The final days of September became symbolic for two teams walking completely different paths. The Valve Regional Standings (VRS) — the key barometer for qualifying to the CS2 World Championship — once again separated the winners from the losers. While Inner Circle delivered one of the most remarkable leaps in their history, OG effectively lost their chance to reach the Major, finishing the tournament in Riga without a single victory.
Inner Circle: a Historic Breakthrough into the World’s Top 35
A team that until recently remained outside the spotlight proved that they could put up a fight even at ESL Pro League. Three victories in the group stage of EPL gave Inner Circle not only confidence in their abilities but also a real bonus in the form of 133 net VRS points.
- On September 27, the team was ranked 44th in the Valve standings with 1170 points.
- By September 30, Inner Circle had climbed to 35th in the world, with 1303 points.
In total, they earned 235 points, but due to the correlation system and the expiration of older results, only +133 remained. Yet even that outcome was decisive: for the first time in the organization’s history, the team broke into the global top 35.
What makes this achievement even more impressive is that the roster is still at a stage without significant prize earnings. Their success is therefore a purely sporting result, not backed by steady financial support or extensive LAN experience. This only underscores Inner Circle’s potential and readiness to become the next breakout team on the scene.
OG: a Sharp Fall at a Crucial Moment
If Inner Circle’s story looks like a fairytale, then the last week of September was a real disaster for OG. At Urban Riga Open Season 1, the team produced perhaps one of their weakest performances of the season. Crashing out with only one victory, they effectively dropped out of the Major race.
The results in Riga speak for themselves:
- OG 14:16 BIG
- OG 13:9 Alliance
- OG 2:13 MOUZ NXT
This run dealt a blow not only to their ranking but also to the team’s morale. With only Frag Blocktober 2025 left ahead, their chances now look minimal. Analysts are already comparing OG’s situation to that of Fnatic: a theoretical chance remains, but it is more mathematical than realistic.
A Tale of Two Stories
What happened with Inner Circle and OG in the same time span vividly illustrates the harsh rules of modern CS2. In VRS, every match matters, and sometimes even a single series can lift a team into the global top or bury their dreams entirely.
- Inner Circle proved in just a few days that even newcomers can rise to the top if they show stability and character.
- OG once again demonstrated that history and reputation aren’t enough — without results at LANs, rankings collapse mercilessly.
What’s Next?
A few key tournaments remain before the Major. For Inner Circle, the task now is to consolidate their breakthrough and hold on to their progress, as a spot in the top 35 opens up new opportunities. OG, on the other hand, must face reality: their qualification campaign is coming to an end, and their main challenge now seems to be rebuilding and searching for a new in-game philosophy.
