Since the rise of the CS:GO scene, the prize pools in tournaments have gone up significantly so as the number of tournaments coming to light. CSGO prize pools have emerged with time.
Further, Valve has a fixed prize pool for their tournaments set at $250,000 which is the highest prize pool in CS:GO at the moment. With the growth of esports and Counter-Strike, the prize pool amounts will raise for sure.
With an expanding fan base and growing prize pools, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is one if the most popular esports in the world.
New sponsorship deals and tournaments are announced every other day in the world of CS:GO, and as it grows, so too does the size of the prize pools on offer.
Highest CSGO prize pools of all time
We have compiled a list of the events from Esportsearnings.com as of Tuesday, February 13th and their details for you to enjoy.
MLG Major Championship: Columbus 2016 – $1,000,000
Organized by Major League Gaming (MLG) MLG Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major Championship: Columbus was the eighth Counter-Strike: Global Offensive held throughout March 29 to April 3, 2016, in the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, US.
It was the first CS:GO Major in North America as well as the first run by Major League Gaming, who previously ran an exhibition CS:GO tournament at X Games Aspen 2015.
It was also the very first CS:GO major in which ESL or DreamHack was not the organizer. It was announced on February 23, 2016 that MLG Columbus 2016 would be the first Counter-Strike tournament with a $1,000,000 prize pool.
The tournament hosted a total of sixteen teams and witnessed the solidification of the ‘Luminosity/SK’ era.
The then Luminosity team claimed first place and $500,000 as they defeated Natus Vincere in the grand final.
The final standings for MLG Major Columbus:
- 1st: Luminosity – $500,000
- 2nd: Natus Vincere – $125,000
- 3/4th: Liquid – $70,000
- 3/4th: Astralis – $70,000
- 5-8th: Counter Logic Gaming – $35,000
- 5-8th: Fnatic – $35,000
- 5-8th: Ninjas in Pyjamas – $35,000
- 5-8th: Virtus.pro – $35,000
- 9-12th: Gambit – $8,750
- 9-12th: Mousesports – $8,750
- 9-12th: FaZe Clan – $8,750
- 9-12th: G2 Esports – $8,750
- 13-16th: Cloud9 – $8,750
- 13-16th: EnVyUs – $8,750
- 13-16th: Splyce – $8,750
- 13-16th: FlipSid3 – $8,750
ESL One Cologne 2016 – $1,000,000
ESL One Cologne 2016 was an Electronic Sports League Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament. It was the ninth Valve-sponsored tournament in CS:GO history.
It was held at the Lanxess Arena In Cologne, Germany from July 8–10. It featured 16 teams from throughout the world competing. Cologne 2016 had the second consecutive major with a prize pool of $1,000,000.
The playoffs featured eight teams. Astralis, Fnatic, Gambit Gaming, Natus Vincere, SK Gaming, Team Liquid, and Virtus.pro were returning Legends and FlipSid3 Tactics was the only new Legend. Ninjas in Pyjamas failed to retain its Legends status after eight straight majors of being Legends.
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The grand finals had SK Gaming, which was the defending champion from the previous major at MLG Major Championship: Columbus, against Team Liquid, which was the first ever North America team to reach the grand finals at a major. SK Gaming defeated FlipSid3 Tactics and Virtus.pro and Team Liquid upset Natus Vincere and Fnatic to reach the finals. In the end, SK Gaming defended its title 2-0 over the underdog Team Liquid and continued to be the only non-European team to win a title until the PGL 2017 Kraków Major Championship, in which Gambit Esports from Kazakhstan won the title. SK Gaming also joined Fnatic to be the only teams to have multiple major titles.
The final standings for ESL One Cologne 2016:
- 1st: SK Gaming – $500,000
- 2nd: Liquid – $150,000
- 3/4th: Fnatic – $70,000
- 3/4th: Virtus.pro – $70,000
- 5-8th: Flipsid3 – $35,000
- 5-8th: Natus Vincere – $35,000
- 5-8th: Gambit – $35,000
- 5-8th: Astralis – $35,000
- 9-12th: Ninjas in Pyjamas – $8,750
- 9-12th: Mousesports – $8,750
- 9-12th: Dignitas – $8,750
- 9-12th: FaZe Clan – $8,750
- 13-16th: EnVyUs – $8,750
- 13-16th: G2 Esports – $8,750
- 13-16th: OpTic Gaming – $8,750
- 13-16th: Counter Logic Gaming – $8,750
World Electronic Sports Games 2016 – $1,500,000
World Electronic Sports Games (WESG) is an international eSports championship tournament based in Shanghai and organized by AliSports. The first edition has a total prize pool of over US$5.5 million and the finals will be in December 2016.
WESG 2016 World Finals featured 24 teams ran from January 12-15. it was a unique event that had the clause that each team must be comprised of five members from the same country.
Because of this rule, many of the top CS:GO teams could not attend the event, creating a much more varied lineup.
The final standings for WESG 2016:
- 1st: EnVyUs – $800,000
- 2nd: Kinguin – $400,000
- 3rd: Virtus.pro – $200,000
- 4th: Space Soldiers – $60,000
- 5-8th: Epsilon – $10,000
- 5-8th: DarkPassage – $10,000
- 5-8th: Tyloo – $10,000
- 5-8th: iGame.com – $10,000
- 9-12th: K23
- 9-12th: Selfless
- 9-12th: VG.CyberZen
- 9-12th: Signature
- 13-16th: Colombia
- 13-16th: Ukraine
- 13-16th: Bravado
- 13-16th: .Russia
- 17-20th: REAK
- 17-20th: QuetzaL
- 17-20th: FIVE
- 17-20th: TeamOne
- 21-23rd: SubtLe
- 21-23rd: ENZO
- 21-23rd: JYP
ELEAGUE Season 1 – $1,410,000
ELEAGUE Season 1 was the inaugural season of the ELEAGUE Counter-Strike: Global Offensive league that ran from May 24, 2016, to July 30, 2016, and was broadcast on cable television on TBS and online on twitch.tv.
On September 24, 2015, Turner Broadcasting announced that it was partnering with talent agency WME/IMG for a new esports project.
The season featured 24 teams from across the world to compete in a 10-week season, which included a regular season and playoffs. Matches are broadcast live on TBS on Friday nights, starting on May 27, 2016. The broadcast is simultaneously available on the online streaming service Twitch. Matches are played at the Turner Studios facility in Atlanta, Georgia, United States.
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The semifinals and final were played at the Cobb Energy Center.
Bringing eSport to a wide audience through mainstream cable TV provider TBS. During the course of ELEAGUE Season 1, almost 19 Million viewers were reached through TBS. This audience comprised of 97% Men aged 18-34. ELEAGUE had a prize pool of $1,410,000.
The final standings for Eleague Season 1:
- 1st: Virtus.pro – $390,000
- 2nd: Fnatic – $140,000
- 3/4th: Mousesports – $60,000
- 3/4th: Natus Vincere – $60,000
- 5-8th: Ninjas in Pyjamas – $50,000
- 5-8th: Astralis – $50,000
- 5-8th: EnVyUs – $50,000
- 5-8th: Cloud9 – $50,000
- 9/10th: FaZe Clan – $40,000
- 9/10th: Renegades – $40,000
- 11-14th: CLG – $40,000
- 11-14th: Gambit – $40,000
- 11-14th: FlipSid3 – $40,000
- 11-14th: G2 Esports – $40,000
- 15/16th: OpTic Gaming – $30,000
- 15/16th: Dignitas – $30,000
- 17-22nd: Team Liquid – $30,000
- 17-22nd: CompLexity – $30,000
- 17-22nd: NRG – $30,000
- 17-22nd: TSM – $30,000
- 17-22nd: Echo Fox – $30,000
- 17-22nd: Selfless – $30,000
- 23/24th: SK Gaming – $30,000
- 23/24th: Team X – $30,000
ELEAGUE Season 2 – $1,100,000
ELEAGUE Season 2 was the second season of the ELEAGUE Counter-Strike: Global Offensive league that ran from October 21, 2016 to December 3, 2016 and was broadcast on cable television on TBS. The season featured 120 teams overall and 16 teams in the main tournament from across the world competing in a seven-week season, which included a regular season and a playoffs.
The season began with Season 1 semifinalist mousesports defeating Brazil’s second best team Immortals and ended in the grand finals with OpTic Gaming pulling off an upset against Astralis to take home Season 2’s ELEAGUE title.
The final standings for ELEAGUE Season 2:
- 1st: OpTic Gaming -$400,000
- 2nd: Astralis – $140,000
- 3/4th: SK Gaming – $60,000
- 3/4th: FaZe Clan – $60,000
- 5-8th: Ninjas in Pyjamas – $50,000
- 5-8th: Mousesports – $50,000
- 5-8th: Virtus.pro – $50,000
- 5-8th: Dignitas – $50,000
- 9-12th: G2 Esports – $30,000
- 9-12th: Natus Vincere – $30,000
- 9-12th: Fnatic – $30,000
- 9-12th: Cloud9 – $30,000
- 13-16th: EnVyUs – $30,000
- 13-16th: ALTERNATE aTTaX – $30,000
- 13-16th: Echo Fox – $30,000
- 13-16th: Immortals – $30,000
 PGL Major Kraków 2017 – $1,000,000
Organised by PGL, PGL 2017 Kraków Major Championship was the eleventh Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major tournament. It was organized by PGL and held in Kraków, Poland from July 16 to 23, 2017.
A total of 16 teams participated in the tournament and all of the top tier teams were in attendance. Eight teams directly qualified based on their top eight placement in the last major, ELEAGUE Major 2017, while another eight teams qualified through the Offline Major Qualifier.
Analysts and casters were shocked by the result of the Major as favorites SK Gaming and Astralis failed to reach the final and the Kazakh team of Gambit claimed the title and a $500,000 first place prize.
The final standings for PGL Major Kraków 2017:
- 1st: Gambit – $500,000
- 2nd: Immortals – $150,000
- 3/4th:Virtus.pro – $70,000
- 3/4th: Astralis – $70,000
- 5-8th:SK Gaming – $35,000
- 5-8th: Fnatic – $35,000
- 5-8th: BIG Clan – $35,000
- 5-8th: North – $35,000
- 9-11th: Cloud9 – $8,750
- 9-11th: FlipSid3 – $8,750
- 9-11th: G2 Esports – $8,750
- 12-14th: Mousesports – $8,750
- 12-14th: Natus Vincere – $8,750
- 12-14th: PENTA – $8,750
- 15-16th: Vega Squadron – $8,750
- 15-16th: FaZe Clan – $8,750
ELEAGUE Major 2017 – $1,000,000
Organized by ELEAGUE, ELEAGUE Major 2017, was the tenth Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major tournament held in Atlanta, Georgia, United States from January 22 to 29, 2017.
It features sixteen professional teams from around the world. Eight teams directly qualified based on their top eight placement in the last major, ESL One Cologne 2016, while another eight teams qualified through the ELEAGUE Offline Major Qualifier. ELEAGUE Major is the third consecutive major with a prize pool of $1,000,000.
The playoffs had eight teams. Astralis, Fnatic, Gambit Gaming, Natus Vincere, SK Gaming, and Virtus.pro were returning Legends. FaZe Clan and North were new Legends and FlipSid3 Tactics and Team Liquid were out after failing to make the top eight.
The grand finals pitted Astralis, which was in its first-ever final after nine playoff appearances, and Virtus.pro, which was in its second finals and looking for its second major title. Astralis defeated Natus Vincere and Fnatic and Virtus.pro defeated North and the defending champions SK Gaming. After a close and tense three-game set, Astralis edged out Virtus.pro in the thirtieth round of the best of thirty rounds in game three for its first major title.
The final standings for Eleague Major 2017:
- 1st: Astralis – $500,000
- 2nd: Virtus.pro – $150,000
- 3/4th: SK Gaming – $70,000
- 3/4th: Fnatic – $70,000
- 5-8th: Natus Vincere – $35,000
- 5-8th: Gambit – $35,000
- 5-8th: FaZe Clan – $35,000
- 5-8th: North – $35,000
- 9-11th: Liquid – $8,750
- 9-11th: GODSENT – $8,750
- 9-11th: EnVyUs – $8,750
- 12-14th: Mousesports – $8,750
- 12-14th: G2 Esports – $8,750
- 12-14th: OpTic Gaming – $8,750
- 15-16th: HellRaisers – $8,750
- 15-16th: FlipSid3 – $8,750
 ELEAGUE Major: Boston 2018 – $1,100,000
ELEAGUE Major: Boston 2018, was the twelfth Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major tournament and second organized by ELEAGUE.
The group stage was held in Atlanta, Georgia, the United States from January 12, 2018, to January 22, 2018, and the playoffs took place in Boston, Massachusetts, the United States from January 26, 2018, to January 28, 2018.
It featured twenty-four professional teams from around the world. All sixteen teams from last major, PGL 2017 Kraków Major Championship, directly qualified for the major while another eight teams qualified through their respective regional qualifiers as ELEAGUE and Valve Corporation agreed to expand the major to 24 teams.
ELEAGUE Major was the fifth consecutive major with a prize pool of $1,000,000. This was also the first time a CS:GO major will take place in two cities.
The grand finals featured FaZe Clan, which was the favorite to win the tournament, and Cloud9, which was the second North American team to reach a major final. FaZe defeated mousesports and Natus Vincere to reach the finals, while Cloud9 pulled off two upsets with wins against G2 Esports and SK Gaming. In what is being called one of the greatest finals of all time, Cloud9 etched out the win over FaZe Clan to become the first-ever North American team to win a major. It would also mark just the third time in CS:GO history in which a North American team won an international event, behind iBUYPOWER winning the ESEA Global Finals Season 15 and Cloud9 winning ESL Pro League Season 4.
The final standings for Eleague Major Boston 2018:
- 1st: Cloud9 – $500,000
- 2nd: FaZe – $150,000
- 3/4th: SK Gaming – $70,000
- 3/4th: Natus Vincere – $70,000
- 5-8th: Mousesports – $35,000
- 5-8th: fnatic – $35,000
- 5-8th: Quantum Bellator Fire – $35,000
- 5-8th: G2 Esports – $35,000
- 9-11th: Space Soldiers – $8,750
- 9-11th: Gambit – $8,750
- 9-11th: Vega Squadron – $8,750
- 12-14th: Astralis – $8,750
- 12-14th: States Liquid – $8,750
- 12-14th: Team BIG – $8,750
- 15-16th: Virtus.pro – $8,750
- 15-16th: North – $8,750
