What do you get when you cross the two best teams in the world, the second and third-best players in the world, and the greatest organization in CS:GO history? A European RMR B that looks destined to be a bloodbath.
In such a competitive group, no one is safe. If you want evidence of that, just look at how G2 and Astralis fared in the RMRs for IEM Rio 2022. Regardless, there will always be favorites. We asked Counter-Strike legend Anders to select his favorites to make the BLAST.tv Paris Major from European RMR B, read on as we unpack his selections and take you through the favorites for European RMR B.
G2
There’s no better place than the current number-one-ranked team in the world, G2. Home to one of CS:GO’s greatest-ever players Nikola “NiKo” Kovac and the baby GOAT Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov, G2 is arguably the most mechanically gifted roster the world of Counter-Strike has ever seen.
While they faltered at the RMR for IEM Rio, since then, G2 has gone from strength to strength. After winning their organization’s first CS:GO trophy since 2017 at BLAST World Finals, they have since won IEM Katowice 2023, NiKo’s first premier trophy in the game after countless heartbreaking final losses.
G2 is a team in peak form. While their display at ESL Pro League Season 17 Groups showed that peak is already waning, they have more than enough in the tank to book them a ticket to Paris in May.
Heroic
Moving on to the team G2 defeated to take home the trophy from the Hall of Heroes, Heroic has also enjoyed time at the top of the world rankings in 2023. Rising stars of the Online Era, Heroic have now all but eclipsed their form in that period, with their level sure to soon be rewarded by more trophies.
Elevated to new heights on LAN since the arrival of Jakob “jabbi” Nygaard, Heroic play arguably the most impressive brand of Counter-Strike in the entire world. Characterized by their impressive team play and proactive nature, the Danes are managing to fly the flag for their historic nation almost singlehandedly.
The previous Major ended in heartbreak for the team as they lost in the final to Outsiders, so you can be sure Heroic will be looking to go a step further this time. If there’s any team in RMR B you can consider a favorite, it’s this one.
Vitality
Packed full of Major winners, Vitality is the final team on our list of favorites for qualification from European RMR B. With names like Emil “Magisk” Reif, Peter “dupreeh” Rasmussen, and Dan “apEX” Madesclaire, Major success runs in this team's very core.
Of course, Vitality’s trio are all overshadowed by Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut. One of the very few legitimate superstars left in CS:GO, many of Vitality’s hopes as a team lies in their AWPer. Fortunately for them, he’s quite good.
With a solid rifler in Lotan “Spinx” Giladi completing the lineup, Vitality has enough firepower that their status as one of the top teams in CS:GO should never be questioned. Vitality’s IGL and AWPer are French, and both will want to bring glory to their nation in May. They have to face a tough RMR group to get there, but you can be confident they will prevail.