SPUNJ: “The current VRS doesn’t measure the true strength of Asian teams.”
Commentator Chad “SPUNJ” Burchill highlighted the main issue with the Asian VRS ranking on the HLTV Confirmed podcast and suggested ways to change the Major qualification system for teams from that region.
On the issue with the Asian VRS
How often do we actually see matches between the top Asian teams? I mean at LAN tournaments, not online with terrible ping. It’s really difficult to bring teams from China, Russia, and Oceania together in one place. Consequently, the current VRS doesn’t measure the true strength of Asian teams.
Of course, I’m glad Valve has moved away from the system of hosting Minors and RMR, but if it wants to develop Counter-Strike in Asia, it needs to create an ecosystem where every team can participate in any tournament and earn VRS points—just as, for example, the Tier 2 scene in Europe is currently structured. The developers should modify the system to account for the region’s specific characteristics.
On changes to the Major qualification system in Asia
It would be a good idea to introduce some kind of Major qualifier for Asian teams. Of course, I don’t want to limit teams like The MongolZ or, for example, TYLOO and FlyQuest, which consistently participate in international tournaments and give Tier 2 teams from Europe a run for their money. There’s no point in them returning to Asia just to attend a qualifier and lose to, say, Lynn Vision, whose players will be running through flashbangs and smoke grenades every round. Only a few teams from this region follow the meta.
I propose awarding the top three teams in the Asian VRS automatic invites to the Major and determining the remaining two teams through LAN qualifiers. That’s exactly how we’ll be able to identify the most deserving candidates. Right now, it’s difficult to compare Asian teams against one another—many of them simply don’t have the resources to travel to a tournament in another country. It may be too early to think about changes to the system, given the recent scandals, but sooner or later Valve will need to implement certain reforms.
Read also: Mauisnake on the new VRS region change rule: “Valve is angry that they were outmaneuvered.”
Earlier on the podcast, SPUNJ stated that BLAST is delaying payments to its former employees. In his opinion, the tournament operator’s position could deteriorate significantly in 2027—in part due to competition from PGL, which offers top teams more favorable terms.
Photo: StarLadder.
