Valve Changes the VRS System That Ranks Counter-Strike 2 Esports Teams
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- Forfeits now count as losses in the VRS, closing a loophole that allowed teams to avoid ranking penalties.
- Tournament data will only count after the event ends, fixing issues with overlapping schedules.
- Teams now only need to play five matches, down from 10, to be eligible for VRS rankings.
Major changes were implemented to the Valve Regional Standings (VRS) model, a system that ranks Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) and is tied to invites for sanctioned esports events.
Forfeits will now hold the same value as any loss that occurs during online and offline matches. Under the previous system, teams could avoid ranking penalties by simply forfeiting matches, a loophole that some exploited to preserve their position. Now, forfeits will be treated like any other loss, whether the match is online or offline. This move aims to eliminate unfair manipulation of rankings and holds teams accountable for every match they compete in.
The other adjustment centers around when tournament data is officially counted. Previously, any prize money or tournament results were added to the standings as soon as they occurred, which sometimes caused problems, especially when events overlapped with VRS update schedules.
A notable example of this was when German esports organization GamerLegion claimed they missed out on a top 12 spot for the BLAST Open Lisbon event due to missing data from their ongoing performance at IEM Katowice. With the new changes, tournament results won’t be recorded until the event has officially concluded, ensuring that teams aren’t penalized if their results occur outside the VRS update window.
Another change makes it easier for teams to qualify for the VRS. Previously, a team needed to play a minimum of 10 matches to be eligible for ranking. Now, only five matches are required.
