The Valve Global Ranking numbers calculated by HLTV as of February 23, 2026 show one of the most dynamic weekly shifts of the early season. While this is not the official monthly Valve update, the movement across the Top 50 after just seven days of LAN action significantly reshaped the competitive landscape.
Between February 16 and February 23, two key events — PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026 and Roman Imperium Cup V — triggered meaningful VRS changes. Tier-1 playoff runs strengthened the elite. Tier-2 LAN victories accelerated rising teams. Early exits and losses to lower-rated opponents caused sharp drops. In one week, the hierarchy tightened.
When Does the Official Valve Ranking Update?
It is important to clarify that the Valve Global Ranking officially updates once per month, on the first Monday of each month. That official update determines:
- Direct invites to tournaments
- Qualification pathways
The April 2026 ranking will be especially important, as it is expected to influence invitation distribution for the upcoming Major cycle. The February 23 recalculation does not yet lock in invites — but it offers a clear preview of what the March and April official updates could look like if trends continue.
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What Changed Between February 16 and February 23?
At the very top, one number stands out. The gap between #1 and #2 now exceeds 200 VRS points — an enormous margin at this stage of the season. In the current competitive ecosystem, a 200-point lead is structurally significant. It creates breathing room that typically requires either a Major-level victory from a rival or multiple deep runs to close. And here is what makes it even more remarkable.
Vitality
Vitality remained #1 and further reinforced their structural advantage. Despite gaining only 34 VRS points from winning PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026, their lead remains massive. This highlights how heavily weighted they already are at the top — their dominance is built on long-term consistency rather than single-event spikes.
Alliance
Alliance recorded the biggest climb of the week, driven by strong online performances and their victory at CCT Season 3 Europe Series 15. In a compressed mid-table, that combination was enough to generate explosive upward movement.
SINNERS
SINNERS benefited from a strong group stage showing at Parken Challenger Championship Season 1, a LAN VRS event. Even without lifting the trophy, deep progression at a weighted LAN delivered meaningful ranking growth.
HOTU
HOTU translated their Roman Imperium Cup V title directly into ranking acceleration. A LAN victory in a VRS-weighted event remains one of the most efficient ways to climb the standings.
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Monte
Monte also capitalized on Roman Imperium Cup V, converting a solid overall showing into steady positional improvement. In tightly packed ranking zones, controlled LAN consistency matters.
ECSTATIC
ECSTATIC gained ground thanks to their participation and results at Parken Challenger Championship Season 1. Structured LAN activity continues to be a reliable ranking driver.
Ninjas in Pyjamas
NiP suffered a significant drop following a poor showing at Roman Imperium Cup V. In a week where multiple mid-tier teams collected VRS points, underperformance was punished quickly.
Nemiga
Nemiga’s fall came after defeats to two lower-rated teams at META CUP Season 4. The VRS system heavily penalizes losses against weaker opposition, and the ranking correction reflected that.
Sharks
Sharks did not play during this period and lost ground as surrounding teams accumulated points. In an active ranking week, inactivity can be as costly as defeat.
HEROIC
HEROIC dropped after struggling at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026. In a Tier-1 environment, early exits and missed playoff runs often result in immediate ranking pressure.
3DMAX
3DMAX experienced one of the harshest corrections following losses at PGL Cluj-Napoca 2026. Performance context matters heavily in the VRS model, and difficult results against strong competition triggered a noticeable drop.
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Valve Global Ranking – February 23, 2026
- 1st place Vitality – 2029 (+6)
- 2nd place FURIA – 1895 (–51)
- 3rd place (up from 4th) MOUZ – 1887 (–11)
- 4th place (up from 5th) PARIVISION – 1874 (+24)
- 5th place (down from 3rd) Falcons – 1852 (–75)
- 6th place Spirit – 1782 (–52)
- 7th place (up from 8th) Aurora – 1708 (+11)
- 8th place (down from 7th) Natus Vincere – 1698 (–58)
- 9th place (up from 12th) The MongolZ – 1632 (+44)
- 10th place G2 – 1596 (–36)
- 11th place Astralis – 1592 (–20)
- 12th place (down from 9th) FaZe – 1561 (–72)
- 13th place FUT – 1533 (–53)
- 14th place (up from 19th) GamerLegion – 1491 (+35)
- 15th place (up from 18th) Gentle Mates – 1480 (+18)
- 16th place (down from 14th) NRG – 1451 (–53)
- 17th place (up from 20th) BetBoom – 1446 (+3)
- 18th place (up from 24th) Monte – 1430 (+15)
- 19th place (down from 16th) Liquid – 1427 (–59)
- 20th place (up from 29th) HOTU – 1423 (+37)
- 21st place (down from 15th) B8 – 1421 (–76)
- 22nd place (down from 17th) 3DMAX – 1407 (–57)
- 23rd place (up from 25th) MIBR – 1378 (–18)
- 24th place (down from 21st) Legacy – 1370 (–64)
- 25th place (up from 39th) SINNERS – 1362 (+101)
- 26th place (up from 41st) illwill – 1356 (+101)
- 27th place (down from 26th) M80 – 1352 (–40)
- 28th place (down from 23rd) HEROIC – 1350 (–68)
- 29th place (down from 30th) BIG – 1345 (–39)
- 30th place (down from 22nd) Ninjas in Pyjamas – 1344 (–83)
- 31st place (down from 27th) BC.Game – 1336 (–54)
- 32nd place (up from 49th) Alliance – 1335 (+129)
- 33rd place (down from 28th) paiN – 1330 (–58)
- 34th place (down from 31st) Passion UA – 1302 (–49)
- 35th place (down from 32nd) K27 – 1288 (–18)
- 36th place (up from 40th) fnatic – 1269 (+12)
- 37th place (up from 46th) ECSTATIC – 1266 (+49)
- 38th place (down from 33rd) FlyQuest – 1244 (–57)
- 39th place (down from 35th) 9INE – 1235 (–58)
- 40th place (down from 34th) Sharks – 1230 (–65)
- 41st place (down from 36th) EYEBALLERS – 1226 (–46)
- 42nd place magic – 1214 (–40)
- 43rd place (down from 38th) Nuclear TigRES – 1205 (–58)
- 44th place (down from 37th) Nemiga – 1193 (–77)
- 45th place (down from 43rd) BESTIA – 1178 (–75)
- 46th place (up from 48th) 9z – 1176 (–33)
- 47th place BET-M – 1170 (–3)
- 48th place (down from 50th) ENCE – 1158 (–31)
- 49th place (down from 45th) Nemesis – 1154 (–64)
- 50th place (down from 44th) Imperial – 1153 (–80)
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What This Means Going Forward
The February 23 recalculation may not yet determine invites, but it reflects real competitive movement. Vitality remain structurally dominant. The Top 5 is tightening. The middle of the table is volatile. LAN wins continue to be the most reliable ranking accelerator.
With the April update expected to influence Major invitations, every upcoming LAN match carries strategic weight. The standings are not yet official — but the hierarchy is already shifting.
