All CS:GO Major Winners and Prize Pools of All Time

In a bittersweet turn for esports fans, the iconic CS:GO Major Championships bid adieu, making way for the eagerly anticipated CS2. This article serves as a tribute, summarizing the CS:GO Major Tournaments Winners in chronology. As we nostalgically relish the memories, we also look forward to the uncharted territories CS2 is set to explore, promising a fresh wave of excitement, competition, and history in the making.

DreamHack Winter 2013

This groundbreaking tournament, orchestrated by DreamHack and generously sponsored by Valve, unfolded at the Elmia Exhibition and Convention Center in Jönköping, Sweden.

Team Fnatic's victory marked a historic chapter, earning them the $100,000 trophy. Having NiP as 2nd, and VeryGames and compLexity Gaming in 3rd-4th places, the event garnered immense attention, reaching a peak of 145,000 concurrent viewers on both Twitch and the in-game viewing client, being the first tournament and start of all CS:GO major results.

ESL Major Series One Katowice 2014

Katowice, Poland, hosted a thrilling Major in March 2014. Virtus.pro emerged victorious, earning them $100,000. Their triumph marked a pivotal moment in esports history, setting the stage for future champions in the $250,000 event and becoming one of the earliest CS:GO major winners.

Streaming on Twitch, the event garnered massive attention, reaching a peak of over 250,000 viewers, highlighting the growing fervor of the esports community.

ESL One: Cologne 2014

Masterminded by the ESL and generously backed by Valve, the tournament featured a formidable prize pool of $250,000.

NiP claimed victory in a gripping showdown against Fnatic, triumphing 2–1 in the finals, a battle watched by over 400,000 viewers on the official ESL Twitch channel. Across four intense days, the event garnered the attention of a staggering 2,950,600 unique viewers, underscoring its global appeal.

DreamHack Winter 2014

In November 2014, Jönköping, Sweden, the whole world saw Team LDLC's triumph, earning them $100,000. Their victory marked a memorable chapter in Major Championship history, solidifying their place in CS:GO's legacy in the $250,000 event. However, despite the victory, LDLC has seen significant changes in its roster due to internal conflicts, now known as the "French shuffle."

ESL One: Katowice 2015

The event, held by the ESL, boasted a substantial prize pool of $250,000. Fnatic, Team EnVyUs, NiP, Virtus.pro, NaVi, PENTA Sports, and Team SoloMid returned as Legends from the prior Major, alongside the debutant Keyd Stars. In a nail-biting clash, Fnatic emerged victorious, clinching a 2–1 victory over NiP.

ESL One: Cologne 2015

Another event, backed by ESL, marked a significant moment in esports history, being the first to introduce mandatory drug testing for competitors, with all tests yielding negative results. With a substantial $250,000 prize pool, this Major captured the imagination of fans worldwide. The spotlight shone on Fnatic, who etched their names in history by securing victory over LG and Virtus.pro, ultimately defeating Team EnVyUs 2-0 in the grand finals.

DreamHack Open Cluj⁠-⁠Napoca 2015

In October 2015, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, witnessed Team EnVyUs' victory, earning them a lion piece of the $250,000 pool prize. Their triumph showcased their dominance, etching their name in the CS:GO past major winners list.

The playoffs showcased battle-hardened Legends: Fnatic, G2 Esports, LG, NaVi, NIP, Team EnVyUs, Team SoloMid, and Virtus.pro, all retaining their esteemed status from the prior major.

MLG Major Championship: Columbus 2016

Breaking away from the ESL and DreamHack tradition, MLG Columbus 2016 boasted an unprecedented $1,000,000 prize pool.

In a thrilling grand finale, the underdog Luminosity Gaming secured their major title, defeating NaVi 2–0. This historic victory made their name as the first non-European team to claim a major title, leaving an indelible mark on all CS:GO major champions.

ESL One: Cologne 2016

SK Gaming defended their title, winning $500,000. Their victory marked a pivotal moment, showcasing veterans' resilience and underdog talents in the $1,000,000 event. In that crucial moment during the finals, s1mple, destined to become the decade's best player, fell victim to coldzera, while Marcelo secured his first-ever two-time Major MVP title.

ELEAGUE Major Atlanta 2017

Atlanta, Georgia, became the epicenter of esports brilliance during the tenth CS:GO Major Championship. Astralis emerged victorious for the first time, earning $500,000. Interestingly,  Astralis ended up with Kjaerbye instead of Magisk, and for good Kjaerbye became Denmark's first MVP among all CS:GO majors.

To stay updated on current player performances and team standings, check out CS2 live stats for real-time statistics and analytics.

PGL Major Kraków 2017

The playoffs, a battleground of legends and rising stars, saw returning titans Astralis, Fnatic, Gambit Esports, North, SK Gaming, and Virtus.pro alongside newcomers BIG and Immortals. In a gripping finale, underdogs Gambits outplayed favorites Immortals in a thrilling best-of-three series, securing their place in history as the third non-European team to claim a Major victory.

ELEAGUE Major Boston 2018

The tournament commenced in Atlanta, Georgia, moving to Boston, Massachusetts, for the gripping playoffs. One of the major's most humiliating final defeats occurred when FaZe, faltered against Cloud9. But even though Cloud9 had a doubtful roster that no one believed could win, they became the first North American team among CS major winners.

FACEIT Major: London 2018

London's O2 Arena became the battleground for the esports elite during the FACEIT Major: the thirteenth Championship and the maiden venture organized to add new names to the list of CS:GO majors.

Twenty-four top-tier teams clashed fiercely for the coveted title and a share of the $1,000,000 prize pool. Astralis, with their masterful gameplay, emerged victorious, securing the lion's share of $500,000. NaVi, MIBR, and Team Liquid also showcased their prowess.

Intel Extreme Masters XIII — Katowice Major 2019

In the heart of Katowice, Poland, the world's best teams clashed in a battle for supremacy. Astralis, Team Liquid, MIBR, NaVi, and FaZe, renowned Legends, faced off against emerging forces like ENCE. In a jaw-dropping finale, Astralis, the world's number one team, showcased their mastery by defeating ENCE, winning a staggering $500,000.

StarLadder Berlin Major 2019

In the heart of Berlin, Germany, the event maintained the Major's prestigious tradition. Making history, Astralis emerged victorious, pocketing $500,000 and etching their name as the first team in history to clinch four Majors during six years, adding a new victory to CS:GO previous major results. So, no, this photo of Astralis is from a different year, even though it looks the same ;)

PGL Major Stockholm 2021

The PGL Major Stockholm 2021 marked the glory of competitive CS:GO after a two-year hiatus because of the COVID-19 pandemic, adding to all CS:GO valve major winners new names.

This Major was monumental not only due to its thrilling matches but also its impressive $2,000,000 prize pool, a notable increase for all CS:GO major tournaments that were before, reflecting the absence of offline competitions during the pandemic. NaVi emerged as champions, claiming the coveted title along with a staggering $1,000,000 prize. It was also the first Major winning for one of the best AWPers in the world — s1mple. G2 Esports secured the runner-up position.

PGL Major Antwerp 2022

In the heart of Antwerp, Belgium, the seventeenth tournament transcended boundaries, attracting twenty-four elite teams.

FaZe emerged triumphant, claiming the remarkable $500,000 prize. This victory created  history as the first international team to clinch a major title and become CS:GO recent major winners. The runners-up were NaVi, Team Spirit, and ENCE.

Intel Extreme Masters Rio Major 2022

This tournament marked an unprecedented chapter in esports history as the eighteenth CS:GO Major Championship, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The remarkable - emerged victorious, outclassing Heroic in a gripping 2–0 finale.

This event was a monumental win and a groundbreaking moment, being Brazil's inaugural Major. Notably, tickets for this gaming spectacle vanished within an hour, underscoring the tournament's feverish anticipation.

BLAST.tv Paris Major

The nineteenth and final, amongst CS:GO major champions over the years, marked the end of an era. Hosted at Paris's Accor Arena, this historic event featured twenty-four top-tier teams, competing for a monumental $1,250,000 prize pool. Notably, this Major Championship was the first ever hosted by BLAST.

In a thrilling grand final, Team Vitality emerged victorious, defeating GamerLegion 2–0 and claiming the coveted title with runner-ups – GamerLegion.

To see how teams stack up in the new era following the transition to Counter-Strike 2, check out the latest CS2 team rankings for a comprehensive overview of the competitive landscape.

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