On August 16 Gamers8: The Land of Heroes will kick off its $1 million tournament for Counter Strike: Global Offensive, one of the most recognisable esports in the world. With CS2 on the horizon, the tournament is poised to be one of the last ever CS:GO tournaments that viewers will be able to experience live. The tournament takes place in Riyadh over 4 days between August 16-20.
Heard of CS:GO, but have no idea which teams to cheer for? Don’t worry, we’ve got you covered with a handy list of the top five teams that could win it all in Riyadh.
Natus Vincere
One of the most recognisable brands in CS:GO and home to one of the best players in Counter-Strike history, s1mple, they have been one of the most competitively dominant teams from start to finish, especially in the twilight era of CS:GO esports.
With the team attending Riyadh, they will surely be a favourite to win it all and take home the lion’s share of the prize.
Faze Clan
Another team that has been hailed as one of the best in the world is Faze Clan. It’s no wonder that they’ve picked up five trophies in the last five years being home to some of CS:GO’s all-time greats such as Twistzz, karrigan, and ropz.
Will Faze continue their winning streak in 2023 with a victory in Riyadh or will they succumb to the pressure?
Fnatic
It’s been a long time since Fnatic were able to call themselves CS:GO champions. One of the pioneering esports organisations known for their commitment to high performance, Fnatic will always hold one of the oldest legacies in the Country Strike scene.
Having made some recent roster changes, Fnatic will be hoping to supercharge their performance and prove once more that they are capable of winning a trophy.
Cloud9
The only North American esports organisation to ever win a major in CS:GO, Cloud9 will be looking to add more trophies to their display cabinet with a strong performance in Riyadh. Fielding players such as sh1ro (currently ranked third in the world), Cloud9 will feel they have a strong chance to claim victory this time around.
9INE
A wildcard team featuring a full Polish lineup, 9INE made it to Riyadh through the last-chance qualifiers. Consistent performers’ in the lower-tier circuits, 9INE is still looking for their breakthrough at a high-level event.
Potentially inspired by the recent BLAST major, 9INE are a dark horse to keep your eyes on during the Gamers8 tournament.
You can catch all the CS:GO action live, then check out the Gamers8 Twitch channel, and the official website, for schedules and information.