The Evolution of Counter-Strike’s Elite Teams in 2024
Counter-Strike remains a cornerstone of esports, maintaining its position as one of the most watched competitive games globally. The 2024 season brought significant shifts in team dynamics and viewer preferences, with both established organizations and rising stars making their mark on the competitive landscape.
5. Team Vitality: Consistent Force
Despite being relatively new to the scene, having entered in 2018, Team Vitality has established itself as a formidable presence in professional Counter-Strike. Led by the exceptional Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut, the team demonstrated remarkable consistency throughout 2024, regularly securing top positions in major tournaments. Their victory at IEM Cologne 2024 stands as their most notable achievement of the year. Though an early elimination at IEM Katowice somewhat tempered their overall performance.
4. Team Spirit: The Rising Phoenix
Team Spirit’s trajectory in 2024 was nothing short of meteoric, largely due to the emergence of Danil “donk” Kryshkovets. After joining in mid-2023, donk’s impact reached its peak at IEM Katowice 2024. Where his extraordinary 1.70 HLTV rating helped secure the team’s first major victory. Their crowning achievement came at the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024, where donk set records as both the youngest Major MVP and the highest-rated MVP in Counter-Strike history.
3. FaZe Clan: Resilient Veterans
Under the seasoned leadership of Finn “karrigan” Andersen, FaZe Clan maintained their status as elite competitors despite organizational challenges. While their tournament victories were limited to IEM Chengdu, their impressive Major performances, reaching finals in both Copenhagen and Shanghai, demonstrated their continued excellence at the highest level of competition.
2. G2 Esports: Dynamic Evolution
G2 Esports demonstrated remarkable adaptability throughout 2024, successfully maintaining their competitive edge despite roster changes. The team’s global appeal was bolstered by stellar performances from Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov, widely regarded as the scene’s premier AWPer, and Nikola “NiKo” Kovac in his final year with the organization. Their consistent tournament results, including deep runs in both Majors and second place at the Esports World Cup, solidified their position among the most-watched teams.
1. Natus Vincere: Redefining Excellence
NAVI’s 2024 campaign definitively proved their excellence extends beyond individual talent. In their first full year without Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyljev, the team achieved unprecedented success under the leadership of coach Andrij “B1ad3” Ghorodensjkyj and captain Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen. Their victory at PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 kicked off an impressive streak, with the team securing top-two finishes in six out of seven tournaments during the middle of the year. Notable victories included the Esports World Cup and ESL Pro League Season 20, cementing their position as the most-watched Counter-Strike team globally.
The competitive landscape heading into 2025 appears increasingly dynamic, with the viewership gap between the top teams narrowing, suggesting an exciting year ahead for Counter-Strike esports.
