Every year, cybersports attracts more and more attention and fans. The rapid growth of this industry has a lot to do with how cybersport rankings reflect the success of teams and players. High rankings open the door to major tournaments, contracts, and fan recognition. In a world where rankings influence tournament placements and determine a team’s reputation, understanding how they work becomes a crucial aspect for beginners and professionals alike.
How do rankings work in eSports and why are they so important?
Cybersport rankings are formed based on a variety of factors that include:
- A team’s results in tournaments: teams that win major tournaments, such as The International, receive a huge amount of points. For example, winning The International 2023 earned Team Spirit 3,000 ranking points.
- Stability of play: Natus Vincere, for example, have shown consistent results over the past few years, which has helped them to maintain a high ranking. Not only victories are taken into account, but also stable top-3 rankings at tournaments.
- Quality of opponents: victories over strong opponents, such as OG or G2 Esports, are rated higher, which significantly affects the overall rating.
These metrics help to objectively assess the level of a team and its ability to compete on the international stage. In 2024, team rankings in eSports continue to determine who gets invited to the biggest tournaments, such as The International for Dota 2 or PGL Major for CS:GO.
How do rankings in eSports work?
The algorithms used to compile cybersport rankings involve complex mathematical models and the consideration of past match statistics. Most systems take into account not only the number of wins, but also how confidently these results were achieved. For example, the HLTV system takes into account parameters such as the K/D ratio (kill to death ratio) of players, the team’s form in the current season, and achievements at major tournaments. This allows you to more accurately identify the strongest teams and provide an objective picture of their capabilities.
How do cyber sports rankings affect the popularity and success of teams?
Cybersports rankings don’t just capture success – they help shape it. Let’s look at a few examples:
- Natus Vincere (Na’Vi): the Ukrainian team topped the HLTV rankings in 2023, which earned them an invitation to the most prestigious tournaments such as IEM Cologne. The high ranking helped attract top sponsors such as Logitech and Monster Energy, and strengthened the team’s popularity among fans around the world.
- Team Spirit: success at The International and their stable position in the world rankings were key to their invitation to the biggest tournaments of 2024. This has brought the team additional financial resources, around $10 million in prize money, and improved their training process, including hiring world-class coaches.
A high ranking opens doors to major competitions and attracts fan attention, which in turn affects the team’s reputation and financial success.
How do rankings determine the future of cybersport organisations?
High positions in the rankings allow teams to sign lucrative contracts with well-known brands. For example, Team Liquid is consistently in the top 10 of the world rankings, making them attractive to sponsors such as Alienware and Monster Energy.
Rankings also shape expectations from audiences and investors. The teams at the top are held accountable for their performance, as not only their status but also their financial position depends on it. For example, a sponsorship deal with Red Bull allowed OG to increase their training budget by 25 per cent in 2024, which has had a direct impact on their success.
Why do we need rankings in cybersport and who do they benefit?
Cybersport rankings play a key role not only for teams, but also for fans. Here’s how they affect different groups:
- Fans: rankings allow fans to better navigate the world of eSports. For example, Na’Vi fans can follow their progression and know that their team is ranked number one at the moment.
- Tournament organisers: use rankings to invite the best teams, which increases interest in the events and increases the number of spectators. A high team rating is a guarantee of quality play and entertaining matches.
- Players: For cybersports players themselves, rankings become a source of motivation. Players strive to improve their results in order to rise higher and get to the biggest tournaments. For example, Fnatic players, after a series of failures in 2023, focused on strengthening their teamwork, which allowed them to return to the top 5 of the world rankings.
The best players in eSports according to the 2024 rankings
Cybersport rankings are not only about teams, but individual players as well. In 2024, among the best stand out:
- s1mple (Na’Vi): continues to hold the position of one of the best CS:GO players. His individual rating is 1.32, which is one of the highest in the world. The number of MVPs at tournaments such as IEM Cologne 2024 makes him the undisputed leader.
- Collapse (Team Spirit): one of the strongest offliners in Dota 2, who consistently ranks high due to his skills and key role in the team’s success. In 2024, his rating reached 9.8 out of a possible 10 according to GosuGamers, strengthening Team Spirit’s position in the world rankings.
Conclusion
Cybersport rankings play a huge role in modern cybersports. They not only evaluate the success of teams and players, but also influence their future. High positions in the rankings open doors to new opportunities, contracts and participation in the most prestigious tournaments. Thus, cybersport remains a dynamic and fast-paced industry where every match and every ranking counts.
Tips for aspiring cybersports players:
- Keep an eye on the rankings: understanding the system will help you better navigate the cybersport ecosystem.
- Train steadily: rankings depend not only on wins, but also on stability. Constant training and participation in tournaments will help you climb higher.
- Strive for the best: high rankings are not only about recognition, but also opportunities. Striving to get to the top of the rankings opens the way to cybersport fame and financial independence.
Each team uses an individual system. Some build their success on stability, others on innovation. The strongest e-sports teams are not characterised by a single game, but by structure, discipline and a versatile approach.
The era of random success is over. Long-term results depend on structure, not streaks of luck. The strongest e-sports teams demonstrate a systematic approach: training processes, discipline, mental stability, strategic flexibility.