TL;DR
- Chaos Esports released its CSGO roster due to COVID-19 financial and travel constraints
- BIG Clan replaces Chaos in IEM Global Challenge after ESL exhausted North American options
- Multiple NA organizations including 100 Thieves and Evil Geniuses have withdrawn from competitive CSGO
- The German squad’s online success contrasts with NA’s regional decline and player migration to Valorant
- Released players face uncertain futures with no organization offers despite competitive experience
Chaos Esports has officially terminated its Counter-Strike: Global Offensive competitive division following what was intended as a final competitive appearance in late 2020. Ongoing international travel limitations have forced tournament organizers to substitute the North American squad with Germany’s elite CSGO team BIG for the upcoming IEM Global Challenge tournament.
The pandemic’s disruption extends beyond roster changes, fundamentally altering the global competitive landscape. European-based tournaments now face significant challenges incorporating North American teams, creating a competitive imbalance that favors regions with fewer travel restrictions.
Tournament organizer ESL initially pursued alternative North American squads to maintain regional representation. However, the dual requirements of travel capability and competitive caliber eliminated virtually all qualified NA candidates, leaving BIG as the only viable replacement option.
ESL publicly confirmed their extensive search efforts, contacting Team One and Triumph Gaming as potential substitutes. Neither organization could overcome the logistical hurdles of international competition during pandemic conditions.
The systematic decline of North American Counter-Strike became unmistakably clear as Chaos Esports’ departure coincided with New England Whalers exiting the competitive scene. The situation worsened when established organizations like 100 Thieves completely withdrew from CSGO and Evil Geniuses dropped out of November tournaments.
We would’ve liked to have invited an North American organization.
However, in the current climate it’s not feasible to bring @teamoneesports nor @TriumphGamingGG to Europe. We have reached out to both teams and look forward to seeing them again in the New Year. — ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) December 7, 2020
- Chaos Esports and New England Whalers leaving CSGO
- 100 Thieves to leave CSGO
Under the leadership of in-game captain Johannes “tabseN” Wodarz, the German powerhouse secured their elite status through consecutive tournament victories. Their July dominance included championship wins at CS Summit 6 Online: Europe, DreamHack Masters Spring 2020: Europe, and qualification for ESL Pro League Season 12 Europe.
BIG’s consistent excellence in the online competitive format has propelled them to the number two global ranking position. Their adaptability to remote competition contrasts sharply with North American teams struggling with the transition.
Chaos Esports’ ex-roster remains without an organization
Chaos Esports validated earlier reporting from DBLTAP regarding their CSGO division dissolution. The IEM Global Challenge was anticipated as the organization’s farewell tournament for their competitive squad, but pandemic complications canceled even this final appearance.
Due to the ongoing impacts of COVID-19, our ability to support our rosters and incredible players behind them has reached its limit.
Today we sadly confirm the release of our CS:GO roster at the end of the year, while we find a new home for our R6 team.https://t.co/QUUHYQbkZF pic.twitter.com/VQWgRXejU5 — Chaos EC???? (@ChaosEC) December 2, 2020
Most premier CSGO competitions, including IEM Global Challenge, are hosted in European venues. Travel restrictions have created insurmountable barriers for North American organizations attempting to maintain competitive operations.
The mass migration of professional players to Valorant and systematic shutdown of CSGO divisions across multiple organizations has created an atmosphere of professional uncertainty throughout the region.
Chaos Esports’ former competitive lineup faces particularly bleak prospects, having received zero acquisition offers from other esports organizations despite their competitive experience.
Teams competing in IEM Global Challenge after Chaos’ shut down:
- Vitality
- Astralis
- Complexity
- BIG
- Natus Vincere
- Heroic
- Liquid
- FURIA
The tournament lineup now heavily favors European representation, with only three teams (Liquid, Complexity, FURIA) originating outside the region. This geographic imbalance reflects the pandemic’s disproportionate impact on international esports competition and highlights the competitive advantages enjoyed by organizations based in tournament host regions.
Action Checklist
- Monitor travel restriction updates for European tournaments
- Research organization financial stability before committing to contracts
- Develop secondary game proficiency (like Valorant) as career backup
- Network with European organizations for potential international opportunities
- Analyze tournament rule changes regarding regional qualification
No reproduction without permission：Games Guides Website » BIG to play IEM Global Challenge in place of Chaos, NA teams How COVID-19 travel restrictions reshaped CSGO esports and left players stranded without teams