Counter-Strike is one of the most iconic games in the history of eSports. Since its release in 1999, it has become the basis for the creation of numerous championships that paved the way for the development of eSports tournaments around the world. In this article, we will trace the history of Counter-Strike championships, from the first competitions to modern tournaments with multi-million prize pools.
First championships and the formation of eSports (1999-2004)
The first Counter-Strike tournaments began to be held almost immediately after the release of the game. At that time, eSports was only in its infancy, and most competitions were held on local LAN platforms.
CPL (Cyberathlete Professional League): Founded in 1997, the CPL was the first eSports league to start holding major Counter-Strike tournaments. In 2001, the CPL organized one of the first major CS championships with a prize pool of $150,000, which was a significant step in the development of eSports.
ESWC (Electronic Sports World Cup): In 2003, the first ESWC tournament in Counter-Strike was held. It was an international tournament with teams from different countries, which contributed to the globalization of eSports.
The Rise of Counter-Strike 1.6 (2004-2012)
Counter-Strike 1.6 became the gold standard of eSports in the 2000s. Hundreds of tournaments were held during this period, and Counter-Strike established itself as one of the main disciplines.
WCG (World Cyber Games): For many years, the WCG was considered the “Olympic Games” of the eSports world. Counter-Strike was one of the key disciplines at this tournament, which brought together the best teams from all over the world.
ESL and Intel Extreme Masters (IEM): ESL became the leading eSports organization for Counter-Strike tournaments. In 2007, the Intel Extreme Masters series of tournaments began, which became one of the most prestigious in the world of eSports.
DreamHack: DreamHack, the largest LAN festival in the world, also became a platform for holding major Counter-Strike tournaments. This event attracted thousands of players and spectators, confirming the popularity of the game.
Transition to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (2012-present)
In 2012, a new version of the game was released – Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS). At first, it did not gain instant recognition among players accustomed to CS 1.6, but soon became the main eSports discipline.
Major tournaments: Since 2013, CS Major tournaments have been held, organized by Valve and sponsored by such large companies as Intel, PGL and DreamHack. These tournaments with prize pools exceeding a million dollars have become the most prestigious in the CS world. Five tournaments a year gather the best teams and players, and winning a Major is considered the highest achievement in the CS world.
ELEAGUE and BLAST Pro Series: These tournaments have also become an important part of the CS eSports calendar. Organized by American broadcaster Turner Broadcasting, ELEAGUE has attracted the attention of esports audiences since its inception due to the high quality of its broadcasts and organization.
ESL Pro League and IEM Katowice: ESL continued to play a key role in the development of esports by hosting major tournaments such as the ESL Pro League and IEM Katowice. These events regularly attract huge audiences both on-site and online.
Impact of the Pandemic and Online Tournaments (2020-present)
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly changed the format of esports tournaments. Most major competitions had to be moved to an online format, which had an impact on the organization and atmosphere of the tournaments.
Online Championships: In 2020, most major tournaments, including the Major, were cancelled or held online. This required organizers to adapt to the new conditions and led to changes in some aspects of the tournaments, such as the schedule and format of the games.
Return to offline events: In 2021, with the improvement of the epidemiological situation, offline tournaments began to return, which was an important step for the esports community. IEM Katowice 2021 and PGL Major Stockholm 2021 were held with spectators, which brought back the atmosphere of live competitions.
The Future of Counter-Strike Championships
As esports evolves and Counter-Strike continues to gain popularity, we can expect tournaments for this game to continue to become larger and more prestigious. New formats, major sponsors, and innovative technologies will play a key role in the evolution of esports events.
Counter-Strike remains one of the most popular and respected esports disciplines in the world. Its championships continue to attract top teams, players and millions of viewers, making the history of tournaments in this game a unique and impressive part of modern eSports.
