CSGO Major tournaments represent the zenith of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CSGO) competition, attracting millions of enthusiasts worldwide. Developed by Valve and Hidden Path Entertainment, CSGO stands as the fourth installment in the renowned Counter-Strike series, captivating both casual gamers and professional esports athletes.
With a bustling competitive ecosystem, the game witnesses participation from global teams in myriad tournaments, with Majors being the most illustrious. Majors are indeed the epitome of CSGO clashes, showcasing fierce battles for the coveted title of Major Champion and a substantial prize pool. This article embarks on a journey through the history of these prestigious Majors, spotlighting all the triumphant CSGO Major champions over the years.
The Beginnings
The first-ever CSGO Major took place in 2013, known as DreamHack Winter. This tournament was held in Jönköping, Sweden, and featured 16 teams from around the world. The teams competed in a double-elimination format, with each match being a best-of-three.
The Swedish team Fnatic emerged as the champions, defeating the French team VeryGames in the grand finals. This victory marked the beginning of Fnatic’s dominance in the CSGO competitive scene and set the stage for future Majors.
The Rise of Fnatic
Fnatic continued their dominance in the CSGO competitive scene by winning the second Major, ESL One Katowice 2014. This tournament was held in Katowice, Poland, and featured 16 teams from around the world.
The grand finals match was a thrilling encounter between Fnatic and the Ninjas in Pyjamas, another Swedish team. The match went into overtime, with Fnatic eventually emerging victorious. This victory solidified Fnatic’s position as one of the top teams in the world and marked their second Major title.
The Era of Virtus.pro
Virtus.pro, a Polish team, had their moment of glory in the CSGO Majors. They won two Majors back-to-back, ESL One Katowice 2014 and EMS One Katowice 2014. Virtus.pro showcased their exceptional teamwork and individual skill, defeating top teams like Ninjas in Pyjamas and Fnatic to claim the titles. These victories marked the beginning of the era of Virtus.pro, a team that would go on to become one of the most successful teams in CSGO history.
The Brazilian Dominance
The Brazilian team, Luminosity Gaming, made their mark in the CSGO Majors by winning two consecutive titles. They won MLG Columbus 2016 and ESL One Cologne 2016, solidifying their position as the best team in the world at that time.
Luminosity Gaming showcased their aggressive playstyle and exceptional teamwork, which proved to be a winning formula. These victories marked the first time a team from South America had won a CSGO Major, highlighting the global nature of the game’s competitive scene.
The Rise of Astralis
Astralis, a Danish team, emerged as the dominant force in the CSGO Majors in recent years. They won their first Major, ELEAGUE Major Atlanta 2017, by defeating Virtus.pro in the grand finals. Astralis showcased their tactical prowess and individual skill, setting a new standard for CSGO gameplay. This victory marked the beginning of the era of Astralis, a team that would go on to become one of the most successful teams in CSGO history.
Astralis continued their dominance by winning the FACEIT Major London 2018 and the StarLadder Berlin Major 2019. They became the first team in history to win three Majors in a calendar year. Astralis’ consistent performance and strategic gameplay made them the team to beat in the CSGO competitive scene.
The Reign of Team Liquid
Team Liquid, an American team, had their moment of glory in the CSGO Majors. They won the Intel Extreme Masters Season XIII – Katowice Major 2019, defeating ENCE, a Finnish team, in the grand finals. Team Liquid showcased their exceptional individual skill and teamwork, proving that they were a force to be reckoned with. This victory marked the first time an American team had won a CSGO Major, highlighting the global nature of the game’s competitive scene.
The Current Champions
The most recent CSGO Major champions are Natus Vincere (Na’Vi), a team from Ukraine. They won the Intel Extreme Masters Season XIV – Katowice Major 2020, defeating G2 Esports, a team from France, in the grand finals.
Na’Vi showcased their exceptional gameplay and teamwork, cementing their position as one of the top teams in the world. This victory marked the first Major title for Na’Vi, a team that had been competing in the CSGO competitive scene for many years.
Conclusion
The CSGO Majors have seen many champions throughout its history. From the early dominance of Fnatic to the recent reign of Astralis and Team Liquid, each Major has showcased the best teams in the world battling it out for the title.
The Majors have also highlighted the global nature of the CSGO competitive scene, with teams from Europe, North America, South America, and even Asia competing for the title. As the CSGO competitive scene continues to evolve, we can expect more thrilling Majors and new champions to emerge. The future of CSGO is bright, and we can’t wait to see what it holds.