The final week of September delivered two big CS2 finals for fans. 9INE emerged as the winners of the Birch Cup 2025, while OG claimed the title at DraculaN Season 2, halting the sensational run of Passion UA. Both tournaments carried the status of key pre-Major battles — with not only trophies at stake, but also valuable Valve Regional Standings (VRS) points. And while the champions earned their deserved titles, the overall regional ranking table didn’t shift as dramatically as expected.
Birch Cup 2025: 9INE Defeat ex-Inner Circle
The Birch Cup Grand Final featured two familiar European squads — 9INE and ex-Inner Circle. While the teams looked evenly matched, the Poles imposed their style when it mattered most.
- Ancient (13:9) — 9INE made the most of their map pick, playing aggressively on T-side and closing key clutches.
- Nuke (14:16) — ex-Inner Circle responded with strong defensive play. Their AWPer hades stood out, saving the team multiple times in desperate situations.
- Train (13:3) — the decider was a one-sided affair, with 9INE dictating every round and leaving no chance for their opponents.
The biggest impact came from veteran raalz — 1.31 rating, 82% KAST, stability in clutches, and excellent game sense. Alongside him, faveN impressed with a +10 K/D and 90.3 ADR, underlining 9INE’s cohesion as a unit. For ex-Inner Circle, the loss was particularly painful. The team had a chance to secure themselves inside the VRS top 40 but instead slipped even lower.
DraculaN Season 2: OG Break Passion UA’s Resistance
The DraculaN Season 2 final was a true underdog tale. Passion UA, a relatively unknown team just a year ago, reached the decisive stage and pushed favorites OG to the limit.
- Ancient (13:9) — a steady start for OG on their map pick, highlighted by strong play from spooke.
- Train (3:13) — a genuine shock from Passion UA. The Ukrainians outplayed their opponents tactically, while American rifler Michael “Grim” Wince delivered a phenomenal performance with a rating alove 2.0.
- Nuke (13:6) — OG regrouped and convincingly closed the series, leaving no room for a comeback.
The star of the final was undeniably Grim: 61 kills, +28 K/D, 1.75 rating — the best individual performance of the day. Despite the loss, he elevated his team’s prestige. OG, however, celebrated thanks to their teamwork and composure in key rounds. spooke finished the series with a 1.52 rating, proving the most reliable piece in the champions’ lineup.
VRS: Minor Table Changes
Before the finals (September 27):
- #27 OG — 1351 points
- #28 Passion UA — 1349 points
- #32 9INE — 1314 points
After the tournaments (September 29):
- #27 OG — 1385 points
- #28 9INE — 1375 points
- #29 Passion UA — 1359 points
Thus, although OG and 9INE claimed titles and climbed in the standings, the picture remains largely unchanged. The teams solidified their top-30 spots but didn’t create significant separation from their rivals. ECSTATIC (1346), Legacy (1330), and NRG (1306) remain in the danger zone and risk losing direct invites. ex-Inner Circle failed to secure a top-40 spot, now down to 46th place with 1156 points.
What It Means Ahead of the Major
- OG and 9INE completed the minimum task: with trophies and a slight boost in points, they remain in control of direct invites.
- Passion UA once again proved their potential and stay close to the invite zone but couldn’t make the decisive leap.
- Other contenders on the edge of the top 30 remain under pressure — any ranking update could cost them a Major spot.
The Birch Cup and DraculaN Season 2 finals became symbolic “last chance” events, but only OG and 9INE managed to capitalize. Still, their victories did not resolve the bigger picture: the VRS race remains tight, and a handful of points will ultimately decide who gets invited.
