When assessing the prestige of esports tournaments, we often start with the prize pool, as the amount of money winners receive is used as a benchmark for an event's competitiveness and the esports industry as a whole.
Over the last 10 to 15 years, these tournament rewards have become so lucrative that they have surpassed many traditional sports, such as Soccer and Tennis. But, by how much exactly? In this post, we’ll take a look at the 10 highest prize pools in CS:GO and CS 2 tournaments, while also paying respect to the winners.
1. PGL Major Stockholm 2021
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Prize Pool: $2,000,000
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Winner: Natus Vincere (Na’Vi)
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Location: Stockholm, Sweden
The very top spot. After a two-year hiatus caused by COVID, the CS:GO Major returned with the largest prize pool in the game’s history! Natus Vincere, led by the legendary s1mple, dominated their opponents, eliminating every competitor without dropping a single map.
2. & 3. WESG 2016 & 2017
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Prize Pool: $1,500,000 (each)
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Winners: EnVyUs (2016), Fnatic (2017)
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Location: China
For a while, the World Electronic Sports Games (WESG) held the CS:GO prize pool record with $1.5 million in back-to-back years. However, what made WESG stand out was that it was a national competition. Instead of the usual teams, we had the chance to watch the best players from each country go head-to-head.
In 2016, the French team EnVyUs won the tournament and its $800,000 prize, whereas the following year, Sweden’s Fnatic stood atop the podium.
4. ELEAGUE Season 1
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Prize Pool: $1,410,000
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Winner: Virtus.pro
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Location: Atlanta, USA
In 2016, ELEAGUE brought elite Counter-Strike to primetime American television. The event was broadcast on TBS, marking a turning point for both CS:GO and esports in the USA. However, to attract the necessary attention, organizers had to amass a substantial prize pool.
In the grand finals, the Polish Virtus.pro outdueled Fnatic to claim the $400,000 top prize. ELEAGUE Season 1 will be remembered as a cultural milestone that proved CS:GO could attract a large enough mainstream audience to go against traditional sports.
5. IEM Rio Major 2022
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Prize Pool: $1,250,000
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Winner: Outsiders
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Location: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
The Rio de Janeiro locals made quite a statement during the first-ever South American Major. The audience was loud and engaged, making this one of the most memorable gaming events in history. As expected, the home crowd was mostly rooting for Brazilian teams such as 00 Nation, FURIA, and Emperial.
The Outsiders lineup (playing under a neutral banner) rose above the competition to win the event. The team’s unexpected victory was mainly attributed to their composure under pressure, as they silenced the stadium to claim the $500,000 prize.
6. BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023
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Prize Pool: $1,250,000
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Winner: Team Vitality
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Location: Paris, France
The BLAST.tv Paris Major was CS:GO’s last big event before the transition to Counter-Strike. Although CS2 was around the corner, many players and fans still felt a sense of nostalgia. As a result, the tournament was a significant success in terms of the prize money, competitiveness, and media coverage.
The French-led organization Team Vitality won the event by beating GamerLegion. Given that the home team won the tournament, the atmosphere was that much better. Led by Dan “apEX” Madesclaire, Team Vitality lifted the final CS:GO Major trophy, making for a perfect send-off for a game that defined a generation of esports.
7. PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen 2024
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Prize Pool: $1,250,000
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Winner: Natus Vincere
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Location: Copenhagen, Denmark
With a new game comes a new era. The Copenhagen Major was the first-ever Major played on Counter-Strike 2, marking a fresh start for the entire scene. All eyes were on Denmark to see which team would be the first to etch its name into the new chapter of history.
In a thrilling final, Natus Vincere triumphed over FaZe Clan. The victory was historic, making Na’Vi the first organization to win a Major in both CS:GO and CS2. The event confirmed that while the engine may have changed, the heart-pounding intensity of competitive Counter-Strike remains the same.
8. ELEAGUE Season 2
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Prize Pool: $1,100,000
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Winner: OpTic Gaming
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Location: Atlanta, USA
Following its sensational debut, ELEAGUE returned with another million-dollar season. In fact, this tournament had one of the best CS:GO storylines in its history. The North American OpTic Gaming squad, considered an underdog, went on a spectacular run to the finals.
Their opponent was the Danish Astralis, a team on the verge of building a dynasty. But during the Grand Finals, OpTic played with flawless confidence, securing a stunning victory and a $400,000 prize. It was a monumental win for the North American scene and a moment that inspired a generation of regional talent.
9. ELEAGUE CS:GO Premier 2017 & 2018
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Prize Pool: $1,000,000 (each)
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Winners: FaZe Clan (2017), Astralis (2018)
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Location: Atlanta, USA
ELEAGUE occupies an additional two spots on this list, with $1 million events in 2017 and 2018. Given its massive prize pool, these events drew the absolute best teams in the world to Atlanta. However, although the two tournaments were just one year apart, they couldn’t have felt more different.
In 2017, the international “superteam” FaZe Clan, boasting a roster of superstars from across Europe, put on a clinic, crushing Astralis to take home $500,000. In 2018, it was Astralis’s turn for redemption. At the height of their power, they delivered a tactical masterclass against Team Liquid, solidifying their reign as one of the most incredible lineups ever assembled.
10. Thunderpick World Championship 2025
• Prize Pool: $1,000,000
• Organizer: GMR / Thunderpick
• Game: Counter-Strike 2
• Location: Malta – Malta Fairs & Conventions Centre
Thunderpick’s 2025 World Championship was one of the most significant events in the CS2 2025 era. Featuring a $1 million prize pool and global qualifiers leading to a grand LAN finale in Malta, it attracted teams such as Na’Vi, FURIA, and Aurora.
The Richest CS:GO Tournaments at a Glance
| Rank | Tournament | Prize Pool | Winner | Year |
| 1 | PGL Major Stockholm | $2,000,000 | Natus Vincere | 2021 |
| 2 | WESG 2016 | $1,500,000 | EnVyUs | 2017 |
| 3 | WESG 2017 | $1,500,000 | Fnatic | 2018 |
| 4 | ELEAGUE Season 1 | $1,410,000 | Virtus.pro | 2016 |
| 5 | IEM Rio Major 2022 | $1,250,000 | Outsiders | 2022 |
| 6 | BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023 | $1,250,000 | Team Vitality | 2023 |
| 7 | PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen | $1,250,000 | Natus Vincere | 2024 |
| 8 | ELEAGUE Season 2 | $1,100,000 | OpTic Gaming | 2016 |
| 9 | ELEAGUE Premier 2017 | $1,000,000 | FaZe Clan | 2017 |
| 10 | Thunderpick World Championship 2025 | $1,000,000 | Venom | 2025 |
What These Prize Pools Truly Represent
With millions of fans and Valve’s support, these gamers have become larger-than-life, with each record-breaking tournament adding to their legacy and that of CS:GO, setting a new standard for esports.