Biggest CS2 Tournaments in 2024
The biggest Counter-Strike 2 tournaments represent the zenith of competitive gaming, embodying the spirit, skill, and strategy that defines the game. This has been true since the earliest days of Counter-Strike and remains so now, with these marquee events captivating fans worldwide. Beyond entertainment, these tournaments serve as a vital lifeline for the game’s long-term health. They incentivize players to aim for recognition, compete for substantial monetary prizes, and carve out a lasting legacy.
Attending the biggest CS2 tournaments in 2024, whether online or in person, provided fans with a golden opportunity to connect with fellow enthusiasts and witness the game’s history unfold. These competitions are more than just thrilling spectacles — they act as a driving force behind the evolution of esports, pushing boundaries, sparking innovation and setting new benchmarks for competitive gameplay.
So, what is the biggest CS2 tournament in 2024? Building on our recap of the biggest CS tournaments in 2023, this article dives into the 13 standout tournaments that defined the competitive landscape in 2024. We will rewind the most captivating moments, analyze their significance, and discuss the impact on the global esports ecosystem.
IEM Katowice 2024
Dates: January 31–February 11
Prize Fund: $1,000,000
Winner: Team Spirit
IEM Katowice 2024 kicked off the year with one of the biggest CS2 championships in 2024. The event hosted 24 teams competing for a total prize pool of $1,000,000 via three stages (play-in, group stage, and playoffs). The matches were hosted in the Spodek Arena, an iconic venue for esports in Poland.
Team Spirit emerged victorious, took home $400,000, with their performance throughout the entire tournament second to none. They successfully navigated through the group stages and playoffs, culminating in a decisive 3–0 victory against FaZe Clan in the grand final.
PGL Major Copenhagen 2024
Dates: March 17–31
Prize Fund: $1,250,000
Winner: Natus Vincere
The PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 was scheduled from March 17 to March 31 in Denmark. With a $1.25 million prize pool, it was one of the most important CS2 tournaments in 2024. 24 participating teams battled for financial rewards, enhanced player reputations, and a well-deserved place in Esports history as the first CS2 Major winners.
Natus Vincere defied expectations with their resilient performance, clinching the championship in a 2–1 grand final against FaZe Clan. Like all CS:GO Major winners, Natus Vincere repeated the moment of glory, becoming the first cybersport organization to win Majors in every iteration of Counter-Strike.
IEM Chengdu 2024
Dates: April 8–14
Prize Fund: $250,000
Winner: FaZe Clan
Hot on the heels of the Copenhagen Major, elite teams jetted off to China for the IEM Chengdu 2024, one of the most anticipated CS2 S tier tournaments. The group stage sifted through 16 contenders, leaving just six teams to slug it out in the playoffs for $100,000, Intel Grand Slam points, and a coveted spot at IEM Cologne 2024.
Despite not all matches living up to S-tier standards in terms of spectacle, FaZe demonstrated why they’re a force to be reckoned with, securing their eighth consecutive grand final appearance in the CS2 era. Shaking off the sting of defeat in Copenhagen, they stormed past Liquid, Astralis, and then MOUZ in the grand final to lift the trophy.
ESL Pro League S19
Dates: April 23–May 12
Prize Fund: $750,000
Winner: MOUZ
ESL Pro League Season 19 unfolded in Malta, with ESL and Intel teaming up to host this offline showdown from April 23 to May 12, 2024, and featured 32 teams battling for a prize pool of $750,000. Of course, the ESL Pro League has always been a prominent event that lasts a few weeks, requiring a daily check of the CS2 current tournament page.
Traditionally, it was among the biggest events in 2024 despite it being played in the traditional studio format in the InterContinental Malta hotel. In the absence of big-stage jitters, MOUZ cruised to back-to-back titles in the familiar location, dismantling Vitality in a convincing 3-0 grand final. However, Vitality’s ‘ZywOo’ snagged the MVP title, keeping his star shining bright.
IEM Dallas 2024
Dates: May 27–June 2
Prize Fund: $250,000
Winner: G2
While the $250,000 prize pool might seem modest for an S-Tier event, IEM Dallas 2024 more than made up for it with its electric atmosphere and high-caliber participants. As always with Intel Extreme Masters as CS2 major sponsors, 16 teams locked horns for six playoff spots and a shot at glory in the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.
Future champions G2 arrived in Dallas without a designated IGL, calling in former American legend ‘Stewie2K’ to step into the role. Unsurprisingly, the local audience crowd was over the moon to see one of their own back on the stage. This gave an incredible moral boost to the whole G2 roster, allowing them to overcome Team Vitality in the final (2-1).
BLAST Premier Spring Final 2024
Dates: June 12–16
Prize Fund: $425,000
Winner: Spirit
The BLAST Premier: Spring Final 2024 took place in Britain from June 12 to 16 and was the first elite CS2 tournament in 2024 organized by BLAST. Eight top-tier teams who passed the Spring Groups 2024 clashed for a $425,000 prize pool and a chance to solidify their status ahead of the World Final in November.
Team Spirit emerged as the dominant force, breezing through the brackets and clinching the $200,000 top prize by outclassing NAVI in a 3–1 grand final. The prodigy of the CS2 scene, rising star Danil 'donk' Kryshkovets, bagged his fourth MVP medal in 2024, further cementing his reputation as the next big thing in CS2.
Gamers8 Esports World Cup 2024
Dates: July 17–21
Prize Fund: $1,000,000
Winner: Natus Vincere
The second part of the 2024 season on the S-tier level kicked off in style in Saudi Arabia at the Gamers8 festival, where Esports World Cup 2024 presented one of the biggest CS prize pools for grabs. Fifteen teams threw their hats in the ring for the biggest CS2 tournament in the Middle East, which has all the signs for further development, even with a fast-paced elimination format.
Natus Vincere took the crown, dismantling FaZe, MOUZ, and G2 in the grand final, showing a well-structured game plan. The first-ever career MVP went to ‘b1t,’ whose historic accomplishment of winning Majors in both CS:GO and CS2 solidified his place as a cornerstone of NAVI’s success in Riyadh.
IEM Cologne 2024
Dates: August 7–18
Prize Fund: $1,000,000
Winner: Vitality
Running from August 7 to 18 in Germany, IEM Cologne 2024 featured a $1,000,000 prize pool and 24 teams vying for glory. The tournament followed a rigorous format, kicking off with play-ins, moving through group stages and culminating in high-stakes playoffs.
With a predicted MVP award winner in the face of ‘ZywOo’, the French organization won their CS2 biggest tournament and first trophy in 2024. The triumph was especially sweet for ‘apEX,’ the legendary IGL, who secured his first-ever Cologne gold after a string of near-misses at the iconic LANXESS arena.
ESL Pro League S20
Dates: September 3–22
Prize Fund: $750,000
Winner: Natus Vincere
Hosted in the idyllic setting of Malta from September 3 to 22, ESL Pro League Season 20 was another crucial step in the ladder of elite CS2 tournaments in 2024. Traditionally, it brought together 32 best teams in the world for not just a share of the $750,000 prize pool but also global prestige.
The nearly three-week-long grind tested the resilience of many teams who couldn’t cope with exhausting distance, except NAVI. They showed incredible stability, and their toughest game was a final against the dark horse of the event, Eternal Fire. In a gripping five-map marathon that went down to the wire, NAVI’s experience shone through as they clinched the title. The MVP honors deservedly went to ‘jL,’ who added another accolade to his growing collection.
BLAST Premier Fall Final 2024
Dates: September 25–29
Prize Fund: $425,000
Winner: G2
Barely catching a breather after the anniversary of Pro League S20, the CS2 elite reconvened in Copenhagen for the BLAST Premier: Fall Final 2024. Running from September 25 to 29, this high-stakes showdown featured eight top teams battling for a share of the $425,000 prize pool, mirroring its Spring counterpart in prestige.
The finale pitted NAVI against G2, with the former riding high on a commanding 9–0 streak over their rivals. However, G2 turned the tide in spectacular fashion, claiming a decisive 3–1 victory and breaking their long-standing curse. Young AWPer ‘m0NESY’ secured his second MPV award of the year, solidifying his position in the race for the HLTV’s top-1 player in 2024.
IEM Rio 2024
Dates: October 7–13
Prize Fund: $250,000
Winner: Natus Vincere
CS2 organizers thought a weekly break was enough, so they sent all the top teams to South America for the nail-biting IEM Rio 2024. Despite a slightly reduced prize pool, the event in South America was among the most memorable CS2 S tier tournaments in 2024, thanks to its passionate local crowd and top-tier competition.
And yes, you are correct to see NAVI in their sixth consecutive grand final on the elite stage, with them winning every second tournament. This time, they outlasted MOUZ in a heated 3–1 showdown, fueled by the roaring Brazilian fans. The MVP honors went to another NAVI player in the face of ‘iM,’ further underscoring the immense depth and talent within the NAVI roster.
BLAST Premier World Final 2024
Dates: October 30–November 3
Prize Fund: $1,000,000
Winner: G2
This event can easily claim the status of the biggest tournament in CS2 in 2024, although it wasn’t the year-concluding S-tier battleplace. The BLAST Premier: World Final 2024 was the ultimate Counter-Strike 2 showdown, drawing top global teams into the skirmish for the championship and significant prizes by year's end. Held from October 30 to November 3, the event offered a massive $1,000,000 prize pool and the ultimate bragging rights in the CS2 scene.
The most persuasive performance came from G2, who was unstoppable among 8 participating teams, beating Liquid, Spirit, Vitality, and then Spirit once again in the final (3–0). Once again, the MPV went to ‘m0NESY,’ cementing his role as the linchpin of G2’s phenomenal success and securing the team a staggering $500,000 prize.
PW Shanghai Major 2024
Dates: November 30–December 15
Prize Fund: $1,250,000
Winner: Spirit
Scheduled for November 30–December 15 in Shanghai, China, the Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 served as the grand finale of the 2024 CS2 season. Boasting a $1,250,000 prize pool and 24 world-class teams, the Chinese major was one of the biggest CS2 tournaments. In order not to miss early-morning matchups because of uncommon time zones, many fans used our CS2 match schedule tool.
Echoing the drama of IEM Katowice 2024, several heavyweights faltered, with NAVI failing to make it past the group stage, while G2, Vitality, and MOUZ fell short of expectations. The final showdown featured FaZe and Spirit, with the latter edging out a nail-biting 2-1 victory. Spirit’s triumph in Shanghai solidified their place among the elite, bringing the 2024 CS2 season to a fitting close.
