8 Best CS:GO (CS2) Matches of All Time

CS:GO and then CS2 tournaments have always captured the attention of gamers worldwide, often pulling in literally millions of viewers at their peak. Yet, not every match packs the same punch in terms of entertainment. So, let’s take a trip down memory lane and revisit the most legendary CS matches in history that truly deserve your attention.

In this article, we’ll dive into 8 of the most unforgettable matches in Counter-Strike history. All of them were close matchups on the highest level and went to the wire at one of the maps, at least. These games were filled with unexpected twists and iconic moments, solidifying their place among the best CS matches in Esports.

Without further ado, let’s kick things off in chronological order and relive these epic clashes!

Team Liquid vs. Luminosity Gaming (MLG Columbus 2016, Semifinal)

The legendary semifinal at MLG Major Championship: Columbus 2016 is hands down one of the best CS:GO matches of all time. As the first major held in North America, hopes were sky-high for Team Liquid were high in the country, as they had impressive results in previous tournament games. The team also had a rising star Alexander “s1mple” Kostylev, who would later earn the title of the GOAT in the game.

Therefore, no one was surprised when, in the first game at Mirage, Liquid was sitting pretty with a 15:9 lead—just one round shy of victory. The crowd was ready to celebrate as Liquid launched their attack on B, but then Marcelo “coldzera” David stepped in with his legendary “flying” AWP shot that not only saved the game for LG but also earned a place in the game’s history as graffiti on Mirage. LG turned the tides, taking the map 19-15 and following up with a 19-16 win over Cache. The Brazilians would go on to clinch the title against NAVI in the final.

Astralis vs. Virtus.pro (ELEAGUE Major 2017, Final)

The ELEAGUE Major 2017 final was a showdown for the ages. Back there, two Tier-1 powerhouses, Astralis and Virtus.pro, squared off in Atlanta, delivering a match that’s etched in the memory of every CS fan.

Virtus.pro took the first map, Nuke, but Astralis clawed back on Overpass with a nail-biting 16-14 win. The final map, Train, seemed like it would go the way of the Polish veterans, and it seemed so until the 21st round. Virtus.pro was leading 13:7 for defense (which is considered easier on Train), but then Andreas “Xyp9x” Hojsleth pulled off a game-changing headshot with his Tec-9, breaking Virtus.pro’s momentum. Astralis pushed through, sealing the deal with a 16-14 victory and kicking off their era of dominance on the pro scene.

SK Gaming vs. Virtus.Pro (EPICENTR 2017, Final)

In late 2017, the EPICENTER final promised fireworks with a prize pool of half a million dollars and a legendary face-off between SK Gaming and Virtus.Pro. The best-of-five turned into an endless marathon, with two maps going into extra rounds.

Everything started with the first maps, as SK lost their Mirage without chances (10-16) but immediately bounced back with a commanding 16-7 win over Inferno. Train was a rollercoaster, as the “Bears” made a comeback after the 12-3 first half but lost their strong map in the extras.

While many fans thought it was the end and the Brazilians would cruise to victory on Cache, the Polish side decided to push the things down to the wire on Cobblestone. The legendary map turned into a 40-round thriller as it required so many rounds to be played. SK finally edged out a 22-18 win, making it the longest, the most intense but still one of the best CS:GO games.

FaZe Clan vs. Cloud9 (ELEAGUE Major 2018, Final)

The ELEAGUE Major 2018 final between FaZe Clan and Cloud9 is often hailed as one of the best CS:GO matches ever. The atmosphere was electric but it was the action on the servers that truly made this match unforgettable.

It is worth mentioning that FaZe was something of a dream team at the moment, boasting “olofmeister,” “GuardiaN,” “NiKo,” “karrigan,” and “rain” in their squad. Unsurprisingly, FaZe took down the first map, Mirage, with a 16:14 score, even though it was the pick of their North American rivals. The second map, Overpass, saw Cloud9 step up brilliantly in defense, heading into the second half with a 12:3 lead and wrapping it up 16-10.

The real climax hit when Cloud9 looked all but finished, trailing 15-11 and struggling to hold down bombsites on Inferno. However, their tight 2+3 defense setup came through in the clutch, and they executed it flawlessly in the decisive moments. All in all, the Americans pushed the game to the extra rounds, drawing the first extra round but closing it out in the second, making them the first major champions from the US.

Natus Vincere vs. Astralis (ESL Pro League Season 12 Europe, Final)

The ESL Pro League has switched up its formats throughout its history numerous times, including Season 12. Since NAVI reached the final through the winners' bracket, they were given an automatic 1-0 lead in the best-of-five final and confidently bagged their pick, Dust 2, with a 16-12 score. Winning two more maps in the grand final seemed like an uphill battle even for the legendary Astralis team, but the Danes weren’t ready to lay down their arms, turning the clash into the best CS match.

Thus, the third map could have easily sealed the deal, but Astralis nearly snagged Nuke with a close 16-14 victory. This narrow loss shook the CIS squad, who faltered on Train on the T-side, dropping it 2-13. However, a gritty comeback turned the game to double extras, where the Danes finally wore down their opponents, leveling the map score at 2-2. These two back-to-back nail-biters left Natus Vincere reeling, unable to regain their footing on Overpass, and they fell 11-16, handing over their 2-0 lead to Astralis, who claimed the title.

Gambit vs. HEROIC (ESL Pro League Season 13, Final)

The following ESL Pro League final was no less legendary and rightly stands as one of the most interesting CS matches despite being played online due to COVID restrictions. Two rising giants of the online era, Gambit and Heroic, faced off in the final, with no advantage going to either side.

The Danes nearly bagged their map pick, Inferno, after clinching it in the extras (19-17). Gambit immediately fired back, steamrolling Heroic on Vertigo 16-3. The third map turned into one of the longest-played maps in the grand final maps ever, with 54 rounds needed to decide the winner on Train, with the Danes narrowly coming out on top (28-16). However, the CIS youngsters dug deep and bounced back on Overpass, winning 16-10.

Despite this, they seemed to have run out of steam on the previous maps, as Heroic took control on the CT side, wrapping it up 13-2. And while it seemed only a matter of time before the Danes closed it out, their captain, Casper “cadiaN” Møller, did it in the most spectacular fashion. Thus, left in a 1v4 situation on eco round with just a P250 and no armor, he found perfect timing, knifed “sh1ro,” grabbed his AWP, and finished the game in style.

Game highlights:

cadiaN’s legendary round:

Spirit vs. FaZe (PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen 2024, Quarter Final)

Now, let's shift to some of the best CS2 matches, although this new game iteration is still fresh and doesn't yet have as many legendary games as CS:GO with a 10+ year legacy. The first match we want to highlight is the quarter-final at the inaugural CS2 Major in Copenhagen in 2024, where Spirit went up against FaZe. The CIS squad arrived at the event riding high after dominating their Katowice 2024 title run, while FaZe Clan kept pushing through to the finals in every CS2 event they entered.

The first map was a wake-up call for Spirit, who found themselves outmatched on Mirage, losing their pick 7-13. FaZe then opted for Nuke as their stronghold, but the CIS team, led by young prodigy Danil “donk” Kryshkovets, managed to drag the map into double extras and snatch it 19-16. The deciding map, Vertigo, seemed all but wrapped up for FaZe, who were ahead 12-5, but Spirit fought back to tie it at 12-12. Despite holding the psychological edge, they fell short, losing the map 16-14. FaZe then went on to defeat Vitality in the semis but lost to NAVI in the grand final.

G2 vs. Vitality (IEM Dallas 2024, Final)

Among the S-Tier events we've mentioned, the IEM Dallas had the smallest prize pool, with only $250k for all the participants. However, the crazy American crowd turned the event into a fierce battlefield, where all the top teams gave it their all. In the end, only two went all the distance, as Team Vitaliy faced off against G2, who had a stand-in, with local Jake “Stewie2K” Yip stepping in for Rasmus “HooXi” Nielsen as the IGL. The US crowd went wild seeing their compatriot on the stage, giving G2 an incredible boost that made them look unstoppable in the playoffs.

That said, the grand final was no walk in the park, as Vitality was equally determined to claim their first trophy in 2024 and came fully prepared for the showdown. The first map turned into a bloody battle, with G2 needing two extras to take their map pick, Inferno (19-16). Anubis played out similarly, with Vitality also having to go the distance to secure their map pick(16-13). With tensions running high, the energy from the local crowd gave G2 the edge they needed to close Nuke 13-8. The pivotal role in stopping the winless streak for “Ninjas” belonged to Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov, who put up an 83-50 K/D performance and deservedly took home the event's MVP award.

Summary

So, that wraps up our rundown of the best matches in Counter-Strike gaming history. Of course, the professional scene has witnessed many other epic battles, but we picked these as the most unforgettable. If you're curious about the teams that have consistently dominated the scene, check out our list of the best CS teams of all time. Root for your favorite teams, enjoy the game and maybe one day, you’ll find yourself on a list like this.

FAQ

What is the most-watched CS:GO match?

The most popular match was G2 vs. NAVI in the final of PGL Major Stockholm 2021, which drew in 2.748.434 viewers. Games featuring NAVI often attract massive audiences due to the team's immense popularity and skill of this team.