List of This Year’s CS2 Majors
In 2026, the CS2 competitive season features multiple amazing and awaited tournaments with two confirmed Major-level events adding the prestige to the tournament calendar.
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IEM Cologne Major 2026 — June 2–21, $1.25M prize pool, 32 teams, LAN event in Germany. Always legendary tournament with a huge history and electric atmosphere.
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PGL Singapore Major 2026 — Nov 25–Dec 13, $1.25M prize pool, first Major hosted in Southeast Asian history. A great opportunity for SEA CS2 teams to rise in their home soil.
IEM Kraków 2026 is soon here. Great tournament and a lot of betting opportunities already early in the season. There are CS2 outright odds available already for the IEM Krakow.
Most Notable Majors From Recent Seasons
Looking back at the first Majors in the CS2 era and beyond:
The Most Shocking & Memorable CS Majors of All Time
While recent CS2 Majors have established a new competitive order, Counter-Strike history is full of unforgettable upsets that completely reshaped the scene — and punished bettors who relied too heavily on favorites.
DreamHack Winter 2013 — NiP’s Collapse and Fnatic‘s Rise
The very first CS Major, DreamHack Winter 2013, delivered a shocking result. Top teams like NiP were expected to dominate, but JW’s Fnatic pulled off an unexpected victory, stunning fans and the competitive scene alike. This Major proved that anything can happen in high-pressure tournaments — favorites can falter, and underdogs can rise. Nearly 13 years later, it’s still remembered as one of the most surprising moments in Counter-Strike history. Reminder that nothing is certain in the highest paced e-Sports in the world.
EMS One Katowice 2014 — Virtus.pro’s Miracle Run
Virtus.pro shocked the world by winning in front of a roaring home crowd, defeating Ninjas in Pyjamas and proving momentum and crowd pressure can swing even elite matchups.
ELEAGUE Major Boston 2018 — Cloud9’s Fairytale
Still the biggest upset in Major history. Cloud9’s comeback against FaZe on home soil broke Europe’s dominance and crushed heavy favorite odds in one of the most iconic finals ever.
PGL Major Kraków 2017 — Gambit’s Cinderella Story
Gambit entered as outsiders and left as champions. Their disciplined style, perfect timing, and prime Zeus leadership punished overconfidence from top-tier teams — a textbook underdog Major win.
IEM Rio Major 2022 — Outsiders (Virtus.pro)
A crowd-hostile environment, minimal expectations for Jame-time, and pure tactical Counter-Strike. Outsiders stayed ice-cold while favorites collapsed under pressure, rewarding sharp bettors who backed structure and stats over narratives.
These events not only shaped the CS2 competitive hierarchy but also offered rich CS2 betting stories with underdogs pushing favorites and map veto dynamics swinging series.
Our CS2 Major Predictions for 2026
🔥 Early Favorites
Team Vitality
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Consistent top-tier presence in Major finals and elite event wins makes them perennial contenders once again.
FURIA
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Deep firepower and aggressive playstyle can upend slower, control-oriented teams — valuable in handicap and prop markets.
Spirit
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Constantly in top-tier conversations; often rivals favorite depth and adapts well to meta changes.
These teams consistently post high ratings and deep runs across events, making them strong outright bets and oft-favored in moneyline markets.
💎 Value & Dark Horse Picks
PARIVISION
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Form team with structured play and upset potential over top 6 opposition — great in ML and map handicap value.
MOUZ and other rising squads
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Historic finishes at BLAST and big online events suggest capable Major runs if vetoes fall right.
Early Odds Spotlight — IEM Kraków 2026
Before the first Major of the year, IEM Kraków 2026 provides early odds that hint at momentum favorites heading into Cologne. Top teams are priced according to recent form and roster stability, but smart bettors will look for value on structured underdogs, especially those with strong map pools and playoff pedigree (e.g., Spirit, PARIVISION, etc.).
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