We have updated our European team ranking, for August 2020, with the first edition of an hopefully lasting ranking series. 2020 saw 5 different winners share themselves the points across 12 top tier groupfighting events while also witnenissing the preference for smaller format (5v5 to 7v7) being somewhat established as only one 8v8 tournament was hosted since January. As summer approached, traditional format became less frequents, which gave the opportunity for some hosts to organize a couple of bayonets & swords tournaments, alongside MarxeiL’s now familiar Protect the King tournament.  From left to right, Higen, Melsyo & Louis, three huge architects of Jedis's recent successes
Here's a summary of our ranking for new readers:Our team ranking is based on teams' achievements over the past year, starting January 2020, (with severe decay in points throughout each month) & recent form over the last two months. Each team is required to keep a minimal core from one tournament to the other in order to retain most of their points. Below is the current top 11 table as of August 1st, 2020, which goes more in-depth into how the points are distributed—or you can check our main page, where you will be able to find more details about each team, including relevant events, current and past line-ups, and more.
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RANK
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
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TEAM
Toxicity Zero
Jedi Masters
Cazadores
Poosy
CCCP
Schwarze Garde
Super Saiyans
Asatro
The Best Ever
Nottinghamshire Street Shooters
Thugs Cry
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ACHV
542
412
411
363
215
193
143
151
123
97
53
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FORM
100
153
76
100
77
35
72
36
26
31
14
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TOTAL
642
565
487
463
292
228
215
187
149
128
67
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+/-
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-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
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Below are the four key takeaways from August's ranking update:Toxicity Zer0 maintain themselves at the top despite an obvious drop in form
Looking back at TZ0’s achievements since the beginning of 2020, the statement made is a powerful one. Not many teams in the history of NW have shown similar dominance over the groupfighting scene, with an impressive record of five gold medals and one silver in twelve tournaments attended. The European core, initially led by Fwuffy and Movement under the Proud Boys banner, started the year as an unstoppable force, winning three back to back tournaments in January and February. March and April marked a brutal halt to PB’s campaign, missing two grand-finals in a row while Cazadores & OG were witnessed peaking in form in these competitions.
At the same time, TZ0, led by Extazz, was seen showing equal signs of struggles and after a few talks, both rosters decided to join forces under the TZ0 banner, which a large part of the PB roster had already been wearing in the past. This merge definitely seemed to be beneficial for both teams as they went on to win the first event they attended, Elsse and Python 6v6 Tournament, and the next two just after.
Eventually however, TZ0’s recent form in the last months hasn’t been anything impressive. Despite winning the M. Tournament 5v5 (2 Swords), they failed at achieving more than a 4th place finish at the last three other tournaments in June & July. Throughout the year, TZ0 has kept the same core of players (merge left aside) and though it’s unlikely to see them proceed to big changes, their poor form continuing over the next couple tournaments could seem them giving up their number one spot in the ranking and this despite the amazing first half of year they had.  EAP 6v6 grand-final certainly was a peak of TZ0's dominance
Since they return during Elsse & Python | 5v5 Tournament, Melsyo’s men have been showing an amazing consistency, taking one bronze medal and achieving seval strong other placings throughout April & May. The team’s strong form continued to increase from one event to the other, never finishing below the 5th/8th place but eventually, Jedis failed at grabbing the gold twice, losing two grand-finals against Poosy and Super Saiyans respectively. Throughout June and July, they established themselves as an undisputable top team yet their capacity to win a tournament legitimately came under question after these two missed occasions.
During the last tournament of August however, the amazing resilience shown by Jedis finally started to pay off, as they went to defeat every single team in the playoffs of MarxeiL’s 7v7 Protect the King Tournament, to lift their first trophy in 2020. This impressive form shown these last two months grants them the second place in our ranking and place them as a serious contender for the number one spot in the upcoming months.
Super Saiyans & CCCP break at the top
After a rather unsatisfying first half of the year where the CIS mixture didn’t seem capable to go much further than the 5-8th place in several events, MarxeiL & Desant decided to open themselves to western european recruitements, which helped them aim for new highs. As for Super Saiyans, the recent comeback of several NW veterans under Axiom and Tardet’s leadership didn’t go unnoticed, as their recent performance was as unexpected as it was impressive.
Funnily enough, both teams have crossed paths in the last two tournaments, facing each other twice in the playoffs. The first match went to the favor of Super Saiyans who demonstrated an amazing form in Smylie’s 6v6 and went on to win the whole thing while CCCP edged them in the quarter-final of MarxeiL’s Protect the King, after a back and forth affair. CCCP eventually lost to Cazadores in the following match but still managed to take the bronze medal in the end. Both structures should become a serious threat for the top dogs in the upcoming months, as they slowly but surely establish themselves among the top.  Could this be the beginning of a lasting rivalry between both teams?
The Nottinghamshire Street Shooters, more commonly known as NSS, have been showing glimpse of greatness as of late, and could very well continue to climb in the rankings, would they maintain a similar form as witnessed during the last events. The team lead by Maskman - and mostly 45thN based - has been one of the hot prospect within the T2 scene in the past few months and the strong form shown at PTK 7v7 last Sunday was definitely an all-high performance for NSS, only losing from the smallest of margin against the winner of the last two tournaments, Super Saiyans & Jedi Masters.
It will have to be seen if they replicate such results on a regular basis but NSS can definitely aspire at more and shouldn’t be underestimated by anyone, not even the top teams.
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