CS2: Valve Announces First BO5 Major Grand Final in Budapest
Sheep Esports brings expert analysis and breaking news from the League of Legends Esports scene. On the eve of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, it is clear this event will mark a significant milestone beyond being just the fourth Major in the Counter-Strike 2 era.
Valve revealed on Tuesday that the grand final will be played as a best-of-five (BO5) for the first time in a Counter-Strike Major, a change long awaited by the community. Historically, Valve and event organizers have maintained best-of-three (BO3) formats for deciding matches. However, other tournaments have demonstrated that BO5 grand finals can successfully maintain strong viewer engagement.
Viewer Trends Support the BO5 Format
Recent data clearly supports this shift. IEM Cologne 2024, a non-Major event traditionally concluding with a BO5, reached over one million peak concurrent viewers during its final, totaling 1,051,810, setting a rare benchmark for non-Majors.
IEM Katowice 2025 followed the trend, peaking at 1.29 million viewers during a Team Vitality versus Team Spirit BO5 final, again at an ESL event rather than a Valve Major.
"When those figures are compared with the 1.53 million viewers of the last CS:GO Major in Paris in 2023, or the 1.85 million of the first CS2 Major in Copenhagen, it becomes evident that longer series do not deter viewers, quite the opposite, provided the match carries high stakes and features elite teams."
Significance of the Transition to MR12
The decision to introduce a BO5 grand final in Budapest 2025 aligns perfectly with CS2’s move to the MR12 format, emphasizing both competitive depth and extended gameplay for audiences.
Key Facts
- First BO5 grand final in a Counter-Strike Major announced by Valve.
- IEM Cologne 2024 and IEM Katowice 2025 BO5 finals showed strong viewer engagement.
- BO5 matches attract higher viewership when stakes and team quality are high.
- Budapest 2025 coincides with the shift to MR12 in CS2.
Author's summary: Valve’s switch to a best-of-five grand final at Budapest 2025 aligns with growing audience demand and CS2’s competitive evolution, promising more thrilling, high-stakes matches.
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