The CS2 scene is incredibly diverse right now. Besides the constant top-tier global championships, there are also smaller LAN tournaments that play a crucial role for lower-tier teams. These events allow teams to earn VRS points, the key to reaching the big stage, especially the Major.
Yesterday, the Roman Imperium Cup V kicked off in Portugal. Despite having a prize pool of only $11,858, it features a surprisingly interesting lineup of participants. Some teams have already been eliminated, but the main favorites remain in the race and are preparing for their playoff matches.
Passion UA have already played their matches and qualified for the playoffs. Although their opponents were only the Portuguese club Rebels, Oleksandr Zinchenko’s team had to fight hard to advance. This is especially impressive given that they are essentially playing with a revamped roster. Recently, try and Senzu joined the team, which led to the departure of hallzerk and another yet unannounced player.
Senzu is absent at this event because the team failed to register him in time. Still, Passion UA are in the playoffs, and we will continue to follow their progress closely.
Fnatic, technically a British organization, currently fields two Ukrainian players, to the point that they are even playing under the blue and yellow flag. They reached the playoffs through the lower bracket. This event is extremely important for them, as it directly affects their chances of qualifying for the Major. They are definitely not in Portugal for “cyber tourism”.
The legendary Swedish organization NIP recently added another Ukrainian player, cairne. Their results this year have not been impressive so far, so this tournament provides a great chance to prove that the roster changes were the right move. They start their matches today, and the most exciting part for them is still ahead.
100 Thieves is the most famous and wealthiest organization at the event. They recently signed two esports legends: rain and device. For this roster, the tournament will be their debut in a LAN environment, a perfect reason to keep a close eye on them.
Monte, one of the most “based” European organizations, currently plays without Ukrainian players, yet remains highly influential. They started the year strong, pulling off a sensation by defeating NaVi at BLAST Bounty S1 2026, and they have solid chances to qualify for the Major and secure invites to major tournaments. This championship is their opportunity to cement that success and finally return to the big stage.
As a reminder, NAVI did not advance to the next stage of DreamLeague Season 28
