DreamHack to Shanghai: How CS Major Champions Changed the Game

Counter-Strike Major Championships have been the crucible of esports excellence since 2013. From the raw intensity of DreamHack Winter to the bold new frontier of Shanghai in 2024, these tournaments have forged champions and fueled a global passion for CS:GO and now CS2.

This is the tale of the teams who scaled the summit — a saga of brilliance, upsets, and a legacy that keeps growing.

Sweden’s Fnatic fired the opening shot at DreamHack Winter 2013. With Flusha and JW leading the charge, they claimed the first Major title and didn’t stop there—adding ESL One Katowice 2015 and ESL One Cologne 2015 to their haul. Three crowns in two years made Fnatic the early standard-bearers, igniting a competitive flame that still burns.

Virtus.pro seized their chance at ESL One Katowice 2014. Playing before a fervent Polish crowd, PashaBiceps and his squad delivered a near-flawless run, losing just one map. It was a victory that transcended the game — a roaring declaration of Poland’s place on the CS map.

Ninjas in Pyjamas (NiP) kept Sweden in the spotlight with their ESL One Cologne 2014 win — a rare Major jewel in their storied crown. France followed with flair: Team LDLC battled through chaos to take DreamHack Winter 2014, and Team EnVyUs shone at DreamHack Cluj-Napoca 2015, powered by kennyS’ sniper mastery. These triumphs widened the field, hinting at the global showdowns to come.

2016 was Brazil's breakout. Luminosity Gaming stunned at MLG Columbus, where Coldzera's Mirage heroics became lore. As SK Gaming, the same crew crushed ESL One Cologne 2016. Two Majors, one unstoppable roster; Brazil's fiery ascent left an indelible mark on the Counter-Strike world.

The iconic plays from these tournaments continue to influence the game's culture and community to this day, with passionate fans still referencing those moments when they track CS:GO skin prices in real time — who doesn't want a Coldzera sticker from his iconic Columbus jumping AWP play?

Astralis turned the Majors into their domain. Starting with ELEAGUE Major Atlanta 2017, the Danes — Device, Gla1ve, Magisk, dupreeh, Xyp9x, and zonic — stacked wins at FACEIT Major London 2018, IEM Katowice 2019, and StarLadder Berlin 2019. Four titles and a tactical revolution made them untouchable, a dynasty that reshaped what it meant to dominate.

Majors thrive on the unexpected. Gambit’s PGL Krakow 2017 run, fueled by Zeus’ cunning and Dosia’s clutch grenade, was a fairy tale come to life. Cloud9 answered for North America at ELEAGUE Major Boston 2018, their epic final against FaZe Clan a testament to raw determination. These wins proved that glory isn’t reserved for favorites.

PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 ushered in CS2 with a bang. Natus Vincere, reborn as a global unit without s1mple, defied expectations to claim the first CS2 Major. It was a pivot point — a bridge from CS:GO’s past to a future brimming with possibility.

The story rolled on to PW Shanghai Major 2024, where Team Spirit took the throne. Outgunning a fierce FaZe lineup with surgical precision, they marked themselves as CS2’s newest force. Shanghai was a fitting cap to a year of transition, spotlighting the game’s ever-expanding talent pool.

From Fnatic's DreamHack dawn to Spirit's Shanghai rise, the CS Major champions weave a tapestry of skill and surprise. Each victory adds a layer; whether it's a dynasty's reign, an underdog's dream, or a new era's birth.

These tournament legacies extend beyond gameplay, influencing everything from team strategies to community culture and even the digital collectibles that commemorate these historic moments. The journey continues, pulsing through every match and every memory, with more chapters yet to be written in Counter-Strike's evolving history.

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