Data-driven, game-literate
Krontiv exists because competitive gaming produces more structured data than almost any other form of competition, yet most of that data sits in fragmented databases, stripped of narrative context. We build a platform where the numbers are never alone. Every table has editorial context. Every ranking has methodology documentation. Every statistic tells a story about the players, teams, and games that produced it.
Our coverage spans four competitive titles — Counter-Strike 2, Valorant, League of Legends, and Dota 2 — with statistical depth that treats esports as a discipline of precision, strategy, and data. We do not predict outcomes. We do not offer tips or betting recommendations. We present the data, explain the methodology, and let readers draw their own conclusions.
The result is a publication that reads like a data-rich esports magazine: long-form editorial grounded in verifiable statistics. From HLTV rating decompositions to 12-year prize pool trend analysis, Krontiv makes readers smarter about the games they watch.
“Every round is a data point. Every map is a story.”
Our approach
Our methodology begins with primary data: publicly available match results from tournament organisers, broadcast feeds, and community platforms including HLTV, VLR, and Liquipedia. This data is cross-referenced against multiple sources before entering our database.
We supplement match data with odds-market information from our UKGC-licensed data partners. These partnerships are commercial and clearly disclosed. They do not influence our editorial output. Our analysis methodology is documented in The Workshop so readers can verify our working.
Cross-title comparison is a particular focus. Comparing CS2 ratings to Valorant ACS is statistically complex — different games, different player pools, different competitive ecosystems. We explain our normalisation approach and its honest limitations. Transparency about methodology is not optional; it is the foundation of credibility.
Data sources
Primary sources
HLTV.org (CS2 match data, player statistics, team rankings), VLR.gg (Valorant match data, ACS statistics), Liquipedia (cross-title tournament results, format details, historical records), tournament organisers (PGL, ESL, Riot Games, Valve) for official results and bracket data.
Data partners
Odds-market data from UKGC-licensed operators: Midnite, Betdaq, LiveScore Bet, Kwiff. Commercial partnerships that fund the platform without influencing editorial content.
The team
Alex Thornton
Lead Esports AnalystFormer HLTV contributor. CS2 specialist: economy analysis, rating methodology, map meta. Writes the “Round Review” column.
Maya Okonkwo
Senior WriterEsports journalism background at Dexerto and The Esports Observer. Covers the intersection of player performance and organisational strategy. Long-form Broadcast stories.
Rory Kim
Data EngineerBackground in game analytics. Responsible for cross-title rating normalisation, match data pipelines, and statistical methodology.
Beth Kavanagh
Tournament AnalystFormer PGL broadcast statistician. Builds tournament databases, bracket analysis, and historical event comparisons.
What readers say
“As a tournament organiser, I use Krontiv’s historical data to benchmark prize pools and format decisions. The methodology documentation gives me confidence in the numbers.”
— P.
“The editorial quality is what keeps me coming back. Every table has context. Every stat has a story. That’s rare in esports media.”
— U.
“I’m studying game design and the economy round explainer is the single best resource I’ve found on how CS2’s economic system creates strategic depth.”
— Z.