Organization Dossier · Europe

BIG

### 1. Executive Dossier & Strategic Overview BIG enters the final quarter of 2026 as the standard-bearer of German Counter-Strike. The Berlin-based organization holds the #27 position on the HLTV World Ranking and the #24 slot in the Valve Regional Standings for Europe, supported by 22 weeks inside the international Top 30. The current roster is a fascinating blend of legendary experience and emerging talent: Johannes "tabseN" Wodarz, the German icon whose nine years and eight months of service and 2,140 maps make him one of the longest-serving players in professional Counter-Strike history; Jon "JDC" de Castro, the German rifler with two years and seven months of tenure; Gleb "gr1ks" Gazin, the Belarusian rifler; Benjamin "blameF" Bremer, the Danish star whose 1.22 rating across 159 maps represents one of the most remarkable statistical anomalies of the season; and Josef "faveN" Baumann, the veteran German in-game leader. Under the guidance of head coach Sebastian "xenn" Hoch, who has compiled a 63 percent win rate across 246 maps over the past year, BIG has produced a 52.6 percent three-month map win rate. The organization's career ledger includes five premier-tier LAN titles, and the current core has remarkably reached the Legends stage of the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 and the IEM Rio Major 2022. This definitive biography chronicles BIG from its founding as a German grassroots project to its current status as one of the most storied organizations in European Counter-Strike. ### 2. The Genesis & Early Competitive Era BIG was founded in 2013 as a German esports organization with a clear mission: to build a sustainable Counter-Strike program that would represent Germany on the world stage. The early years were defined by the patient construction of a competitive infrastructure and the development of a distinctly German tactical identity — structured, disciplined, and built on rigorous utility usage and positional play. The organization's breakthrough came with the formation of the legendary German core featuring tabseN and gob b, whose aggressive yet disciplined style propelled BIG into the European elite. The 2017-2018 era represented the organization's first golden age: BIG reached the grand final of ESL One Cologne 2018 — one of the most prestigious events in Counter-Strike — and advanced to the quarterfinals of the PGL Major Krakow 2017 and the FACEIT Major 2018. Those deep Major runs established BIG as a permanent fixture of the tier-one landscape and generated the organization's first Major sticker capsules. The early years also established the organization's commitment to German talent development, with tabseN emerging as the franchise player whose loyalty and consistency would define the BIG brand for nearly a decade. ### 3. The First Major Breakthrough BIG's first Major breakthrough came at the PGL Major Krakow 2017, where the German core advanced to the quarterfinals — a remarkable achievement that announced the organization as a permanent tier-one force. The run was characterized by the disciplined, structured style that defined German Counter-Strike: rigorous utility usage, positional play, and coordinated team executes. The quarterfinal appearance was followed by an even greater achievement at the FACEIT Major 2018, where BIG once more reached the quarterfinals, and the ELEAGUE Major 2018, where the team advanced to the Legends stage. The 2018 ESL One Cologne grand final appearance — where BIG finished as runner-up — represented the organization's first S-tier trophy match and cemented its reputation as a team capable of competing with the world's elite on the biggest stages. The Major appearances generated invaluable experience and established the organizational knowledge that would sustain BIG through subsequent roster evolutions. Each Major run also produced sticker capsules that became prized digital collectibles, commemorating the German core's achievements for posterity. ### 4. Key Roster Rebuilds & Landmark Signings BIG's roster history is a study in the challenges of sustaining success in a rapidly evolving competitive landscape. The departure of the legendary gob b/tabseN core necessitated a series of rebuilds, each attempting to recapture the magic of the organization's golden era. The most recent rebuild — completed in 2026 — represents the most promising iteration in years. The acquisition of Benjamin "blameF" Bremer, the Danish rifler whose 1.22 rating across 159 maps represents one of the most remarkable statistical anomalies of the season, was a transformative signing that immediately elevated the team's offensive ceiling. The addition of Gleb "gr1ks" Gazin, the Belarusian rifler with 11 months of service, added youthful aggression and versatility. The coaching appointment of Sebastian "xenn" Hoch — whose 63 percent win rate across 246 maps has provided tactical stability — completed the rebuild. The loan of Krimbo to NIP on 2 September 2026 demonstrated the organization's continued role as a talent developer, while the retention of tabseN — now in his tenth year with the organization — provided invaluable continuity and leadership. The average squad age of 27.0 years reflects a roster built on experience rather than youth, a deliberate strategy that contrasts with the industry's prevailing trend toward young, unproven talent. ### 5. The Online Era Dynamics BIG's 2026 campaign has been defined by steady online consistency and a return to Major relevance. The organization's 22 weeks in the HLTV Top 30 — while modest compared to the organization's historical peaks — represents a significant achievement for a roster in the early stages of its development under a new coaching staff. The 52.6 percent three-month win rate reflects a team that is competitive but still searching for the consistency that characterized its golden era. The online circuit has served as a proving ground for the new roster's tactical evolution, as xenn's system — built on disciplined defaults, structured utility usage, and aggressive mid-round adaptations — has been refined through hundreds of maps against diverse opposition. The organization's online performances have earned BIG regular invitations to premier LAN events and secured the Valve Regional Standing points that have kept the team in Major contention. The online era has also fostered the team's reputation as a dangerous opponent in high-stakes matches, with the roster's experience and tactical discipline making it a feared competitor in qualifier brackets and league playoffs. ### 6. The Transition to Tier-1 LAN Arenas BIG's transition to tier-one LAN competition has been marked by steady progress and memorable performances. The Esports World Cup 2026 — where the team finished 17-24th after hard-fought losses to Spirit (1:2) and G2 (1:2) — demonstrated the roster's ability to compete with the world's elite, with the 13:9 victory over Aurora showcasing the team's offensive potential. The Esports World Cup 2026 Open Qualifier run — where BIG finished 1-4th after victories over Sashi (2:1), GenOne (2:0), Eternal Fire (2:0), and Fluxo (2:0) — further showcased the team's growing LAN credibility. The IEM Beijing 2026 Closed Qualifier — where BIG finished 9-12th after a 2:0 victory over paiN — represented another step in the team's development. The FISSURE Playground 3 appearance — where the team finished 13-16th after losses to G2 (1:2) and BETBOOM (0:2) — provided additional high-level experience. The IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage 2 appearance — the team's first Major playoff berth of the season — represented a significant achievement and demonstrated that the rebuild is progressing. Each LAN appearance has added invaluable experience and demonstrated that the veteran-laden roster can compete with the world's best. ### 7. Scouting Infrastructure & Academy Pipeline BIG's commitment to player development is embodied in its scouting and talent identification infrastructure. The acquisition of blameF — identified as a generational Danish talent whose mechanical ceiling and statistical output would elevate any roster — was a scouting triumph that immediately transformed the team's offensive potential. The recruitment of gr1ks from the Belarusian scene demonstrated the organization's willingness to look beyond traditional talent markets, while the retention of faveN — the veteran German IGL — provided the tactical leadership necessary to maximize the roster's potential. The loan of Krimbo to NIP on 2 September 2026 demonstrated the organization's continued role as a talent developer, with the young player gaining valuable experience at a fellow German organization. The coaching staff — led by xenn — has created a development culture that balances individual expression with collective discipline, allowing experienced players to flourish within a structured system. The organization's history of developing and sustaining talent — from the legendary gob b/tabseN core to the current veteran-laden iteration — demonstrates a consistent ability to identify, develop, and maximize players across multiple generations. ### 8. Modern CS2 Roster Formation The current BIG starting five represents a fascinating blend of legendary experience and emerging talent. TabseN, the German icon with nine years and eight months of service and 2,140 maps, provides veteran leadership, consistent fragging (1.10 rating), and institutional knowledge that is invaluable to a roster in transition. JDC, the German rifler with two years and seven months of tenure, adds tactical discipline and consistent performance (1.10 rating). Gr1ks, the Belarusian rifler with 11 months of service, provides youthful aggression and versatility (1.14 rating). BlameF, the Danish star with eight months of service, is the roster's offensive centerpiece — his 1.22 rating across 159 maps representing one of the most remarkable statistical anomalies of the season and demonstrating the elite potential that made him one of the most sought-after players in Europe. FaveN, the veteran German IGL with eight months of service, provides the tactical leadership and in-game direction that maximizes the roster's collective potential. Under xenn's guidance, the roster has developed a cohesive tactical identity that blends German discipline with aggressive individual play. The average squad age of 27.0 years positions BIG as a team built on experience, with the veteran core providing the stability necessary for the younger players to develop. ### 9. Championship Trophies & S-Tier Glories BIG's trophy cabinet is among the most impressive in German Counter-Strike history. The organization's five premier-tier LAN titles include the Roobet Cup 2022, Funspark ULTI 2020 Europe Final, DreamHack Open Summer 2020 Europe, cs_summit 6 Europe, and DreamHack Masters Spring 2020 Europe — each representing a significant achievement in the competitive European circuit. The organization's Major achievements are equally impressive: BIG has reached the Legends stage of the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024, the IEM Rio Major 2022, the PGL Major Antwerp 2022, the StarLadder Major Berlin 2019, the IEM Katowice 2019, and the ELEAGUE Major 2018, with quarterfinal appearances at the FACEIT Major 2018 and the PGL Major Krakow 2017. The 2018 ESL One Cologne grand final appearance — where BIG finished as runner-up — remains the organization's most iconic moment, a testament to the golden era's competitive excellence. The current roster's IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage 2 appearance suggests that the organization's next Major breakthrough may be approaching, and the veteran core's experience positions BIG as a dangerous opponent in any high-stakes environment. ### 10. Tactical Architecture & Playbook Analysis BIG's tactical system, designed by head coach Sebastian "xenn" Hoch, is built on a foundation of German discipline and structured execution. The team's default protocols emphasize map control through disciplined utility usage and patient information gathering, with faveN's IGLing providing the tactical direction that ensures the team's structural integrity. The offensive game plan leverages blameF's exceptional mechanical ability as the primary space-creation tool, with the supporting cast providing utility and trade fragging to maximize the impact of his plays. The team's mid-round calling is characterized by proactive adaptations: when defaults are disrupted, BIG's players are empowered to make individual plays that catch opponents off guard — a philosophy that reflects the organization's historical commitment to aggressive, confident Counter-Strike within a structured framework. Defensively, the team relies on disciplined site anchoring and coordinated retakes, with tabseN's experience ensuring that critical resources are preserved for late-round situations. The 63 percent win rate across xenn's 246 maps coached reflects the system's effectiveness, while the 52.6 percent three-month win rate demonstrates its competitiveness in the current meta. ### 11. Map Pool Hegemony & Veto Strategy BIG's map pool has evolved into a well-rounded arsenal capable of competing with Europe's elite. The team's 52.6 percent three-month win rate is distributed across a diverse map pool, with particular strength on the maps where the roster's experience and tactical discipline can dominate — typically the maps that reward structured play and utility usage. The veto strategy emphasizes eliminating opponents' fortress maps while steering the series toward BIG's preferred battlegrounds, with the roster's veteran composition providing versatility across different map archetypes. The 22 weeks in the Top 30 demonstrate the map pool's depth and resilience against diverse tactical approaches. The organization's historical strength on the classic German maps — particularly those that reward the disciplined, positional style that has defined BIG since its founding — provides a foundation for continued development. As the roster continues to develop under xenn's guidance, the map pool is expected to deepen further, with the organization investing in specialized map-specific strategies and counter-strategies for the most common veto scenarios. ### 12. Digital Collectibles, Major Stickers & Brand Economy BIG's extensive Major history — including six Legends stage appearances and two quarterfinal runs — has generated a substantial collection of Valve Major sticker capsules that represent the organization's digital legacy. Each Major appearance produced team and player autograph stickers across Paper, Holo, and Ranked Foil variants, with the gold BIG logo serving as a collector tribute to the organization's Major achievements. The ESL One Cologne 2018 grand final stickers carry particular significance as commemoratives of the organization's most iconic moment. The five premier-tier LAN title stickers — from the Roobet Cup 2022 through the DreamHack Masters Spring 2020 Europe — further enrich the organization's digital collectible portfolio. As the current roster's competitive profile continues to develop — with the IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage 2 appearance suggesting a return to Major relevance — the market demand for BIG's digital collectibles is expected to grow, with early stickers from the 2026 era potentially becoming scarce artifacts of the xenn rebuild. The BIG brand — with its distinctive orange (#FF4D00) color identity and passionate German fanbase — has cultivated a dedicated following that ensures sustained commercial interest in the organization's digital economy. ### 13. Organizational Legacy & Future Outlook BIG's organizational legacy is inseparable from the history of German Counter-Strike. The organization's founding in 2013 established a commitment to developing German talent and representing the nation on the world stage that has defined the franchise for over a decade. The legendary gob b/tabseN era — featuring the ESL One Cologne 2018 grand final appearance and multiple Major Legends stage runs — remains the golden standard for German Counter-Strike, and tabseN's continued presence in the starting lineup provides an unbroken connection to that heritage. The 2026 rebuild under xenn has produced a roster with remarkable potential: blameF's 1.22 rating represents one of the most exciting individual talents in European Counter-Strike, and the veteran core's experience provides the stability necessary for the young players to develop. The IEM Cologne Major 2026 Stage 2 appearance demonstrates that the rebuild is progressing, and the organization's historical ability to compete with the world's elite — combined with the passionate German fanbase that has supported BIG through every roster evolution — ensures that the organization will remain a fixture of the European tier-one landscape. As the roster continues to develop and the young players gain experience, BIG's next Major breakthrough appears increasingly inevitable.