BIG Close In on Top 30 After United21 Esplay Challenge S1 Victory

BIG are rapidly climbing the CS2 world rankings, edging closer to the Valve Top 30 after winning United21 Esplay Challenge Season 1 and securing their second LAN trophy of 2026.

The German organization defeated HAVU 2–0 in the grand final in Norrköping, Sweden, a result that pushed them up to #31 in the global Valve Ranking System (VRS) — their highest position since the roster rebuild.

BIG’s United21 Esplay Challenge S1 Run

Despite a shaky start to the tournament, BIG quickly stabilized and finished the event in dominant fashion.

Opening match: Loss to Lilmix

Rest of the tournament: No maps dropped

Grand final: BIG 2–0 HAVU

The turnaround highlighted BIG’s growing structure and consistency, traits that have become increasingly visible since the arrival of blameF.

blameF Named MVP as BIG Stack VRS Points

Benjamin “blameF” Bremer was the standout player of the tournament and earned MVP honors after posting a 1.37 rating across the event.

The Danish rifler has immediately become the focal point of BIG’s system, combining individual firepower with in-game leadership — a key factor behind the team’s recent ranking surge.

Back-to-Back LAN Titles Fuel BIG’s Ranking Climb

BIG’s United21 win comes just one week after lifting the Roman Imperium Cup IV trophy in Portugal.

That event marked the team’s first major step in rebuilding their VRS position, as BIG climbed:

From #87 to #49 after Roman Imperium Cup IV

From #49 to #31 following United21 Esplay Challenge S1

Across both tournaments, BIG maximized ranked LAN value, a critical factor under the current Valve ranking system.

Rebuilt Roster Showing Early Results

BIG’s recent success follows a significant roster overhaul aimed at long-term stability and leadership.

Key moves included:

Signing blameF, previously of fnatic

Reuniting with faveN, completing the active lineup

Bringing back tiziaN as assistant coach

BIG management emphasized structure, accountability, and experience as core pillars of the new project — qualities that are already translating into results on LAN.

Tournament Impact Beyond BIG

The United21 Esplay Challenge S1 also had notable ranking implications for other teams:

HAVU climbed to #80 globally

Lilmix jumped 53 positions to #145

The event proved valuable across the European tier-2 scene, especially for teams actively chasing VRS qualification points.

What’s Next for BIG in CS2

With momentum firmly on their side, BIG are set to continue their VRS grind at CCT Season 3 Europe Series 13, aiming to break into the Top 30 ahead of upcoming Major qualification deadlines.

The long-term objective is clear: position BIG for direct invites and Major contention as the IEM Cologne 2026 Major ranking cutoff approaches.