Throughout the year, professional teams engage in numerous CS2 matches. Valve utilizes the results of these matches to ease the burden on participants and simplify the Major qualification process to determine teams deserving of invitations to the latter stages of qualifiers, called RMRs. Valve's primary goal in forming regional leaderboards is to create an accurate team ranking system in CS2 that is challenging to abuse and doesn’t prioritize teams that are partners of tournament organizers. The process of forming Valve's team ranking must be highly transparent.
Overview of Valve Rating System in CS2
Valve employs regional CS2 leaderboards to issue invites to upcoming tournaments. The developers have kept the formula for creating their team ranking secret, however, a company representative has disclosed factors influencing a team's position in the leaderboard:
- Prize money earned;
- Prizes earned by opponents the team defeated and the number of defeated teams;
- Head-to-head results.
Valve team ranking is updated weekly. Developers analyze events and matches from the past week, adjusting the leaderboards.
Top teams in Valve Ranking for CS2
On Valve’s regional CS2 leaderboards, you will find the winners of the most prestigious tournaments in the discipline, such as IEM Katowice, ESL Pro League, CS2 Majors, IEM Cologne, and BLAST PremierWorld Final. These events play a crucial role in shaping Valve’s Team Ranking inCS2. However, winning one of these tournaments doesn't guarantee a high position in the leaderboards. To be at the top, teams must demonstrate consistent performance throughout the season.
Dynamic changes in Valve CS2 Ranking
Valve’s Team Ranking system in CS2 is highly dynamic. The more matches and tournaments a team plays, the higher its position in the leaderboards. Consequently, the less a team performs on the professional scene, the lower its position. The introduction of Valve’s Team Ranking has added extra pressure on esports athletes, as a break from tournaments can significantly decrease their chances of making it to the Major in CS2. Pro players and teams need to learn how to make the most of official breaks from competitions to sustain such a high gaming pace.
The relationship between tournaments and Valve rankings
The prize pool of championships a team participates in plays a crucial role in Valve’s ranking system for CS2. The larger the prize pool, the more points a team will receive for tournament participation. Thus, the world's best clubs can use A-tier events to strengthen their positions in Valve CS2 leaderboards. However, the system is designed to undervalue the results of low-level teams and overvalue them at the highest level.
How teams can improve their position in the rating
To enhance their position on Valve CS2 leaderboards, teams need a stable roster and participation in all available tournaments. Of course, poor performances won't change a team’s position in the ranking, so considerable effort is required for victories. Mediocre results in prestigious competitions can be compensated for by winning lower-ranked events. Some teams take advantage of this and have already established themselves as leaders in their regions.
Prospects of Valve Ranking in CS2
Valve representatives are content with the current Team Ranking system in CS2. Therefore, no major changes are expected. Developers consider the formula, marked as "secret", as the standard for determining the best CS2 teams.
Thus, Valve’s Team Ranking is a crucial aspect of CS2 that cannot be ignored. Ambitious organizations should thoroughly study the system to increase their chances of making it to the CS2 Major. The introduction of the Ranking will also change the ecosystem of A-tier competitions, as the world's best teams will ignore them less. Keep an eye on changes to Valve’s CS2 leaderboards on Bo3.gg!
