Some Major finals define champions. Others define Counter-Strike itself — how it’s remembered, how it’s felt, and why people keep coming back years later. We asked players and talents which Major final they would rewatch every single year. Their answers weren’t random nostalgia. Each pick is tied to a final that left a permanent mark on the game.
ELEAGUE Major Boston 2018 — When Emotion Beat Logic
The Boston 2018 final between Cloud9 and FaZe is remembered as one of the most emotional matches in Counter-Strike history. FaZe arrived as a stacked international superteam expected to dominate, while Cloud9 played in front of a home crowd chasing something North America had never achieved before.
The series felt cinematic from start to finish: repeated overtimes, momentum swinging round by round, and an arena that actively influenced the match. When Cloud9 finally closed it out on Inferno, it wasn’t just a trophy — it became the first and only North American Major victory. Boston proved that belief, timing, and pressure could outweigh raw firepower on the biggest stage.
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This is the final Tedd chose, explaining:
Boston helped me fall in love with Counter-Strike even more. The emotion, the memory — everything
Stockholm 2021 — Perfection on the Biggest Stage
The Stockholm Major final between Natus Vincere and G2 stands out for a completely different reason. There was no chaos, no collapse, no comeback needed. Na’Vi entered the final undefeated and completed the entire tournament without dropping a single map, something never done before at a Major.
This final became iconic because it felt inevitable. It wasn’t about survival — it was about execution. Stockholm marked the moment Na’Vi’s long journey finally reached its peak, delivering one of the most dominant Major runs the game has ever seen. For many fans, it remains the clearest example of what perfect Counter-Strike looks like under pressure.
This is one of the finals Kvem (Passion UA) would rewatch every year:
Stockholm 2021, where Na’Vi won, and Krakow as well
Krakow 2017 — The Power of the Unexpected
If Stockholm represents control, Krakow 2017 represents unpredictability. The final between Gambit and Immortals shocked nearly everyone. Neither team was expected to lift the trophy, which made the outcome even more powerful.
Gambit’s win wasn’t built on superstar dominance, but on preparation, leadership, and timing. Zeus lifting the Major trophy after years of near-misses became one of the most symbolic images in CS history. Krakow proved that Majors don’t always reward hype — they reward teams that understand the moment better than anyone else.
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This is the second final chosen by Kvem (Passion UA).
Shanghai Major Final — Spirit vs. FaZe and the Modern Era
The Shanghai Major final between Team Spirit and FaZe is remembered as a snapshot of modern Counter-Strike. Fast pacing, constant adaptation, and razor-thin margins defined the series.
Spirit’s victory felt like a generational shift — the moment a new force proved it could beat even the most experienced and decorated lineups on the biggest stage. Every map stayed tense, making the final rewatchable not just for highlights, but for how quickly the game evolved round by round.
That’s why s1n (M80) picked it:
Spirit vs. FaZe in Shanghai — that final was amazing
MLG Columbus 2016 — When Counter-Strike Went Global
The Columbus 2016 final between Luminosity and Natus Vincere carries meaning beyond the result itself. It was the first Major ever held in North America, and it marked the rise of Brazilian Counter-Strike on the world stage.
Luminosity’s victory didn’t just crown a champion — it launched an era. The crowd, the atmosphere, and the sense of discovery made Columbus feel like a breakthrough moment for the entire esport. It showed that Counter-Strike could thrive far beyond its traditional European strongholds.
This is the final chosen by Grim (Passion UA).
Why These Finals Last
Each of these finals became timeless for a different reason. Boston delivered emotion. Stockholm delivered perfection. Krakow delivered unpredictability. Shanghai delivered modern intensity. Columbus delivered global expansion. They aren’t just matches worth remembering. They’re finals that explain why Counter-Strike still matters — every time you press play again.
