CSWikiAdmin: Bot: Phase 2: Maps & Competitive — create CS Major Championships

2026-02-23T20:54:06Z

Bot: Phase 2: Maps & Competitive — create CS Major Championships

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'''CS Major Championships''' (commonly called '''Majors''') are the most prestigious [[CS2 Esports|esports tournaments]] in [[Counter-Strike 2]], directly sponsored by Valve Corporation. They are the pinnacle of competitive Counter-Strike.

== Overview ==
Valve Majors are held twice per year (typically Spring and Fall) and feature the world's best teams competing for a minimum prize pool of $1.25 million. Majors are unique in the CS2 esports ecosystem because:
* Valve provides the prize pool and sets the format rules
* Teams earn revenue from in-game [[Stickers|sticker sales]]
* They grant qualifying spots through the RMR (Regional Major Ranking) system
* They carry the highest prestige in the Counter-Strike community

== Major History ==

=== CS:GO Era Majors ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
! # !! Tournament !! Date !! Location !! Winner !! Runner-Up !! Prize Pool
|-
| 1 || DreamHack Winter 2013 || Nov 2013 || Jonkoping, Sweden || Fnatic || Ninjas in Pyjamas || $250,000
|-
| 2 || EMS One Katowice 2014 || Mar 2014 || Katowice, Poland || Virtus.pro || NiP || $250,000
|-
| 3 || ESL One Cologne 2014 || Aug 2014 || Cologne, Germany || Fnatic || NiP || $250,000
|-
| 4 || DreamHack Winter 2014 || Nov 2014 || Jonkoping, Sweden || LDLC || NiP || $250,000
|-
| 5 || ESL One Katowice 2015 || Mar 2015 || Katowice, Poland || Fnatic || NiP || $250,000
|-
| 6 || ESL One Cologne 2015 || Aug 2015 || Cologne, Germany || Fnatic || EnVyUs || $250,000
|-
| 7 || DreamHack Open Cluj-Napoca 2015 || Nov 2015 || Cluj-Napoca, Romania || EnVyUs || Natus Vincere || $250,000
|-
| 8 || MLG Columbus 2016 || Apr 2016 || Columbus, USA || Luminosity || Natus Vincere || $1,000,000
|-
| 9 || ESL One Cologne 2016 || Jul 2016 || Cologne, Germany || SK Gaming || Team Liquid || $1,000,000
|-
| 10 || ELEAGUE Major 2017 || Jan 2017 || Atlanta, USA || Astralis || Virtus.pro || $1,000,000
|-
| 11 || PGL Major Krakow 2017 || Jul 2017 || Krakow, Poland || Gambit || Immortals || $1,000,000
|-
| 12 || ELEAGUE Major 2018 || Jan 2018 || Boston, USA || Cloud9 || FaZe Clan || $1,000,000
|-
| 13 || FACEIT Major London 2018 || Sep 2018 || London, UK || Astralis || Natus Vincere || $1,000,000
|-
| 14 || IEM Katowice 2019 || Mar 2019 || Katowice, Poland || Astralis || ENCE || $1,000,000
|-
| 15 || StarLadder Berlin Major 2019 || Sep 2019 || Berlin, Germany || Astralis || Avangar || $1,000,000
|-
| 16 || PGL Major Stockholm 2021 || Nov 2021 || Stockholm, Sweden || Natus Vincere || G2 Esports || $2,000,000
|-
| 17 || PGL Major Antwerp 2022 || May 2022 || Antwerp, Belgium || FaZe Clan || Natus Vincere || $1,000,000
|-
| 18 || IEM Rio Major 2022 || Nov 2022 || Rio de Janeiro, Brazil || Outsiders || Heroic || $1,250,000
|}

=== CS2 Era Majors ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" style="width:100%"
! # !! Tournament !! Date !! Location !! Winner !! Runner-Up !! Prize Pool
|-
| 19 || PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 || Mar 2024 || Copenhagen, Denmark || Natus Vincere || FaZe Clan || $1,250,000
|-
| 20 || Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 || Dec 2024 || Shanghai, China || Team Spirit || FaZe Clan || $1,250,000
|}

== Major Format ==

=== Qualification (RMR) ===
* Regional Major Rankings (RMR) events determine which teams qualify
* Three regions: Europe, Americas, Asia-Pacific
* Teams compete in closed qualifiers based on ranking points

=== Stages ===
# '''Opening Stage''' — 16 lower-seeded teams compete in Swiss format
# '''Elimination Stage''' — 8 teams from Opening join 8 Legends in Swiss format
# '''Playoffs''' — Top 8 teams in single-elimination bracket

=== Map Pool ===
Majors use the current Active Duty competitive map pool.

== Most Major Wins by Organization ==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Organization !! Wins !! Years
|-
| Astralis || 4 || 2017, 2018 (x2), 2019
|-
| Fnatic || 3 || 2013, 2014, 2015
|-
| Natus Vincere || 2 || 2021, 2024
|-
| SK/Luminosity || 2 || 2016 (x2)
|}

== Sticker Revenue ==
A significant aspect of Majors is the [[Stickers|sticker system]]:
* Valve releases team and player autograph stickers for each Major
* Revenue is split: 50% Valve, 50% teams/players/organizer
* Top teams can earn millions from sticker sales alone
* Katowice 2014 stickers are the most valuable collectibles in CS history

== See Also ==
* [[CS2 Esports]] — Broader esports scene overview
* [[Notable Teams]] — Team profiles and history
* [[Stickers]] — Tournament sticker details
* [[Counter-Strike History]] — Full franchise timeline

[[Category:Esports]]
[[Category:Tournaments]]

CS Major Championships - Revision history

CSWikiAdmin: Bot: Phase 2: Maps & Competitive — create CS Major Championships