Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) is one of the most popular esports games in the world, with a large number of dedicated players and an active competitive scene. Every year, there are big tournaments all over the world that draw the best players and teams from everywhere. Fans highly anticipate these events, which can attract millions of viewers online and in person.
One of the key factors driving the popularity of CS:GO tournaments is their high competition level and technicality. The best teams and players compete for prize pools that can reach millions of dollars. This high level of competition can make for some exciting matches, with skilled players employing complex strategies and pinpoint accuracy to gain an advantage over their opponents.
Not all tournaments are designed equally. Some events are more highly anticipated and draw larger audiences than others. Most of the time, the most popular ones have the biggest prize pools, the most prestigious titles, teams, and even players. Fans eagerly await the commencement of these contests, even as they try CS:GO skin gambling to pass the time.
Top Five Biggest CS:GO tournaments by views
Every year, various teams go head-to-head seeking glory for a prize pool. These events draw attention from gamers across the world. We present below the five biggest CS:GO tournaments, ranked in descending order by views:
- One of the biggest CS:GO tournaments in recent years was the Boston Major 2018. The contest was organized by PGL and held in Boston, Massachusetts, and it drew a peak viewership of 1.13 million on Twitch. Each round featured 24 of the best CS:GO teams from around the world, all competing for a prize pool of $1 million. The grand finals were a tense and exciting affair, with Cloud9 taking home the title after a hard-fought victory over FaZe Clan.
- Another major CS:GO tournament that drew a large audience was the Eleague Major 2017. This tournament was held in Atlanta, Georgia, and drew a peak viewership of 1.03 million on Twitch. Each event featured 16 teams from around the world and offered a prize pool of $1 million. The grand finals were a thrilling showdown between Astralis and Virtus.pro, with Astralis coming out on top to take home the title.
- The ESL One Cologne 2015 was another major event that drew a large viewership, with a peak of 1.02 million viewers on Twitch. Held in Cologne, Germany, the contest featured 16 of the best CS:GO teams in the world and a prize pool of $250,000. The grand finals were a closely battled match between Fnatic and Team EnVyUs, with Fnatic ultimately winning the title.
- More recently, the ESL One Rio 2020 attracted 965,000 views on Twitch. This event was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and featured 24 of the world’s best CS:GO teams. An amazing prize pool of $2 million, making it one of the largest CS: GO events in history. The grand finals were a highly anticipated matchup between G2 Esports and FaZe Clan, with G2 emerging victorious.
- Finally, the IEM Katowice 2019 hit a record 860,000 views on Twitch. Held in Katowice, Poland, the tournament featured 24 of the best CS:GO teams from around the world and offered a prize pool of $1 million. The grand finals were a thrilling match between Astralis and ENCE, with Astralis ultimately taking home the title.
Conclusion
The biggest CS:GO tournaments by viewership are highly anticipated events that draw large crowds both in-person and online. They feature some of the best teams and players from around the world and offer high stakes in the form of large prize pools and prestigious titles. These tournaments can be thrilling to watch, with skilled players employing complex strategies and pinpoint accuracy to gain an advantage over their opponents.
While the tournaments listed above are among the largest and most highly anticipated CS:GO events, many other tournaments take place throughout the year that also draw large viewership numbers. There are small regional tournaments and big international ones. Each has its own atmosphere and level of competition.
