Russian Counter-Strike has evolved from pioneers like Dosia to new stars like donk, marking a significant presence since DreamHack Winter 2013. NAVI and Gambit led the charge, with NAVI's success peaking in 2021, while emerging talents continue to shape the scene.

IEM Melbourne 2025 drew millions to watch as Vitality dominated the tournament, setting high expectations for the upcoming Austin Major in June. Natus Vincere's perfect playoff streak ended, causing speculation about potential roster changes.

FaZe Clan is set to clash with Team Falcons in the BLAST Rivals Spring 2025, their third meeting this season. Despite past losses, FaZe hopes to capitalize on Team Falcons' possible fatigue from recent tournaments.

MOUZ faces Pain Gaming in the BLAST Rivals Spring on April 30, 2025, with MOUZ favored to win. Despite Pain Gaming's recent struggles and roster changes, they aim to challenge MOUZ on their strong map, Nuke.

The BLAST Rivals Spring 2025 tournament kicks off in Copenhagen from April 30, featuring top Counter-Strike teams vying for a $350,000 prize. Team Vitality leads with strong odds, but faces stiff competition from teams like Team Spirit and MOUZ.

IEM Melbourne 2025 shattered records, drawing over 1.25 million peak viewers, a 170% surge from IEM Sydney 2023. Team Vitality clinched their fourth title of the year, securing a $1 million Grand Slam prize.

The BLAST Rivals Spring 2025 tournament kicks off with a $350,000 prize pool, spotlighting Team Vitality's quest for a record fifth consecutive Tier 1 CS2 victory. With fierce competitors like Team Falcons and MOUZ, the event promises intense battles and surprises, especially with the inclusion of wildcard teams from each continent.

FaZe Clan's esports performance has plummeted in 2025, failing to qualify for IEM Melbourne playoffs after losing star players Twistzz and ropz. Leadership and roster issues, highlighted by poor communication and mismanagement, have left FaZe struggling to regain their competitive edge.

The inaugural UKI Awards spotlighted the grassroots Counter-Strike 2 scene in the UK and Ireland on April 26, 2025, at the University of Staffordshire. Key winners included Extinct as Player of the Year and Alaska as Team of the Year, marking significant achievements in competitive gaming.

Team Vitality clinched the IEM Melbourne 2025 championship, securing the ESL Grand Slam and a $1 million prize, marking a 21-series win streak. Vitality's triumph over Team Falcons in a dramatic final highlights their dominance, with ZywOo earning the DHL MVP title.

Nikola 'NiKo' Kovač's arrival at Team Falcons has sparked a remarkable turnaround, with the team posting a 7-3 record in early 2025. The addition of Ilya 'm0NESY' Osipov further strengthens their potential.

Team Liquid's recent addition of Kamil "siuhy" Szkaradek has rejuvenated their performance, helping them advance to the main stage at IEM Melbourne after early struggles. Despite a quarter-final exit, Twistzz highlighted the team's effective practice and adaptation, looking forward to upcoming events with renewed confidence.

BLAST partners with Alienware as the global sponsor for the BLAST.tv Austin Major, a major Counter-Strike 2 esports event. The tournament, set for June 19-22, 2025, features 32 top teams vying for a $1.25 million prize pool.

Counter-Strike's case-opening rarity algorithm, crucial for virtual economies, has been unraveled through community efforts, revealing pseudo-random distribution of in-game items. The findings highlight the lack of developer transparency, influencing player strategy and raising ethical questions about randomized monetization.

Astralis is contemplating selling its brand, IP rights, and Counter-Strike division following its failure to qualify for five consecutive Major tournaments. Potential buyers include Jonas "calc" Gundersen, although no formal offers have been confirmed yet.

CS2 cases are becoming lucrative collectibles, with older cases from 2013 to 2015 appreciating rapidly due to rarity and popular skins. Experts suggest holding cases over $50 as investments, while newer releases see slower growth unless offering exclusive content.

Team Vitality, the top-ranked esports team, is set to face The MongolZ in the IEM Melbourne semifinals today after dominating previous matches this year. With strong map win rates, Vitality is heavily favored.

Team Falcons and GamerLegion face off in the IEM Melbourne playoffs, with odds favoring Falcons at 1.36. Key players such as ZywOo and m0NESY could significantly impact the outcome.

Team Liquid shakes up their coaching staff, appointing DeMars DeRover, previously an analyst, as interim coach, boosting team performance despite IEM Melbourne 2025 elimination. Veteran NAF commends new strategies and collaborative team dynamics, reflecting on his evolving role within the team.