With IEM XIII Chicago out of our way, it is time to concentrate on the 2 big tournaments still left to be played before the end of 2018. Of course, I am talking about none other than ESL Pro League Season 8 Finals and ECS Season 6 Finals. These 2 tournaments are carrying the entire CSGO competitive season’s weight on their shoulders as far as late 2018 is concerned. But after IEM XII Chicago showed us all of its cards, there are newly opened questions onboard. First off – Astralis didn’t look at their very best during their match against FaZe. Fnatic was also quite problematic but, as you all know, they managed to thread the needle and go through to the finals. Despite all that, their game showed weaknesses at times, leading us to think they might not get the Intel Grand Slam title they desperately crave for.

There is plenty of time for The Great Danes to properly prepare before the ESL Pro League Season 8 Finals which is their first of two remaining chances at winning the Intel Grand Slam. Need I remind you – Intel Grand Slam is a special prize ($1,000,000) that goes to the team which collects 4 victories in a span of 10 consecutive tournaments. Of course, only ESL and DreamHack Masters tournaments count here.

With all that being said, why don’t we start off with the betting side of the deal before moving to the actual matter at hand!

ECS Season 6 Finals Preview | Where to Place Bets?

As far as the bets are concerned, here’s a couple of great examples of what proper esports bookies need to look like:

ECS Season 6 Finals Preview | What Do We Know So Far?

This year, the second yearly installment of ECS Finals is coming in a bit early. Need I remind you, ECS Season 4 Finals lasted from 15th till 17th December 2017. This time around, ECS Season 6 Finals kick off on 22nd November and last all the way to the 25th. The tournament format has remained the same but probably has one simple change – the grand finals match will be played on the third day instead.

Talking about tournament format, here are the teams that have qualified for ECS Season 6 Finals through the regional qualifiers:

As you can see, there are 4 teams from Europe and 4 teams from North America. That’s practically the basis of ECS – that pure rivalry between these 2 regions is what fuels and motivates these players to win this marvelous CSGO event. Sure, there’s $660,000 on the line but pride beats all that in a second. Back to tournament format – ECS Season 6 Finals will kick things off with the group stage followed by the final stage – playoffs. The group stage will consist of 2 groups with 4 teams each. 2 from EU and 2 from NA, as simple as that. The best 2 teams advance through to the semifinals and then the grand finals afterward. It hasn’t been officially confirmed yet, but we can assume that all ECS Season 6 matches will be played as best of 3 series.

Which Teams Could Dominate ECS S6 Finals?

There always have to be numerous speculations before such big CSGO tournaments such as this one. Because of that, our ECS Season 6 Finals Preview will add a few as well. When talking about domination, the first thing that pops to everyone’s mind is definitely Astralis. However, lately, there are several other teams that are beginning to knock on Astralis’ door. However, 2 of them are not competing at ECS S6 Finals – NaVi and FaZe. With that said, I guess it will all come down to the 2 most dominant CSGO teams at the moment then – Astralis and Team Liquid. Yes, the grand finalists of IEM XIII Chicago. Here’s why:

Even though many will argue that Team Liquid is one of the most dominant CSGO teams at the moment, their recent matches are still looking outright spectacular.  With such an individually talented roster that still has an emphasis on team play, Team Liquid have proven themselves worthy of the big stage. The question now is – can they build on their IEM XIII Chicago performance and transition their form to ECS Season 6 Finals? Home turf advantage is in their favor and their star players definitely look to be ready for a spectacular performance.

Astralis is never out of the picture. They’ve been at a remarkable constant for quite some time now. Playing at the top levels usually takes a toll on the players but it seems as though such things don’t phase The Great Danes. Take IEM XIII Chicago as the perfect example. Everyone thought they were goners for sure after a terrible start on the third map of their semifinals match against Fnatic. But they managed to catch everyone by surprise and take the match to overtime with impressive utility-based plays. They are a difficult side to beat, unlike any other… But once again, FaZe has shown everyone how it’s done. Unfortunately, they couldn’t go past Team Liquid to display their prowess against Astralis one more time.

IEM XIII Chicago Short Recap | What Have We Learned?

Our ECS Season 6 Finals Preview just couldn’t cut it without a proper recap of IEM XIII Chicago. We should start off by saying that it was one of the best (if not the best) tournaments in the entire IEM series. Some would argue that’s an outright overstatement but I don’t really care… Those playoffs matches were absolutely sick, each in their own twisted little way. Especially that rollercoaster of a match between Fnatic and Astralis. If that thing didn’t make me bald, I doubt my wife will…

That brings me to the matter at hand – if there is one thing we’ve learned from IEM XIII Chicago, it’s that we’re going to have more than a fair share of dramatic matches. The drama was all over the place in Chicago and I don’t see why it can’t happen again in Arlington!

Welcome to our guide on the most popular CS:GO skins of 2018! I’ll be covering the five most popular CS:GO skins and explaining why they’re at the very top of the food chain at the moment. Owning a sleek skin for your AWP tells everyone you mean business! In other words, it means your skill level is through the roof. Why else would you have an expensive AWP skin, right? I mean, it couldn’t be random chance or anything.

Jokes aside, having an amazing and good-looking CS:GO skins makes the game experience a little bit better. Not from the mechanical side of the deal, of course – skins are purely cosmetic. Plus, if you’re a collector, grabbing every skin is a no-brainer.

Killing your enemy, tea-bagging him, and then showing off your named AWP is the very definition of casual CS:GO, don’t you agree? With that out of the way, I’m going to finish this introduction here and head straight to the list of the five most popular CS:GO skins of 2018!

Most Popular CS:GO Skins of 2018

According to Reddit and the online CS:GO community, these are five super-popular CS:GO skins at the moment. Things may change before Christmas, but a couple of these have been at the top of the food chain for a long time.

I’ll also talk about the cost of owning these skins (generally for every condition). I hope you find it as interesting as I do. So, without further ado, let’s kick things off with an old favorite!

#5 – AK-47 Redline

Sexy carbon fiber with crimson streaks. This thing is a classic. CS:GO veterans have known about this skin since 2014. People love it. It’s widely considered one of the best skins of 2014. The StatTrakTM version was also quite popular. Many veterans own it to this day. While novelty has worn off over the years, Redline is still a community favorite for the AK-47.

Best of all, AK-47 Redline isn’t expensive (compared to other skins) maintaining an average price of $10. In the past, Redline was constantly fluctuating because it made for a good trade item. At that time, the AK-47 Redline went as low as $5 but balanced out after Valve’s newest regulations.

The battle-scarred version isn’t as fancy. Some of the red is completely gone (defeating the purpose of calling it Redline). Personally, I do not recommend. The minimal wear option will set you back $35 which might seem like a lot at first, but not when you remember that knives are selling for thousands.

#4 – AK-47 Vulcan

A detailed-oriented skin with impeccable styling, the Vulcan also sports an intense paint scheme that’s a combination of ice white, grey, black and baby blue. The lines aren’t as clear-cut as on some other skins, but that was not the point behind this one. Overall, this thing looks like it came from the Mass Effect series.

AK-47 Vulcan was released in 2014 and its always been a volatile commodity. Believe it or not, Vulcan was among the first “slightly expensive“ AK-47 skins, with the field-tested condition coming in at $30.

The battle-scarred version is a waste, in all honesty, the flair is good, but the looks are outright atrocious. Factory new condition will set you back approximately $90. If you think that’s a lot of money, wait till we get to #1.

#3 – AWP Asiimov

Was your AWP missing that distinct District 9 flair? If so, the Asiimov skin has you covered because it’s one of the most recognizable CS:GO skin of all time. If you don’t have it, you hate dying it to. If you have it, you never let it go. It’s a never-ending cycle if you ask me, but I don’t have one, so maybe I’m just jealous. The fact is, when you see an AWP Asiimov in competitive play, you know it’s about to get real.

While the novelty wore off back in 2014, AWP Asiimov still deserves a place among the best-looking CS:GO skins. It’s not just the AWP of course; all the Asiimov weapons look dashing too. It runs in the family, some would say…

Unfortunately, you won’t be able to get this skin factory new or minimal wear; the best you’ll get is field-tested. While it will set you back $45, you’ll be looking sharp from every angle.

Even the battle-scarred version looks nice. It’s weathered but keeps its sense of style. You know what? I’ll say it. The battle-scarred AWP Asiimov looks hardcore.

#2 – M4A4 Howl

Sorry to say this, but if you don’t have a flaming wolf skull on the side of your M4A4, you’re probably a filthy casual. This is our first CS:GO skin worth more than $500. The M4A4 Howl is insanely good looking. The design is perfect, and the wolf looks badass. The design is themed around red and black, which makes it feel super intimidating and aggressive.

Here’s unpopular opinion – I actually like the field-tested condition better than the factory new. Don’t @ me.  

The field-tested version has some visible wear, and the colors are a bit washed out, but it feels raw. It feels alive. I don’t get that when looking at the factory new design.

In any case, the field-tested version costs just under $800 ($1800 for the StatTrakTM version) while the factory new one sits comfortably at $1,350. That’s a bit crazy, don’t you agree?

And now… the #1 most popular CS:GO skin in the world! Drumroll please…

#1 – AWP Dragon Lore

You know what the AWP needs? A Celtic dragon that looks like it swallowed a Roman candle. When you look at all the tiny details in this skin, you can really feel the love that went into designing it. The dragon is simply sublime. The tiny script in its flame breath is beautiful. Even the checker pattern is nothing short of brilliant. There’s nothing I don’t like about this skin… except for the price but we’ll get there in a minute.

Every version of this skin looks great, from the factory variant to the battle-scarred one. The latter is worn out, true, but it looks like speckled gold. This skin is a treat for the eyes.

AWP Dragon Lore starts at a staggering $1,850 for the factory new. The field tested variant is around $1,000. Battle-scarred can be yours for just $790 which is, by far, the best price the best Dragon Lore price you’re going to get.

AWP Dragon Lore is costly; there’s no denying that, but it could be the crown jewel of your CS:GO skins collection.

The CSGO competitive scene is filled with amazing teams that always put on a good show when they play. With that in mind, it’s safe to say there is no lack of talent in the top levels of competitive play. There are teams like Astralis who always seem to have an upper hand in matches, but there are also those who can potentially cause an upset. In the grand scheme of things, a lot of aspects go into play.

But what about the actual tournaments? Teams need a way to pit their skills against others. Well, CSGO has a rich history of tournament organization and, as we have seen in the past, they can be a real treat. Even better – the majority of them turn out to be real treats!

It’s that time of the year again! The last part of 2018 is upon us and it is only fitting we are greeted with some of the best tournaments on the CSGO esports calendar. Esports has never been as fun as it is now and I am sure we are in for years and years of great gaming. However, since we’re still in 2018, let’s take a closer look at some of the most important CSGO tournaments in late 2018. So, without further ado here is a little something about the most expected ones:

ESL Pro League Season 8 Finals

We are starting off with ESL Pro League Season 8 Finals – the biggest (arguably though) tournament that’s set to be played in late 2018. This is the one we’ve all been waiting for… Well, this one alongside ECS Season 6 finals! Both of these tournaments hold big figures and carry huge importance in the CSGO competitive scene.

Keep in mind though, at the time of writing this article only a small part of teams qualified for the grand finals’ spectacle. There are still many places to be filled – 4 EU teams, 2 NA teams, and 1 team from South America. All these spots will be taken in the next couple of days, right after the end of all regional ESL Pro League Season 8 qualifiers.

With all that being laid on the table, it’s time to roll up our sleeves and take a closer look at the grand finals’ tournament. Like I already said above, it’s going to be a proper gaming festival so let’s not beat around the bushes for much longer!

Quick Overview

ESL Pro League Season 8 Finals kick off 2 days before Saint Nicholas Day. In other words, it starts on Tuesday, December 4 and will last all the way to Sunday, December 9. With that said, we can expect a thrilling 5 days of CSGO at the very highest level. All 16 competing teams will have to battle it out against each other for a massive $750,000 total prize pool money. The exact prize pool spread still hasn’t been announced but we can already assume $250,000 will go to the winner since that was the case last time out. As for the format, ESL Pro League Season 8 Finals will stick to the usual concept that consists of 2 part – group stage and playoffs.

The group stage will sport 2 double-elimination groups with 8 teams in each. As always, the seeding process will be based on Online League Placements. All initial group stage matches will be played as Bo1 with all remaining ones being set for Bo3 matchups. A total of 6 teams will go through to the playoffs (3 from each group). Winners go straight to the semifinals while 2nd and 3d place teams go to the quarterfinals as high and low seeds.

The playoffs are set to kick off on December 7th when both quarterfinals matches take place. All playoffs matches are scheduled for Bo3 contests with the exception of the Grand Final that’s going to be a Bo5 spectacle. One thing is for sure – the stage is almost set for one of the biggest CSGO tournaments of the entire year!

Team Composition

At the time of writing this article, the following teams already cemented their spot in the grand finals’ tournament:

Europe

• Astralis
• Natus Vincere
• BIG
• TBD
• TBD
• TBD
• TBD

North America

• MIBR
• Ghost Gaming
• Renegades
• Team Liquid
• TBD
• TBD

Oceania

• Order

Asia

• Vici Gaming

South America

• TBD

No worries guys, we’ll make sure we update this section as soon as all competing teams are known. This will be sometime after the 14th of November as that’s when all remaining regional qualifiers end. In terms of the map pool, ESL Pro League will use the standard one with no real surprises. It’s basically the same one that’s going to be used by ECS Season 6 Finals too.

Final Words

There is no doubt in my mind that this is going to be the icing on the top of our most important CSGO tournaments in late 2018 list! It will go toe to toe with ECS Season 6 Grand Finals simply because of the quality team sheet they got onboard. So, now that we’ve told you a great deal about ESL Pro League Season 8 Finals, let’s check out what ECS Season 6 Finals has to offer! Mind you – it’s basically another CSGO spectacle that’s going to be at the focal point of the entire CSGO fanbase!

ECS Season 6 Finals

Which tournament is bigger – ESL Pro League or Esports Championship Series? Well, even though most of the fans will claim the former is bigger and more prestigious, professional esports athletes will probably say there’s no clear answer. Both ESL Pro League and ECS have a special charm. It’s not all about the prize money – there’s a huge dose of recognition and pride on the line too. And that’s basically what drives many of these professional players – pride and recognition! But is that enough for ECS Season 6 Finals to be named as one of the most important CSGO tournaments in late 2018? Well, of course not – there’s plenty more to it than that so let’s take a closer look!

Quick Overview

Here’s the plot of ECS Season 6 finals – 4 best EU teams vs 4 best NA teams. The concept is simple but what ends up happening during the tournament is a whole different story. Ever since the dawn of competitive CSGO esports scene, there was a huge rivalry between EU and NA teams. Each generation had brilliant players on both ends… brilliant teams too. But there were no real tournaments that aimed to prove which region plays the best. Until ECS came into play… and the rest is history! So, without a doubt in my mind, I dare to say ECS Season 6 Finals are among the (if not the) most important CSGO tournaments in late 2018!

Team Composition

The number of competing teams at ECS Season 6 Finals comes down to just 8. I said “just” since ESL Pro League sports a total of 16. However, this doesn’t mean ECS is a smaller tournament. In fact, the fans love it because it puts the NA vs the EU. It’s as simple as that – the crème de la crème of both regions will be fighting for the top spot. And we all know the rivalries between these 2 regions… There’s a lot of pride at stake, to say the least.

At the moment, all 4 NA teams are known. They are as follows: NRG, Renegades, MIBR, and Team Liquid. On the other hand, ECS EU has a bunch of matches postponed due to IEM XIII Chicago so there are still 2 spots up for grabs. At the moment, only Astralis and North are safe with 6 additional teams fighting for the 2 remaining spots. The week after IEM XII Chicago ends is going to be a hectic one for European CSGO teams, there’s no doubt about that!

Final Words

That’s about it as far as ECS Season 6 Finals is concerned. Once again, there is no point going into too much depth right now since I plan on preparing full coverage for both of these tournaments. Until then, I guess we can skip right to the last tournament worth mentioning here… and that would be SuperNova Malta 2018.

SuperNova Malta 2018

The only major Liquipedia Tier tournament, SuperNova Malta 2018 might not be an incredibly prestigious tournament. At least not in the way the previous 2 entries are. But still, it’s a notable tournament that deserves to be listed in our short list of the most important tournaments in late 2018. It can boast with a not-too-shabby prize pool of $150,000. While it’s nowhere near the numbers of ELEAGUE, ECS, and ESL PRO Finals, SuperNova Malta 2018 is still worth mentioning!

Quick Overview

All competing teams will be happy to fight it out for the grand prize and another tournament trophy to their name. In the case of SuperNova Malta 2018, the maps that will be used are as follows – Cache, Dust II, Inferno, Mirage, Nuke, Overpass, and Train.

The tournament features two double-elimination groups with 4 teams placed in each. All matches are Bo3 which gives the teams an extra lifeline in the case of first match defeat. Two of the best teams from each group continue to the playoffs which are set to be played as a single-elimination bracket. The matches remain Bo3 but the pressure keeps rising as they reach closer and closer to the grand finals.

Team Composition

Here’s a quick look at the team sheet so you know who to bet on before the matches start:

• BIG
• Gambit
• HellRaisers
• Team Kinguin
• Team Liquid
• NRG
• Tyloo
• Virtus.pro

We have to admit – there are some wicked names on this list… But generally speaking, what can you expect form SuperNova Malta 2018? Well, since it’s a rather short one (just 8 competing teams), one thing is for sure – this tournament will be fast-paced and exciting. Team Liquid, Gambit, and NRG seem like the clear favorites but the rest of the team roster might create a surprise or two. In any case, SuperNova Malta 2018 is looking like a tournament to watch between the 2 big ones.

Finals words

Oh yeah, I almost forgot – you can tune in on the action from the 29th of November until 2nd of December this year. Livestreams will be available as well, so don’t miss out on them… Especially if you’re an avid eSports enthusiast!

Lastly, I’d like to mention that Gambit still does not have a confirmed 5th player for this tournament. While this is definitely due to change in the upcoming days, the lack of 5th player makes them somewhat vulnerable. The lack of practice and questionable team routine could get the better of them… unless they all play at their very best.

Wrapping Things Up…

As far as the most important CSGO tournaments in late 2018 go, that would basically be it. Sure, there are several other tournaments out there, but these 3 are, by far, the biggest and most notable ones. The pinnacle of ECS and ESL Pro League seasons are going to be marvelous events to watch for all CSGO fans out there. On the other hand, SuperNova Malta 2018 could be a nice little surprise considering the list of competing teams. Nevertheless, late 2018 seems to be a good time for CSGO competitive scene, don’t you agree?

All About Skin Betting

CS:GO released in-game skins, players were given the opportunity to create their own using the Steam Workshop. The best skins are added to the game, allowing community creators to be paid for their hard work.

It wasn’t until a couple of years ago that skin betting took the market by storm, adding a new layer of gameplay for CS:GO players all over the world. Enter the stage; CS:GO skin betting.

CS:GO Skin betting allows you to put up to bet against skins in your Steam inventory. It sounds a little sketchy, and that’s because it is. Skin betting (and skin lottery) websites aren’t exactly fair. The betting part a little less, but it’s more of the same really. Not only that, but skin betting enables teenage gambling, which is a big no-no. There have already been a couple of cases with major CS:GO skin betting websites were taken down to due allowing teenage gambling.

How Does Skin Betting Work?

Skin betting used to be simple. Now, with the newest regulations, it’s become slightly more complicated for everyone. It goes something like this:

Find a website that enables users to place bets on esports matches using their CS:GO skins. Connect your steam account to the website and transfer your skins to your betting wallet. Then you place your bets and potentially win more skins.

So how do you collect your winnings? Doesn’t Steam make you wait seven days? Well, each skin betting site nowadays has their own method. Skin betting sites have their own tutorials explaining withdrawals.

Is Skin Betting Legal?

The skin betting industry has racked up over $7 billion worth of skins in 2016 alone. That’s pretty significant when you consider that the entire esports betting market in 2016 was around $8 billion total. That sounds great and all, but it doesn’t answer the question. Is skin betting legal?

Skin betting is in the grey area. Gambling establishments are recognizing esports as a legitimate betting game. That means regulations come into effect, making its legal status positive. However, skins aren’t recognized as legal tender even though they have real money value. So international law isn’t really sure how to handle them. Arguably, this is a pressing matter due to such a large emergence of teenage gambling.

2018 saw a handful of regulations passed to interrupt or confirm skin betting. However, much of the world still has not addressed the topic.

Nevada, for example, has legalized skin betting completely. Again, skin betting falls under the gray area. That’s why, if you ask me (or anyone from csgobetting.net), this is the answer you’re going to get: skin betting is doomed to fail and will just cause trouble. If you want to bet on esports, use internationally-accepted and 100% legal esports betting sites!

Alternatives to Skin Betting

If you want to place esports bets and potentially earn money using real money, then you won’t have any issues as far as the methods are concerned. Esports betting is legalized and normalized. Finding a site to accept your bets is the least of your concerns.

Look, even though skin betting is inviting and based on a highly interesting (and addictive) concept, you should still avoid it. The idea of skin betting sounds good, but it really isn’t. It basically enables betting on a larger scale, attempting to collect more and more skins. After all, the skins themselves aren’t money; they’re a virtual ‘item’ which holds no ‘effective’ value. And, as mentioned before, teenage gambling is a major issue.

As far as alternatives are concerned, pretty much any other form of esports betting is a good alternative to satisfy that betting itch. Special esports betting, match-winner bets, outrights, live betting… all types of esports betting available through well-known and well-regulated esports bookies are completely fine, as long as you know what you’re doing

If you don’t know where to start your esports betting career, here are a few great places that offer the best esports betting odds and options:

Best CSGO Betting Sites for 2018

Conclusion

Ultimately, I think it’s better to stick with regular, well-established esports betting sites. It’s less interesting than skin trading, but it’s legal, and you know what you’re getting. While skin betting is in the grey area, I would have to give it a big, big thumbs down. Please stick to the safe side and use one of the bookies we listed above.

In the end, I guess there is nothing more left to be said. Thank you all for reading and hope to see you again soon!

Every so often there comes a team which blows the opposition away like it’s nothing. This team then continues to grow and evolve into a proper powerhouse, an unstoppable force for all other competitors on the pro scene. But as they rise, so they fall… Every team that has once dominated the esports competitive scene of CSGO has since fallen down the pecking order.

This isn’t anything surprising though; it happens all the time throughout the sports world. However, some teams leave a long-lasting impression of their greatness. Long lasting memories to their fans and a plethora of trophies to be celebrated for generations to come. The CSGO competitive scene is no different, and we have been seeing it since the very beginning of its mainstream success. Even in the days of Counter Strike 1.6, teams would appear out of nowhere and end up being untouchable by all of their direct competitors.

Driven by all that, in this article I will be talking about the three best CSGO teams that can be marked as the GOAT, each in their own right. The achievements of these three teams are unparalleled. Astralis, the team to beat for some time now will most likely end up like one of the greats. They are already one of the best teams around and if their form continues, they too shall join the Hall of Fame of the CSGO competitive esports scene.

With all that being said, here are all 3 teams that are in the race for being called The CSGO GOAT Team!

CSGO GOAT Team | Top 3 List

What all of these three teams have in common is insane skill, amazing teamwork, perfect team cohesion and in-game communication. Other factors are at play as well, but these are the most important ones, at least in my honest opinion. Each of these three teams have sharpened their skills to the maximum and have enjoyed years of successful competitive esports playing.

When they dominated the scene, their performances set the bar, if you managed to beat them, you’d achieve a proper miracle. Of course, over time, their play started to degrade, and, as all things change, so did they. Players left, the roster changed, the meta changed as well… but the memories trophies and success remained there., So, without further adue, let’s kick things off by introducing the top 3 CSGO GOAT teams to ever grace the competitive CSGO scene.

Current Astralis Team

So, this was a tough choice because Astralis is relatively new and, even though they have already shown true skill and dominance, some other teams throughout the year have made a larger impact. But the only reason why Astralis got the advantage over others is because of how quickly they win stuff. That… and their adaptation to new meta’s which are becoming more frequent than ever.

Even if you disagree, there is no point denying that the Astralis of today is a proper giant in every sense of that word. They took their first Premier tournament title in 20176 when they won against OpTic Gaming in the eSports Championship Series Season 2 Finals. Two more premier titles followed – ELEAGUE Major Atlanta 2017 and IEM XI World Championship. Not a lot of success during the rest of 2017 season which was a big caveat when deciding what team to place here. On the other hand, their 2019 run is, to put it in simple terms, shocking.

Astralis mainly plays around the use of utility equipment (grenades, molotov’s, smokes and so on) which has brought them great success. However, this strategy is no longer going under their opponents’ radars. However, all Astralis players know how to adapt and overcome, inventing new strats to catch their opponents off guard and win the match. And I mean, the current roster? Device, dupreeh, Xyp9x, gla1ve and Magisk… all names that will stay etched in the history of competitive CSGO esports scene. At the moment, Astralis is definitely the toughest opponent other teams can face in a competitive environment. This is why they deserve to be on this list even though they’re still an active side.

But I must give credit where credit is due; if not for the dominant form of Astralis over the course of just a few years, SK would surely be in this place instead of them. And SK is another one of the best teams of all time, but have fallen under the radar due to the brilliance of The Great Danes.

’12 to ’14 Ninjas in Pyjamas Team

Continuing from Astralis, we have got NiP which was absolutely unstoppable during this time period. Filthy plays, disgusting strategies, and ugly frags – exactly what worked perfectly for such a long time. The coherence with which this team played was unparalleled and they took almost everything that was up for grabs back then.

If you look at the statistical side of things, they are at the very top of the food chain. Consider this bit of info: NiP managed to achieve a top-four finish in 31 tournaments in a row. This includes domestic tournaments and competition. And out of 32 international appearances, they were top 8 in 31 of them. Crazy number-crunching we got going on here, right?

What’s even crazier is that NiP, at the end of their active period of play, managed to win a major. Who would have thought that the team which was set to shut down at the end of the year would win a major? But no one ever really doubted them either (it sounds like a counter-argument but bear with me guys) as they have shown time and time again just how dangerous and powerful they can be in the most crucial of moments.

At the end of it all, they were taken over as number one by VeryGames, but they stayed put in second place for quite some time. Lastly, NiP is a team that has defined and shaped the CSGO competitive scene perhaps unlike any other. They changed the way the game is played (at times) and forced others to work even harder to counter their tactics and beat them. An iconic team with great international recognition, no doubt about it!

What completed the circle regarding their success is just how well they divided their tasks. Everyone had an exact purpose in the team and they rarely strayed too far from it. GeT_RiGhT is arguably one of the CSGO GOAT team players out there and has had no equal during NiP’s first competitive year. Friberg was an outright champion early on with fifflaren destroying the enemy team using a specific AWP utility strats. Finally, we have f0rest who was a true janitor for the team, cleaning up frags and stuff… and last but not least – Xizt who always showed up when it mattered the most. Truly, NiP ’12 to ’14 team was a force to be reckoned with in every meaning of that phrase!

’14 to ’15 Fnatic Team

NiP’s success runs might be impressive but it is Fnatic who takes the real crown in this list. In 2014, Fnatic team was a proper beast, and I’m not even exaggerating here. Sure, statistically speaking, they are a bit worse than NiP, but this is mainly due to NiP grabbing record which will hardly be broken. But, on the other hand, Fnatic has definitely shown much more than what anyone could have imagined. Two major tournaments belong to Fnatic; the only team with the audacity to do so. And these majors have been won back-to-back too, which just goes to show their prowess at the time.

Since they started playing in the CSGO competitive scene, Fnatic has shown an insane amount of consistency; rarely making mistakes and falling out of tournaments early on. They were top 4 in all 14 tournaments they participated in. Only once were they outside the top for in 2014, during the DreamHack Winter quarterfinals where they forfeited the match against LDLC.

It is really baffling to see a team that works best with no major players that stand out… whilst also having this amount of consistency. Whenever the meta changes, this Fnatic team was there to seize the opportunity and take the W yet again. Let’s remember KriMZ being on top of the stats sheet and JW doing what he does best – fragging everything he had in sight. Let’s not forget Olofmeister in his prime – arguably the best player the competitive CSGO scene has ever seen. He was literally unstoppable back in his prime. And who can forget flusha who always managed to find a way to turn things around for his team.

This Fnatic team did not need star players nor did they need impeccable strats… all they needed was good team cohesion to start off their admirable run of competitive wins. Their natural talent, great team spirit, work ethic and determination are what drove them to be one of the teams’ worthy of being called the GOAT.

The reason they are number one on this list, and will remain there for quite a while, is because they are the best evidence that team play and brilliant work ethics can win games and dominate the world of competitive CSGO…

And all of that happened in around 13 months’ time…

2018 has been an explosive year for CSGO fans and enthusiasts; multiple amazing tournaments, matches, fights, rivalries and dramatic wins. What more can a CSGO fan wish for, right? There is no doubt that it will go down in history as one of the most competitive, albeit there are those who don’t agree. Primarily due to the fact the dominance of Astralis is still going strong. Nevertheless, the business of CSGO is shining bright and seeing star players make their frag count constantly rise is loads of fun, don’t you agree?

That’s why in this article we will be talking about the best CSGO fraggers in 2018. More precisely, in the previous 3 to 6 months during which the competitive CSGO season was in full flow. Some players stepped up after a rough start to the season while others kept their performance at a relatively solid constant. Either way, there’s a lot of numbers to be crunched so let’s not wait much longer! Here are the 5 best CSGO fraggers in 2018 that deserve to be picked out from the bunch:

Best CSGO Fraggers in 2018 | List

#5 – Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken

The second Canadian on Team Liquid, Twistzz has achieved a pretty impressive 1.23 K/D ratio across 377 rounds played. He has also been on 14 maps which is a bit low when compared to the rest of the bunch from this list. However, his headshot ratio has been insane, standing tall at 64.5% (the main can aim!!!). His current number of kills sits at 287.

For the previous 3 months of competitive CSGO play, Twistzz has had only 5 negative rounds (out of 14). He’s been really effective against Astralis but there is still some work to be done in his playstyle, especially strategy-wise. This man has been the main man for Team Liquid for quite some time now. There is no doubt that Twistzz will keep improving and racking up that frag count.

#4 – Aleksandr “s1mple” Kostyliev

Our list of the best CSGO fraggers in 2018 couldn’t go without a single NaVi player. Their team is looking to achieve greater success in the coming time, but it’s not fair saying their performance was bad. In fact, they won against almost everyone except Astralis, which is understandable considering how big of a powerhouse Astralis currently is.

The team itself is very consistent and they have balanced gameplay across the entire team, but s1mple still takes the top. He’s the one who has the best K/D ratio at 1.15 with 416 rounds played. His total kill count is 304 which isn’t too shabby. Headshot ratio is okay at 39.8%.

Even though s1mple is a relatively consistent player, sometimes it just doesn’t work out. But this hasn’t stopped him from showing his star quality in a couple of matches, especially the latest one against Astralis where he had a K/D rating of 1.5 (11 kills more than deaths). When he’s on a good day, he can be unstoppable!

#3 – Emil “Magisk” Reif

You knew they were coming! The first member from Astralis that we’ll be mentioning is Magisk himself. The man has played 899 rounds for the team and has accumulated 602 kills. He’s the first one that’s broken into the 600-mark for kills.

His K/D ratio is good at 1.11 but still lowest out of the 5 on this list. However, we’re talking about frags and that’s where Magisk shines the most. Astralis played a lot of matches in the previous 3 months and in most of them, they came out on top. Magisk though, did suffer against a couple of teams but not by a large margin. Most of the time he’s Astralis’ pivot player and he’s a great support to the entire team.

#2 – Andreas “Xyp9x” Hojsleth

Phew! His surname sure is tough to write… let alone pronounce correctly. Jokes aside – Xyp9x has helped Astralis win multiple games practically all by himself and that makes him worthy of this list. But why are there so many Astralis players on it? Well, let’s be realistic for a few moments – Astralis is currently the dominant team in CSGO competitive scene so it’s no wonder their players are currently ranking high in terms of total frags.

Some people believe Xyp9x is one of the best players from his generations… and I wouldn’t want to argue with them. He sure is special and has already shown everyone that he’s well worthy of bearing the name Astralis on his jersey. A great K/D ratio of 1.16 with a total of 613 kills with 900 rounds played is Xyp9x’s current score across the last 3 months. Even when his team is losing, Xyp9x somehow manages to be in the “green”. In fact, he is “green” in all matches that he’s played for Astralis during the last 3 months… except for that one against FaZe in which his K/D difference was -1.

#1 – Nicolai “device” Reedtz

The device of death! He has been the top-fragger for Astralis for a good portion of their time dominating the CSGO competitive scene. His K/D ratio over the course of last 3 months is absolutely brilliant, standing strong at 1.31… but wait till you see his actual kill count. A shocking 693 kills, just 7 shy of breaking into the 700’s. There is no doubt that device is the best man on the Astralis team, at least as far as frags are concerned. Realistically speaking, I doubt Astralis would be at the position they are today if they did not have this giant in their ranks.

On the other hand, device is a bit prone to dying so his K-D ratio is not as clean as that of Xyp9x. However, he makes up for it with the sheer number of kills he gets on a round to round basis. I think most teams are afraid of running into device, especially when he’s having a good day. One thing’s for sure – device is the man who constantly turns the odds into Astralis’ favor!

Honorable Mentions

Considering the fact there are 3 Astralis players in our Top 5 list of the best CSGO fraggers in 2018, it’s only logical to give a few more options. A few more honorable mentions, shall we say…

Niko and olofmeister

Now this may surprise some of you but bear with me here… I’ll state my reasons before starting the discussion: Yes, I know, FaZe Clan hasn’t won a tournament since Belo Horizonte back in June. I’m sure many of you are familiar with olofmeister’s recent absence too. That set FaZe back quite a bit, even though cromen was a decent substitute for FaZe’s standards.

However, now that olofmeister is back in the business and finally getting the proper form, he and NiKo are starting to show glimpses of their former selves. Even though their numbers are not exactly at their peak points (1.20 and 1.00 K/D respectively), I think they will show up at the right time.

Hopefully, that will happen before the end of 2018. More precisely, somewhere around ECS and ESL Pro League finals, because that’s when their teammates will need them the most. We can all agree that this duo is unstoppable on their best days… but this next duo is doing wonders in their region and looking for better competition across the ocean.

Stewie2K and coldzera

Stewie2k and coldzera are both equally responsible for MIBR’s excellent ESL Pro League S8 results. At the time of writing this article, MIBR was at the top spot with 6 points more over the second-placed Ghost Gaming. Stew was rocking several matches with 30+ frags which cemented his spot as one of the best NA players on the international level. Undoubtedly, he can’t wait for the ESL Pro League finals start. He is going to have very high hopes for that tournaments, that’s for sure!

Over the course of last 3 months, Stewie2k has played a total of 65 maps with 1.05 K/D ratio. While it’s not his greatest form ever, he is being constant and that’s all that matters at such a high level. His partner in crime, coldzera, is doing himself justice too. This duo has been doing wonders in ESL Pro League NA, pushing their team to the Finals with just 2 more matches to go for their side.

Fraggers Aren’t Everything in CSGO

“But wait… I thought the number of kills represents how good a certain player is!”

While this statement does show someone’s skill level as far as kills are concerned, it is not a good representation of someone’s overall CSGO skill. The only thing you can learn from the list of the best CSGO fraggers in 2018 is how good those players can kill others through this CSGO competitive season.

But that is not the only characteristic of a player’s skill level. You have to consider other aspects as well. For instance, headshot success rate, number of deaths (the longer a player is alive, the more they can do for their team), game IQ, rotation speed and so on; the list can go on and on.

All of these characteristics form the picture of how good a player is. In this case, we are talking about frags and nothing else. Players with the most kills are usually the flashiest and most entertaining ones to watch (the most popular ones too)… but it’s already been mentioned above – Frags aren’t everything!!!

The Value of In-Game Leaders

In-game leaders with a strategic mind and the know-how on keeping the team alive are as valuable as top fraggers. Take gla1ve as the perfect examples – the man simply knows how to lead a team. Astralis have been on fire recently and are still enjoying their dominance over the entire CSGO competitive scene… and of course, the entire team is responsible for such great results. However, gla1ve is the one who is calling the shots, moving them around, planning retakes, map rotations, and whatnot.

When you have someone like gla1ve in your team, a true leader, your team morale gets boosted and suddenly you’re back on the right track and ready to take the W. But it’s not just that, in-game leaders are important when it comes to knowing when to push the team back up after stumbling down an obstacle. Not giving into failure and figuring out what to do in tough situations (in which coaches can’t help) is what makes in-game leaders such a valuable asset to all top tier CSGO teams.

Final Words on the Best CSGO Fraggers in 2018

This is it guys, we’re almost done! The previous 3 months of CSGO esports tournaments have been great. There is absolutely no doubt about that in anyone’s mind. We saw a lot of action, a solid dose of unpredictable plays, shocking defeats, thrilling clutches and much more. CSGO is getting increasingly better at bringing in viewers and pushing the teams further than they expected.

The level of professionalism is getting higher and higher and it’s looking more like a proper sport with each passing year. I am sure this trend will continue but the story at the top will change sooner or later. Frag-leaders will change and others will take their place. The same goes for teams too – Astralis can’t be at the top of the food chain forever.

And remember – don’t let the number of frags cloud your judgment. Sometimes, it is better to wait and think about what you are about to do than just rushing the enemy in an attempt to get an additional kill. That’s not how competitive CSGO works. It’s what we can see when watching these professionals play the same that can make us better players… so pay attention!

When people talk about professional athletes and doping, chances are someone’s career has just been ruined and now people from all around the world can’t believe that he/she was using doping. Big doping scandals are basically the only time we hear about doping and its regulation in professional sports. However, with the rise of esports, regular sports aren’t the only kid in the block who knows about doping. Not by a long shot!

You see, doping in esports has been a burning, itching question ever since its rise to the mainstream stage. Now more than ever, people of power (regulators, bookmaker owners and so on) are questioning the integrity of esports due to several scandals that have already struck the industry.

That’s why, today, we are going to discuss the matter at hand. More precisely, we are going to discuss doping in esports, go through the most recent scandals and analyze the potential risks of doping. There is a whole bunch of stuff ahead of us so let’s jump straight to action!

What Does Esports Doping Represent?

But what does doping in esports actually represent? After all, steroids and other anabolic substances don’t really help esports athletes, do they?

This is the sort of questions you’ll come up against when talking about esports doping. The majority of people associate doping with steroids and similar anabolic substances, all of which are banned in conventional sports disciplines all around the globe. These products improve, alter and optimize the players’ body conditions, allowing them to perform at 110% which is, of course, illegal and unfair towards athletes who aren’t using banned substances. But, since esports players don’t need to be stronger or more explosive to be successful, many people think there are no doping products in esports.

However, this statement is far from the truth since we’ve already seen quite a few scandals related to esports doping. More about this can be found out right down below:

Are Professional Esports Athletes Using Performance Enhancing Drugs?

Is a frog’s ass water tight? Let’s be realistic here – in all types of competitive sports, there will always be people looking for that extra bit of edge over the competition… legal or illegal, most of the time it doesn’t even matter. In esports circles, substance abuse is actually more common than most people think.

Back in 2017, Peter “ppd” Dager tweeted how demoralizing it is to watch all young esports starts abuse Adderall. This tweet just confirms what the big heads in esports have been trying to figure out for quite a while – Doping in esports is a problem!

But what is Adderall? What other types of substances are professional esports athletes using to boost their performance? After all, steroids and other anabolic substances won’t really give them the competitive advantage they need. Well, we’re forgetting that there are lots of stimulants which are based on increasing one’s cognitive functions. And, as we all know, that is exactly what some professional esports athletes need to be at their best.

Most Popular Performance Enhancing Drugs in Esports?

Adderall

Adderall is the most popular performance enhancer used by professional esports athletes. Adderall is basically the biggest secret of the entire industry that could pose as a huge integrity risk. We are talking about a sophisticated stimulant that’s composed of amphetamines. It is commonly prescribed to both adults and children with ADHD diagnosis. However, it is often used “illegally” as a performance enhancer due to its cognitive boosting effects.

Nootropics

However, there’s another type of performance enhancing drugs in esports in addition to Adderall. They are called nootropics and are generally quite popular among students too. But students are most commonly using them during their studying sessions in finals season, they are not competing in professional esports manifestations, watched by millions of people in live competitive events with thousands of people betting on the outcome.

Recent Esports Doping Scandals

The first big esports doping scandals emerged onto the scene all the way back in 2015. That’s when Kory “Semphis” Friesen admitted he and his entire team were all on Adderall during one of their $250,000 tournaments. The entire esports community was shocked by his words even though Friesen, at the first glance, didn’t even realize what he said.

After a huge turmoil over the issue of doping in esports, many influential people suggested doping as the primary problem that the esports industry is facing. Having players on PEDs that are banned across the most popular sports such as NFL, MLB and NHL surely isn’t a good image for an up-and-coming industry such as esports. Needless to say, that state of affairs could’ve led to potential risks which could further damage the integrity. Luckily, the issues were addressed in due time and potential risks were cut down significantly.

Doping in Esports | Potential Risks

The last couple of years (mostly after Friesen doping scandal), there were lots of question regarding the integrity of esports. More precisely, there were lots of questions about the doping scandals in the industry. And we are not just talking about Friesen’s admission, there were other doping scandals too. All of them together formed a dark cloud which posed as a huge risk for esports integrity. And we all know such a rapidly growing industry can’t allow integrity issues if it wants to continue with its exponential growth. If esports wanted to be taken seriously, such issues needed to be taken care of immediately. Luckily, ESL showed up like the Good Guy Greg they are…

To stop all this fuss from going out of control, ESL decided to create and enforce their very own anti-doping policy. In coalition with So, let’s say a couple of words about it, shall we!?

ESL is in Charge of Running Doping Tests in the Esports Industry

Even though ESL (formerly known as Electronic Sports League) is mainly an esports production company as well as an event organizer, it’s also involved in creating, organizing and enforcing their anti-doping policy. In fact, they are the only company that’s running doping tests in the top levels of competitive esports. Believe it or not, they are not only enforcing their policy for their own events, but they are also doing it for other top-tier event organizers as well. Drug testing is quite an expensive business so kudos to ESL for doing a favor to the entire industry!

However, after ESL started running doping tests on top-tier tournaments, they had to make exceptions for players with prescriptions for Adderall and similar ADHD-treating supplements. On the other hand, such a system could be seen as a loophole in a way, even though the regulators are certain there are no active cases of abuse.

Latest News from ESIC Look Great

Everything that’s been already stated about the matter at hand makes the world of esports look like a place filled with banned substances. While all of this might be true for the majority of competitive esports industry, the top tiers are surprisingly “clean”.

Mr. Ian Smith, Esports Integrity Commissioner, stated the following:

“Throughout that entire process, not only have we had a single positive [result], but also we’ve surveyed about 400 players. The results of those surveys are that they raise absolutely no concern about doping in the top levels of professional esports.”

He also stated that the number of professional esports athletes with prescriptions to banned substances (Adderall and Ritalin for example) is way below the national North American prescription rate. Both of these statements sound great and bring hope that the top levels of competitive esports are doping-free. We should also note that the lower levels of competitive esports are too wide and way too expensive to properly enforce.

Unfortunately, this means they will probably remain in the doping stain of the industry. With ESL too busy with top-tier esports, there are no other companies with the required know-how and funds needed for enforcing their anti-doping policy. Hopefully, in the near future, this will change and we will able to watch all levels of competitive play without worry about doping at all.

Contrary to popular belief, I believe EPICENTER 2018 will serve as a training ground for the biggest spectacles left in 2018. Of course, I’m referring to ECS and ESL Pro League finals, both of which are scheduled later this year. With that said, it’s important to analyze this tournament as well as all participating teams. As we all know, some of them (a good number of them, for that matter) will have a chance to compete at ECS and ESL Pro League, so their EPICENTER form could give us a hint of their future performances. The best way of doing just that is via our EPICENTER 2018 tournament preview in which you’ll learn a great deal about the format, participating teams, and betting tips.
As for the actual EPICENTER 2018 tournament, it has retained the same format as last year’s installment with the only exceptions being the grand finals match and the playoffs bracket system. You see, instead of it being Bo5, EPICENTER 2018 will have the grand finals as Bo3, the same as all other playoffs stage matches. Additionally, there is also an extra team from each group going through to the playoffs which will surely spice things up. More information on the tournament format can be found right down below:

EPICENTER 2018 Format

Just like I mentioned above, this year’s EPICENTER tournament basically has identical format as last year’s installment. With the exception of grand finals match that’s going to be played in Bo3 fashion this time around.

With that said, this tournament will feature 2 double-elimination groups with 4 teams in each. Only the last placed teams in each group are eliminated. 3rd and 2nd placed teams go against each other (cross-group) in quarterfinals while the semis are reserved for group winners. One last thing – all matches on this tournament are scheduled to be played in Bo3 fashion which means there will be plenty of special bets revolving around correct score or map handicap.

Current Power Standings | Tournament Expectations

Expectations are always set to be high since EPICENTER 2018 is set in the Eastern European capital of gaming – Moscow. That’s basically one of the reasons why we think so highly of it (another reason would be a brilliant composition of teams, of course) and why we made this EPICENTER 2018 tournament preview in the first place. So, driven by those words, let’s take a closer look at the teams that stand a good chance of winning it:

NaVi

Natus Vincere is at the top of their game at the moment. They are currently holding the second spot on the overall ranking, right behind The Great Danes – Astralis. Considering the fact Astralis is not going to compete on this tournament (they had to step down due to player fatigue and busy schedule), this automatically promoted NaVi to be the main favorites. And they indeed are – bookies have them at an average of 3.00 outright winner odds which should be taken into consideration when preparing your betting slips.

FaZe

FaZe has had quite a difficult time in recent months. Ever since Olof’s injury, they have been trying to get back on their feet. Each time they seemed a bit closer but ended up failing at the crucial moments. Still, despite their recent bad luck and performances, they are still considered as one of the key teams to win EPICENTER 2018. Even more so after Astralis and Mousesports declined their invitations due to busy schedules.

Match Predictions

As far as match predictions are concerned, there are 2 interesting matchups between teams that are already qualified. As some of you already know, the last participants of EPICENTER 2018 will be decided in the next couple of hours as the wildcard champions. With that being said, let’s take a closer look at the 2 matchups I was just telling you about:

FaZe vs ENCE

Our EPICENTER 2018 tournament preview couldn’t be completed without some good old betting tips. So, why don’t we start off with the first match of the entire tournament, the one between FaZe and ENCE?

Needless to say, bookies have FaZe as strong favorites with average betting odds of roughly 1.5. However, ENCE should not be taken for granted, especially considering huge oscillations in FaZe’s performances in recent months. Not to mention their recent StarSeries triumph which pushed them above FaZe in the overall team ranking.

Still, I believe in NiKo and co; enough to give them an edge. FaZe might be suffering in mid-game rotations and clutch situations, but their individual superiority should be the difference as countless times before.

 
FaZe vs ENCE Betting Predictions
Low Risk: FaZe Match Winner
High Risk: FaZe Match Winner, Over 2.5 Maps

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NiP vs AVANGAR

The Swedes aren’t exactly enjoying their greatest form at the moment. They are placed at the 12th spot in the overall ranking, just 2 spots from their next opponent – AVANGAR. With that said, the stage is set for what will definitely be a great match and a great introduction to hectic group B display.

As for the actual betting prediction, I’d say there’s no way for NiP to lose this one. Sure, their form isn’t the greatest… but if GeT_RiGhT and F0rest end up having a good day, chances are this match is going to end in a 2:0 blowout.

AVANGAR will have their chances, there’s no doubt about it. They are on quite the roll at the moment, enjoying a 9 matches win-streak which is a praiseworthy feat by all standards. Still, the likes of forZe, 3DMAX.CS and others can’t even be compared to the quality of NiP’s team. That’s why my predictions are as follows.

NiP vs AVANGAR Betting Predictions
Low Risk: NiP Match Winner
High Risk: NiP Match Winner, Under 2.5 Maps

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