Top 5 Most Iconic CS:GO Major Moments: Reliving the Thrill

From unexpected comebacks to game-winning clutches, these events have become ingrained in the game's history and the hearts of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) enthusiasts. This article dives into the most iconic moments to have occurred at CS:GO majors of all time. Before looking at the top five moments, however, it is only fair to pay tribute to some of the honorable mentions that just missed the cut but still left a lasting impression on the competitive scene. Here are a few honorable mentions:

• olofmeister’s famous burning defuse on the B-site of de_overpass, when the score was tied at 14:14 (Fnatic vs Dignitas, semi-finals, ESL One Cologne 2014)

Source : ESL

• Fnatic’s quadruple AWP setup in mid, de_dust2 in overtime after putting up a resilient comeback. (Fnatic vs Team EnYvUs, ESL One Cologne, 2015)

Source: ESL

Let's get started!

ㅤ#5. Olofboost (Dreamhack Winter Championship 2014)

Source: DreamHack

Requiring 3 people to set up the boost on the A-site of de_overpass, this boost enabled olofmeister a clear vision of most of the map to scout out enemies from far, far away. At Dreamhack Winter Championship 2014 LDLC had taken a firm lead over Fnatic at 12:3, in the decider map, de_overpass. After winning the T-side pistol round, LDLC were well and truly a stone's throw away from victory. Fnatic however pulled out their trump card forming a 3-man tower on the A-site, leaving the casters and community flabbergasted. olofmeister at the top of the tower with a scoped weapon in hand, would eliminate any enemy player who would try to take map control in most cases. Lead rained from above as rounds progressed and olofmeister now had the autosniper on top of the 3-man tower. Seemingly dazed and confused, there was nothing that LDLC could do to counter this strategy that no one knew about.

Fnatic went on to win the match, qualifying to the semi-finals but there was an unprecedented community backlash and LDLC filed a complaint with the organizers. A rematch was announced but for reasons unknown Fnatic forfeited the match, meaning which LDLC went through to the semi-finals.

ㅤ#4. Stewie2k Takes Cloud9 to overtime!

Source: Cloud9

FaZe and Cloud9 locked horns in the grand finals of ELEAGUE Boston Major 2018 and would eventually go down to the decider de_inferno after going 1:1 on the first two maps. On the brink of a loss, Cloud9 stood at 14:15 with Stewie2k being the only man holding down B-site with an AWP. Cloud9 were met with a fake A-execute, as FaZe tried to run down Stewie2k’s AWP at B-site, with the round timer racing against them. Stewie2k would hold his nerve, hitting shot after shot, taking down the rush all by himself, forcing the Grand Finals into overtime.

While the hold itself was brilliant, what's more stunning was that Stewie2k managed to remain calm and composed against the likes of NiKo, GuardiaN and rain while still maintaining pinpoint accuracy and game sense. Cloud9 went on to win the Grand Finals in overtime, making it their first ever Major win.

ㅤ#3. ENCE’s Zero to Hero Run at Katowice 2019

Source: ESL

In February 2019, the IEM Katowice 2019 brought together the best teams in the world. Among the favorites were Astralis, Team Liquid, and Na'Vi. However, it was ENCE, a relatively unknown Finnish team at the time, who stole the show with their incredible underdog run. IEM Katowice 2019 was the first time ENCE played in a Major and only their 2nd LAN outing. ENCE took down the big guns such as Team Spirit, G2 and BIG going 3-1 and 3-2 respectively in the Challengers and Legends Stage to make it to the Champions Stage. In the quarter-finals, they faced a formidable opponent in Team Liquid, who were considered one of the best teams in the world at the time. Despite the odds being against them, ENCE put on a stellar performance and managed to upset Team Liquid 2-0.

Next, ENCE faced another tough challenge in the semi-finals against Na'Vi. Once again, ENCE proved themselves and secured a spot in the Grand Finals after a hard-fought 2-1 victory over Na'Vi. In the Grand Finals, ENCE faced off against the defending champions, Astralis. Despite being the heavy underdogs, ENCE managed to put up a tough fight and took the first map. However, Astralis proved to be too strong in the end and went on to win the tournament. Although they didn't lift the trophy, ENCE's performance at IEM Katowice 2019 was nothing short of extraordinary. They proved that they could compete with the best teams in the world and showcased their potential to become a dominant force in the CS:GO scene.

ㅤ#2. Coldzera’s Jumping AWP at MLG Columbus 2016

Just a round away from the Grand Finals of MLG Columbus 2016, Team Liquid sat at 15:10 on Mirage, in their favor against the Brazilian dark horse Luminosity. Team Liquid ran out the clock, planning a fast B-stie take towards the end of the round, but coldzera had something to say. He saw the opportunity to do something incredible and made the impossible happen. After spotting the first player in B-site apartments, coldzera connects his AWP shot and drops off of van and spots the rest of Team Liquid. This is when coldzera went for a hail-mary play as he leaped up and fired a no-scope shot, hitting a collateral! A no-scope is possible, a collateral is rare, a jump shot is highly improbable, and a jumping, no-scope, collateral is next to impossible. The play immortalized with a graffiti in the B-site of Mirage.

Following this incredible play from coldzera, Luminosity took the match to overtime, taking the map 19-15 and winning the semi-finals. In the grand final Luminosity took down Na’Vi 2-0, to win their first Major.

ㅤ#1. s1mple’s AWP double no-scope at ESL One Cologne 2016

Source: ESL

"What is this clutch from s1mple?! s1mple, are you serious?! What is that? You can't do that, s1mple! That's not allowed! This is not FPL! This is a Major!"; “That was a no-scope! It was a no-scope! He didn’t even..! He had one button on his mousepad! He had one button! There was no zoom!”.

These lines echo in the ears of anyone who is even vaguely aware of the esports scene. Going up against Fnatic on de_cache in the semi-finals of ESL One Cologne 2016, Team Liquid found themselves at 9-4 in their favor with their CT-side coming to an end. A fairly conventional round at the beginning, saw s1mple left in a 1v2 towards the end of the round. Fnatic tried to use their number advantage to take control of the B-site. s1mple decided to nonchalantly leap from heaven landing a mid-air no-scope on dennis, under heaven and immediately hitting KRIMZ with a stunning long range no-scope all the way outside B-main, leaving the casters grasping for breath and struggling to put into words what had just happened.

The amount of confidence, bravery and mechanical fluency required for such a play is unimaginable. The play has been immortalized in-game with a graffiti in the B-site of de_cache, under heaven. Team Liquid went on to win the semi-finals and advance to the grand final where their run came to an end at the hands of SK, featuring the ex-Luminosity roster.

Through such a play, s1mple showed the world his inhuman skills and extreme mechanical capabilities, early in his career. This play was just a glimpse of pure genius from probably the greatest ever to touch the game.