Valve’s latest VRS update for mid-March confirms one key reality: the Major race has entered its final and most volatile phase.
With only a few weeks remaining before the April cutoff — the ranking snapshot that will determine Major invitations — every result now carries massive consequences. The difference between a single LAN win and a weak qualifier run can decide whether a team starts in Stage 2 or misses the Major entirely.
This week delivered major shifts across the ranking. Several teams surged thanks to strong LAN performances, while others dropped sharply due to inactivity or poor results. The middle of the ranking is now the most unstable part of the entire system.
When and How the VRS Ranking Works
Valve updates the official VRS ranking once per month, on the first Monday. This ranking determines:
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Direct invites to Tier-1 tournaments
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Qualification pathways
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Seeding priority
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Major invitation slots
Only the official Valve update matters for invitations. Third-party recalculations may provide insight, but they do not affect qualification. The April update will define the Major participants, making the current period the final preparation window.
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Ninjas in Pyjamas
NiP made one of the biggest jumps of the week after winning Roman Imperium Cup VI. This was a crucial result in the context of the Major race. The timing of the victory is critical — it pushed them directly into contention for qualification. Without this win, their chances would have remained marginal.
Gaimin Gladiators
Gaimin Gladiators delivered a strong tournament performance, defeating Liquid, BESTIA, and Famalicão. These results significantly boosted their ranking and brought them back into the conversation. Their Major chances are now realistic.
EYEBALLERS
EYEBALLERS followed a similar pattern — strong performances at events translated into steady ranking gains. In a compressed ranking environment, consistent wins are enough to generate meaningful upward movement.
Alliance
Alliance finished 3rd at their event, beating Liquid, OG, BC.Game, and Nexus. This result had a major impact on their ranking position and moved them closer to the qualification zone.
Nemesis
Nemesis secured 3rd place at MPKBK CIS LAN Season 3, alongside additional online results.While they are unlikely to qualify for this Major cycle, their progress strengthens their long-term position.
fnatic
fnatic did not play any matches during this period and dropped heavily in the ranking. At this stage of the season, inactivity is critical. It is now safe to say that fnatic are effectively out of the Major race.
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FlyQuest
FlyQuest competed in the CS Asia Championships Closed Qualifier, finishing 3–2.However, wins at that level provided minimal VRS value, while losses carried more weight. As a result, the team lost positions despite a positive record.
B8 & paiN
Both teams were inactive during the week. In the VRS system, inactivity leads to immediate ranking loss, especially in a tightly packed mid-table zone.
BC.Game
BC.Game played at Roman Imperium Cup VI but lost all matches — including against lower-ranked teams. A technical win provided no meaningful points, resulting in a significant drop.
Valve Global Ranking – March 16, 2026
- 1st place Vitality – 2034 (+5)
- 2nd place MOUZ – 1879 (–22)
- 3rd place FURIA – 1836 (0)
- 4th place (up from 8th) Natus Vincere – 1807 (+155)
- 5th place PARIVISION – 1799 (+8)
- 6th place (down from 4th) Falcons – 1785 (–47)
- 7th place Aurora – 1775 (+64)
- 8th place (down from 6th) Spirit – 1743 (–44)
- 9th place (up from 10th) Astralis – 1723 (+115)
- 10th place (down from 9th) The MongolZ – 1642 (–10)
- 11th place FUT – 1639 (+72)
- 12th place G2 – 1574 (–21)
- 13th place GamerLegion – 1545 (+1)
- 14th place Legacy – 1506 (+8)
- 15th place Monte – 1501 (+21)
- 16th place (down from 14th) FaZe – 1491 (–25)
- 17th place (down from 15th) HEROIC – 1484 (–14)
- 18th place Gentle Mates – 1468 (–2)
- 19th place 9z – 1459 (–1)
- 20th place 3DMAX – 1442 (–9)
- 21st place (down from 22nd) BetBoom – 1417 (–5)
- 22nd place (up from 35th) Ninjas in Pyjamas – 1413 (+82)
- 23rd place (up from 24th) BIG – 1409 (+2)
- 24th place (up from 26th) HOTU – 1403 (+3)
- 25th place (up from 28th) illwill – 1403 (+21)
- 26th place (up from 29th) K27 – 1403 (+34)
- 27th place (up from 36th) Alliance – 1399 (+71)
- 28th place (down from 23rd) MIBR – 1398 (–15)
- 29th place (down from 21st) B8 – 1395 (–29)
- 30th place (down from 27th) NRG – 1379 (–17)
- 31st place Sharks – 1367 (–2)
- 32nd place SINNERS – 1359 (+18)
- 33rd place (down from 25th) paiN – 1357 (–44)
- 34th place 100 Thieves – 1334 (+17)
- 35th place (up from 39th) Nemiga – 1331 (+36)
- 36th place ECSTATIC – 1323 (+27)
- 37th place (down from 32nd) M80 – 1323 (–15)
- 38th place (down from 34th) Liquid – 1319 (–15)
- 39th place (up from 45th) Nemesis – 1292 (+53)
- 40th place (down from 33rd) BC.Game – 1290 (–48)
- 41st place 9INE – 1285 (+18)
- 42nd place (up from 49th) Betclic – 1281 (+51)
- 43rd place (up from 55th) EYEBALLERS – 1273 (+218)
- 44th place (up from 64th) Gaimin Gladiators – 1251 (+206)
- 45th place (down from 42nd) WHITEBIRD – 1247 (–19)
- 46th place (down from 44th) Passion UA – 1232 (–17)
- 47th place ex-RUBY – 1232 (new)
- 48th place (up from 61st) BET-M – 1230 (+13)
- 49th place (up from 59th) ARCREd – 1229 (+10)
- 50th place (down from 40th) FlyQuest – 1229 (–47)
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Europe — Qualification Picture
The European region is now clearly structured, but far from decided. At the top, Vitality, MOUZ, NAVI, PARIVISION, Aurora, and Falcons are effectively locked for direct entry into the later stages of the Major. Their positions are stable, and only a complete collapse could realistically change their seeding.
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The next group — Spirit, Astralis, FUT, G2, and GamerLegion — are also in a strong position, but not entirely safe. Among them, GamerLegion remains the most vulnerable, sitting on the edge of dropping into the lower qualification zone if results do not go their way. The real chaos begins below. Teams like HEROIC, Monte, FaZe, 3DMAX, fnatic, and NiP are all fighting for survival inside the qualification range. This is the most unstable part of the ranking, where even a single match can shift multiple positions. NiP’s recent rise has pushed them back into contention, while fnatic are moving in the opposite direction after a week of inactivity.
Just outside the cutoff, teams such as B8, BIG, BetBoom, and Alliance remain within striking distance. For them, one strong LAN run could be enough to break into qualification. An additional layer of uncertainty comes from Liquid’s potential regional placement, which could further complicate the European qualification picture if it materializes.
Americas — Qualification Picture
The Americas region is more defined at the top but still highly competitive in the middle. FURIA are clearly leading the region and are effectively guaranteed a top placement. Behind them, 9z, Legacy, and Liquid are in strong positions to secure direct qualification spots, although Liquid’s regional scenario adds an element of unpredictability.
The fight intensifies in the Stage 1 zone, where MIBR, Sharks, NRG, paiN, M80, and Passion UA are all competing for limited spots. These teams are separated by very small margins, and results from upcoming tournaments will likely determine who survives. Below them, teams like Imperial, Gaimin Gladiators, BESTIA, and RED Canids are still technically in the race, but their path requires immediate high-impact results. The region remains volatile, especially with upcoming Circuit events expected to play a decisive role in shaping the final standings.
Asia — Qualification Picture
Asia remains the most unpredictable region in the VRS system. At the top, The MongolZ are firmly established as the dominant force and are almost guaranteed qualification. FlyQuest and The Huns are also in strong positions, while TYLOO remain competitive depending on participation and scheduling factors. Beyond that, the situation becomes highly unstable. Teams like SemperFi, Morningstar, NEXVOID, and Lynn Vision are all within reach of qualification, but the lack of consistent data and limited number of high-impact events make projections far less reliable than in Europe or the Americas.
External factors — including tournament availability and scheduling conflicts — could dramatically reshape the entire regional ranking. At this stage, almost every team still has a realistic path forward.
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Three Weeks to Decide Everything
The current VRS update confirms that the system has entered its most critical phase. The top of the ranking is largely stable, and the bottom has already fallen out of contention. But the middle — where Major slots are actually decided — remains completely unstable. With only three weeks remaining before the April cutoff, every match carries real consequences.
A deep LAN run can secure qualification. A single upset loss can cost multiple positions. A week without matches can be enough to fall out of the race entirely. For teams sitting between positions 15 and 35, this is no longer preparation. This is the final stretch. The Major race is no longer developing — it is being decided right now.
