The long history of Counter-Strike esports is filled with many important tournaments. Some were huge because of their prize money, others because millions of fans watched live, and some because they created unforgettable moments. The biggest events, especially the Majors that Valve supports, are the most important ones. These tournaments helped shape CS esports and made many players famous forever.
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10 Biggest Tournaments in Counter-Strike History
- PGL Major Stockholm 2021: This event holds the record for the biggest prize money ever at $2,000,000 and the most people watching.
- WESG 2017: Offered a huge $1,500,000 prize pool, which was one of the largest for a non-Major event.
- PGL Major Antwerp 2022: This tournament had the second-largest number of people watching at one time in the history of the game.
- PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen 2024: This was the very first Major tournament for the new game, Counter-Strike 2.
- ELEAGUE Season 1: A pioneering event that had a big $1.41 million prize pool and was shown live on TV.
- IEM Rio Major 2022: Famous for having the most excited and passionate fans in the history of CS, especially the Brazilian crowd.
- BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023: This was the final official Major championship for the old game, CS:GO, which was a very emotional moment.
- ELEAGUE Major: Boston 2018: The big tournament where the team Cloud9 won the only Major victory for North America.
- ESL One Cologne 2016: Often called the “Cathedral of Counter-Strike,” this is one of the most loved and important yearly events.
- DreamHack Winter 2013: This was the first-ever Major that Valve sponsored, starting the tradition of all the big tournaments we see today.
1. PGL Major Stockholm 2021
This tournament broke almost every record in CS:GO. It offered a massive $2,000,000 prize pool and reached over 2.7 million peak viewers, the highest ever for a CS event. Natus Vincere (Na’Vi) dominated the entire tournament and won without dropping a single map, one of the cleanest Major victories in history.
2. WORLD ELECTRONIC SPORTS GAMES 2017
WESG 2017 had a huge $1,500,000 prize pool, making it one of the biggest non-Major tournaments ever. What made WESG unique was its rule that all five players on a team had to be from the same country. This gave it an Olympic-style feeling, as fans could cheer for national teams instead of normal esports organizations.
3. PGL Major Antwerp 2022
Antwerp was the second-most-watched CS event ever, reaching over 2.1 million peak viewers. It is especially remembered because FaZe Clan finally won their first Major after many years of trying. This victory also made karrigan one of the oldest players to ever lift a Major trophy.
4. PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen 2024
This tournament was historic because it was the first Major for Counter-Strike 2. With a $1,250,000 prize pool, it showed that the transition from CS:GO to CS2 could still deliver top-level competition. Team Spirit won the first CS2 Major, led by young superstar donk, who became one of the biggest names in the new era.
5. ELEAGUE Season 1
Held in 2016, ELEAGUE Season 1 was revolutionary. It was broadcast weekly on TBS television in the United States, something very rare for esports at the time. With a $1,410,000 prize pool and high-quality production, ELEAGUE helped bring CS:GO esports to a more mainstream audience.
6. IEM Rio Major 2022
The Rio Major is remembered for having the loudest and most energetic crowd in Counter-Strike history. The Brazilian fans packed the arena and created an unforgettable atmosphere. The $1,250,000 event ended with Outsiders (now known as Virtus.pro) taking the championship in a surprising and emotional victory.
7. BLAST.TV Paris Major 2023
Paris 2023 was the last CS:GO Major ever, making it very emotional for the entire community. The event had a $1,250,000 prize pool and ended with Team Vitality winning the final CS:GO title in front of their home crowd. Paris marked the end of an era before the switch to CS2.
8. ELEAGUE Major: Boston 2018
This Major is famous because it gave North America its first and only Major victory ever! The underdog team Cloud9 beat the famous FaZe Clan in a very long, exciting final that went all three maps. The $1,000,000 tournament created one of the most memorable stories in the game.
9. ESL One Cologne 2016
Known as the “Cathedral of Counter-Strike,” ESL One Cologne 2016 took place in a huge arena filled with tens of thousands of fans. It was also the first Major to raise the prize pool to $1,000,000. Many players and fans still see Cologne as one of the most important tournaments every year.
10. DreamHack Winter 2013
DreamHack Winter 2013 holds a special place in history because it was the first-ever Valve-sponsored Major. Even though the prize pool was only $250,000, the event created the Major format we still use today, with stickers, team autographs, and big stages. It officially began the era of modern Counter-Strike esports.
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Conclusion
These ten tournaments show how Counter-Strike grew from small LAN events to some of the biggest esports competitions in the world. Prize money may change from year to year, but the honor of winning a Major, old or new, is still the greatest achievement any team can earn in Counter-Strike.
