One full Open in the books, the second underway, and we already have enough signal to start sorting the contenders. These are our top 10 ahead of the Birmingham Major qualifying push, blending RLCS points, head-to-head results, and the underrated metric we always lean on: the eye test.
Methodology: we weight current-season RLCS points heaviest, recent head-to-head against top-five opponents second, and aggregate game-score differential third. We don't weight historical pedigree at all.
1. Karmine Corp (EU)
Vatira, Atow., and Itachi are picking up exactly where they left off in 2024. Atow continues to be the most under-discussed top-tier player in the sport. Karmine Corp's only real question this year is whether they can close — the mechanical ceiling has never been the problem.
2. Team BDS (EU)
Defending World Champions. The roster around M0nkey M00n hasn't disappeared after Fort Worth, but they've also not played their best Rocket League in the first Open. Expect them to peak at the right time.
3. Gentle Mates (EU)
Reigning Copenhagen Major champions and still flying largely under the radar in mainstream coverage. They feel like the most likely team to win Birmingham outright if Karmine Corp slips up.
4. Team Falcons (MENA)
The team that nearly broke through at London 2024. With a roster anchored by arms-length experience at international LANs, Falcons enter 2025 as the consensus best non-EU team in the world. Watch them in 1v1 too.
5. NRG (NA)
Atomic, BeastMode, Daniel. North America's quiet rebuild looks more like a full reload from where we're sitting. They're not winning Birmingham — but they could absolutely top NA and arrive in Raleigh as a real Major contender.
6. G2 Stride (NA)
2024 Worlds runners-up. The fact that they're sixth on this list and not second is more about EU's depth than about anything Stride did wrong.
7. Spacestation Gaming (NA)
Always present, rarely the favorite. SSG's mechanical floor is among the highest in NA, and they've been quietly cleaning up the open qualifying stage.
8. Geekay Esports (MENA)
The 2025 dark horse. Geekay are putting up consistent series wins in MENA qualifying with a roster nobody outside the region was paying attention to six months ago. Worth a flier in your fantasy bracket.
9. FURIA Esports (SAM)
South America's flag-bearers. They're not winning a Major in 2025 — but ignoring SAM as a region is how you get embarrassed at Worlds.
10. Dignitas (EU)
British-leaning roster that has quietly assembled the kind of group-stage grinding profile that does well in this format. Top-tier in scrims, an untested unknown on stage.
Just outside
Honorable mentions to FaZe Clan, MIBR, and Twisted Minds. The latter in particular is moving fast — we expect them to be on this list by the time Raleigh comes around.
What to watch in the next two weeks
- Open 2 NA — Does NRG separate themselves, or does Spacestation/G2 force a three-way race?
- EU's middle tier — Dignitas, FaZe, and Wave Esports all have routes to a Birmingham seed.
- The 1v1 brackets — first competitive look at how 3v3 stars adapt to playing alone.
Birmingham Major preview lands next month. See you then.