update

7-4-2025 19:14

The teams set to receive invites to the BLAST.tv Austin Major and regional MRQs are now known.

Update: BLAST confirm invites, no ATOX

BLAST have released a post unveiling the invitations sent out to teams for the Major Regional Qualifiers and the Major itself.

The only team skipped compared to the invites outlined below are ATOX, who have been handed a provisional suspension from ESIC and have likely been banned from participating at the Major as well. Gods Reign were the next team in line in the region.

Valve has released the all-important April 7 Regional Standings adjustment, which is set to dictate invites for the BLAST.tv Austin Major and all regional MRQ tournaments.

The latest update has officially confirmed the 16 teams granted direct invitations to the Major. Six European lineups, namely Vitality, MOUZ, Spirit, Aurora, Natus Vincere, and G2 will all enter the competition in Stage 3, meaning they will skip the first two Swiss system stages.

Liquid (Americas) and The MongolZ (Asia) will also enter Stage 3 after securing the only direct invites in their respective regions.

Stage 3

A further eight teams will enter the competition in Stage 2. The European contingent consists of Falcons — who are expected to play the Major with Ilya "⁠m0NESY⁠" Osipov — FaZe, 3DMAX, and Virtus.pro.

Media: m0NESY set to join Falcons in blockbuster move

Joining the quartet will be paiN, FURIA, MIBR, and M80 from the Americas regional ranking.

Stage 2

The rest of the Major spots will be decided via the six regional MRQ tournaments. The European event will be the largest with 16 attendees and is set to be played from April 14-17, while the other five regions' events will be played from April 15-17.

Astralis are the highest-ranked team in attendance in Europe, which is set to award six Major spots, with the likes of GamerLegion, HEROIC, and BIG also among the favorites to go through.

Dzhami "⁠Jame⁠" Ali's PARIVISION also made the cut, as did ENCE and Metizport, who barely squeaked into the event by a couple of ranking points.

Europe MRQ

The Americas region has been split into SA and NA MRQs due to the tournament being held online. Each event will award three Major spots, with the team lists being as follows:

South America MRQ

North America MRQ

The Asian region has been split into three different regions to avoid serious ping issues. The Chinese MRQ will award two spots due to having the highest-ranked team, with the Oceania and Asia MRQ set to award one each.

The team lists are as follows:

China MRQ

Oceania MRQ

Asia MRQ

The aforemenitoned team lists are done without teams expected to be skipped, namely FURIA fe and NAVI Junior, due to Valve's rule of not allowing more than one entry per organization, as well as ATOX, who are provisionally suspended by ESIC.

Good for all of them :)

2025-04-07 19:15

171

11 replies

Apogee robbed

2025-04-07 19:18

9 replies

Not robbed. They didn’t discover radar until recently so they didn’t have enough time to pick up points. Maybe they will learn from this mistake for next MRQ.

2025-04-07 19:20

135

7 replies

ofc radar on T1 tournament. meds

2025-04-07 19:22

204

Against Mongolz they also used radar?

2025-04-07 19:23

3 replies

Obviously. We saw how they played against FURIA. And Valve still don’t care because they invite ATOX and SemperFi.

2025-04-07 19:27

2 replies

Can confirm, I was the radar

2025-04-07 20:00

meds

2025-04-07 20:45

#DreamOG

ademar still crying rent free

2025-04-07 21:06

By 500’s radar…

you literally have cheaters in the mrq tournament, which is held ONLINE, thats fucking crazy.

2025-04-08 11:25

liquid in the main stage is a joke

166

26 replies

Abusing americas withut being an american team hatewatch for me even more than falcons

2025-04-07 19:16

12 replies

cry is free

2025-04-07 19:29

1 reply

naf .5 is freeest

2025-04-07 20:37

Ohne isn't involved with them so it's allowed apparently.

2025-04-07 19:39

8 replies

Completely different situations

2025-04-08 02:26

For sure, 2 NA and playing from America's spots, completely different. Flair btw.

2025-04-08 08:07

6 replies

if that's what you think then you literally have no idea what you're talking about lmao, but seriously though, good attempt

2025-04-08 13:23

5 replies

Are we counting Israel as Europe? That makes it even worse, 2 NA and 3 Europe, but Liquid gets America's spot.

2025-04-08 13:32

4 replies

clueless. let me break it down barney style for you. DRILLA's abused the region by subbing out the asian player for a european player after they already took the asia spot. they had 1 asian player at the RMR. they sucked, and despite having only having one asian player, still failed to reach the major. Liquid had 2 AM / 2 Asia / 1 European player. Israel is, in fact, part of Asia. According to VRS rules, a team will get the spot that gives them the deepest start in the Major. Since Liquid has 2 NA players, they are counted as an AM/EU team now (only one Asian player means they are no longer NA/AS). They are the top ranked AM team, so that means they automatically get the AM spot in stage 3 at the major. This is all according to Valve rules, there is no abuse other than the fact that liquid has built the roster in such a way that they are considered an AM/EU team (as of now with Siuhy). As you can see, these two situations (DRILLAS vs Liquid) are vastly different. Let me know if I need to break it down where a five year old would be able to understand.

2025-04-08 13:39

So drillas had 2 Asia players and played in Asia qualifiers. And Liquid have 2 Americas players and take the Americas spot.

2025-04-08 13:44

Can you not read? DRILLAS had two Asia players in order to qualify for the Asia RMR, then dropped the second Asia player for a European player. Holy fucking reading comprehension. You clearly have no idea what you're talking about, so why make a snide comment in the first place?

2025-04-08 13:49

They had 3 Asia players and when one was dropped they ended up with 2.

2025-04-08 14:03

but they arent a european team either

2025-04-08 03:07

They did reach top 8 last major, to get that spot for NA. So 100% fair they now get that spot.

Check who they played to get to top 8 last major. basically played another NA RMR to get to playoffs and lost to every good team they faced

2025-04-07 19:25

The alternative is that MIBR or FURIA would have gone to the playoff stage instead and I don't see how they deserve it more than Liquid did...

2025-04-07 19:31

Does just not matter, they made it top 8 at the major and got the 1 spot into stage 3. Just like the mongolz, they also now have their spot in stage 3 and extra spots for asia. Meanwhile EU did not make 8/8 teams in top 8 at the major, so they also now dont get all the 8 spots in stage 3. Its very simple. I like the system because if EU is just so much better and sometimes get all 8 teams in top 8, then next major EU will then get all the 8 spots in stage 3. But then also the other way around.

2025-04-07 19:37

After robbing Asia they now robbing NA spot. gg

As far as I am aware Liquid never took an Asian spot. What makes you say this?

2025-04-07 19:32

he's talking about the rumour liquid was gonna take the asian spot for BLAST lisbon that hltv reported on. But they never ended up taking it lol

2025-04-07 20:20

I figured as much, but wanted to clarify.

2025-04-07 20:59

When have liquid ever taken an Asian spot? Their NA rank has always been higher. And even if they surpassed mongolz, they wouldn't have a choice in the matter. And with jks benched it's not even an issue.

2025-04-07 19:40

Liquid is still #1 in NA in ranking. Like it or not.

2025-04-07 19:34

as a Liquid fan yep - they DON’T deserve it at all

2025-04-07 22:43

How's that a joke? They are #1 in America's. That's how it works bud.

2025-04-08 00:15

really shows the level NA cs has when liquid is your best team

2025-04-08 11:10

ez for metizport

cg Metizport after all marathons in tier 2

Ence got to MRQ, wp wp now time to get to stage 2

Sick sneak

2025-04-07 19:43

LV and Tyloo will qualify to the major, mark my words

LV and Rare Atom***

I'd put my bets on RA and Tyloo

2025-04-07 19:44

Lynn vision is so trash rn with their current roster... Also bad comms from their EPL scene

I hope Dogevil makes it cause their logo looks like a chill guy.

These Chinese teams know each other very well(including DOG EVIL),so it's hard to say,but I would put it on TYLOO&RA

2025-04-07 20:17

Valve can dab on all the haters that doubted it People need to trust the process, they obviously weren't going to have a perfect system to start off. Good on them for the incremental improvements

That opinion is too nuanced bro. Every single mistake must hold the weight of the world and Valve should be brutally admonished every time there's a minor issue with the system

Tyloo + Rare atom stickers VAMOS.

tyloo + lv

2025-04-07 19:21

It will be a fight for sure, but I'm glad that it's two Chinese spots at least.

2025-04-07 19:33

it would be a crime if any other region would get two spot, I'm sure that if it would be a lan then lv, tyloo and rare atom all of them would qualify

2025-04-07 19:36

Agreed

2025-04-07 19:51

Liquid sneak

EzforAURORA

EZ4ETERNALAURORA

2025-04-08 11:39

#GOPARI LFG

Mongolian presence

Atox???

2025-04-07 19:17

Yeah I found that odd that they announced them when they're currently serving a temp ban.

probably -atox.

CNCS!

mtc wodingsinigeguoba

MTC W

2025-04-07 20:55

sad for apogee

they get to win Bucharest as a consolation prize

it s sucks bc even if they get 1-2 more upset wins and end up beeing #20 in VRS, they ll not get any more invites this season, and ll drop down before next season (and propably would not be enough for colonge play-ins) PGL Astana would be better at this point for them, but it is how it is... at least ll get invites for t3 tournaments

2025-04-07 22:44

if they're good, they'll keep winning wherever they play and get into the circuit next season

2025-04-07 22:45

Astralis will miss 5th major in a row 🔥🔥🔥

THIS

2025-04-07 19:47

predicted

2025-04-17 20:20

GIVE US SAW🤡

they would demolish OG. OG can´t even beat academy´s teams, finished org

SAW org so finished they forgot the reason they joined the scene and went international.

2025-04-07 19:35

still better than Redbull worst nightmare in OG

0/8 Redbull can just stop sponsoring OG if that’s the case

2025-04-07 19:38

Doubting Ademar? funny…

2025-04-07 19:48

ATOX still in despite the ESIC investigation and the removal from Blast Lisbon?

Valve knows that ESIC is a joke so they don't care.

They aren't officially banned by Valve at this point, but I don't know if that will change before the MRQ starts.

Yeah, I get that. I'm just surprised given that Austin's TO is Blast who just banned them from Lisbon. I tried to have some logic of mine, I guess I was wrong!

2025-04-07 20:19

ESIC put them under a "provisional suspension", meaning the suspension can still be lifted until the Major. However, it wouldn't have been lifted until Lisbon, so they got kicked out of that one

2025-04-07 20:56

Oooh, I see, the difference is in the timing, not the suspension itself, got it. Thanks for the clarification, man!

2025-04-08 10:56

They still not banned in valve tournament

2025-04-07 19:28

China number one!!! JamYoung stickers!!!

Liquid in Stage 3. What a joke...

2025-04-07 19:19

Good news for China CS fans

wonder if atox suspension will bar them from playing

it won't sadly

2025-04-07 19:30

A bit sad for astralis but they only have themselves to blame.

free major for 500

Why is atox there

They said sorry

let's go ef i mean aurorararararara

Navi Jr robbed

Kick ATOX, and add Delta please)

2025-04-07 19:24

M80 wwwww

Ez4Ence

M80 finally on the Major but old logo was better eh

2025-04-07 19:26

EZ4COL

with Falcons Stickers confirmed there is gonna be a HUGE new sticker craft potential: Falcons + Rainbow Route! Lets Go!

I thought Europe MRQ is 6 spots, not 8.

It is. "Astralis are the highest-ranked team in attendance in Europe, which is set to award six Major spots, with the likes of GamerLegion, HEROIC, and BIG also among the favorites to go through."

so there's less chances for Astralis to qualify, yippie

W Valve letting play Atox than DOGS REIGN TY VALVE

There still is no statement from Valve on this matter. So they could still get banned...

Lets go 9Pandas and ATOX!

LETS GO M80!!

lets gooooooo Metiz

Lets go Navi

ATOX?

why is ATOX there?

Hopefully tyloo and lynn vision

ATOX is not supposed to be here

Nice, metiz are in!! Also Liquid stage 3 xddddd

How come that Metiz made it and JS didn't?

2025-04-07 19:45

JS has no Vrs because they changed 3 players.

2025-04-07 19:49

Stage 2 aka the Fraud Stage.

why do they invite teams to the main stage? why are we going backwards? no team earn their spot anymore, so sad....

because we dont want to see blast paris all over again

I understand some people are against competitiveness and just want to see the big names. Thats why cs will always be stagnant in the same place

2025-04-07 20:01

That's the point of an open circuit... you get rewarded for your consistency if you are good. They qualified through their rankings. It would be laughable if prime Tiger Woods (golf) or Roger Federer (tennis) had to qualify to go through a qualifier in order to play in their Major tournaments. They are above that grind due to them being ranked at or near the top. Their grind is just placing well at big events they were invited to.. at least until they stop placing well and fall out of that invite ranking. One big issue is that unlike those 2 sports CS is a team game and because of roster changes the rankings will always be even more subjective than they may already be.

2025-04-08 01:30

teams earn their spots by being consistent for months not by lucky fluke runs with bo1s. new system is good

2025-04-07 20:14

apogee robbed

happy for M80, they deserved this major

Nice go Metizport.

2025-04-07 19:50

Good luck to all teams at the major and MRQ

2025-04-07 19:52

Ez for team of moggers!

2025-04-07 19:55

Good luck Bestia in MRQ

2025-04-07 19:56

regali sticker, i can't wait.

2025-04-07 19:59

At least half of the qualified teams are going straight to El Salvadoran prison. I'd buy 100% USA futures so NOUNS and Marsborne it is.

2025-04-07 20:06

Happy for 3DMAX, it’s really deserved with their recent performances

2025-04-07 20:07

Astralis missanother major? fingers crossed

2025-04-07 20:10

happy for m80, finally got there

2025-04-07 20:25

Wish the MRQs were on LAN

Apogee Robbed Unluko

2025-04-07 20:40

So the "rest of asia" spots all went to Mongolia huh?

2025-04-07 20:42

enjoy t3 online apogee

2025-04-07 20:49

2025-04-07 20:51

semperfi to major!!

2025-04-07 20:53

Can someone post the link to the ranking? I want to see why Might's been invited when they're below LFO 4, Vagrants, and PA in the hltv calculation

2025-04-07 21:04

github.com/ValveSoftware/counter-strike_..

2025-04-07 22:01

Thank you. Any idea what Might did to get so many points? Or why LFO fell so far down?

2025-04-07 22:03

they got points from hltv.org/events/8420/pgl-astana-2025-nor.. and hltv.org/events/8403/fragadelphia-block-..

2025-04-07 23:03

thanks. Man LANs are valued way too much. Might aren't even in ECL and they're getting invited to the MRQ over teams fighting for playoffs in ECL. Though if PA didn't disband they'd probably be there instead.

2025-04-07 23:32

yep, even tho it looks bad, I think it's a good thing LANs are valued a lot, it means TOs will have to start organizing some local LANs and that's great for CS

2025-04-07 23:38

hltv.org/valve-ranking/teams/2025/april/.. Valve ranking is broken

2025-04-07 23:37

the link you sent is a "live" ranking, including tournaments still being played, such as ECL or any other in progress tournaments, this is the real one hltv.org/valve-ranking/teams/major/Ameri..

2025-04-07 23:40

This rule of counting points only after the tournament ends is a joke, the teams have already played almost 30 games in the ESL Challenger League and the points are not counting towards the Major ranking because the championship has not yet ended.

2025-04-07 23:44

I think the rule makes sense, what doesn't make sense is ECL format, they should make smaller tournaments like CCT instead of a long one like they do now

2025-04-08 02:02