2019 was an amazing year for Counter-Strike
As the year draws to a close, let’s have a look at the most iconic tournaments of the year:
(5) IEM XIV Beijing 2019
While Astralis’ winning the event wasn’t a surprise, the most unexpected and inspired effort came from 100 thieves. The team had recently joined the organisations after their stint with Renegades. They convincingly beat ENCE in two maps, before running over Team VItaly 16-2 on Inferno. While they were steamrolled by Astralis in the final, second place is definitely an impressive feat.
- Winner: Astralis
- Runner-up: 100 Thieves
- Prize Pool: $250,000
(4) Esl Pro League Season 10 Finals
Finn “karrigan” Andersen led mousesports to the top honours. They did so with an upset win over Astralis in the semifinal followed by a thrashing of fnatic. The cherry on top for “Karrigan” was the fact that he was recently dropped by FaZe Clan earlier in the year. He had the last laugh, we suppose.
This win also makes mousesports a contender for the Intel Grand Slam where four other teams are tied with mousesports for the $1,000,000.
- Winner: mousesports
- Runner-up: Fnatic
- Prize Pool: $600,000
(3) Starladder Berlin Major 2019
Starladder was an important tournament for the rise of teams such as NRG and Renegades. Now known as Evil Geniuses and 100 Thieves, the teams proved their worth by beating the likes of ike Na’Vi and ENCE.
Astralis beat out Team Liquid and AVANGAR to pick up their second major trophy of the year, making four all together for the danes.
- Winner: Astralis
- Runner-up: AVANGAR
- Prize Pool: $1,000,000
(2) ESL One New York
Evil Geniuses solidified their status as a force to be reckoned with, beating a giant like Astralis to win the top honours.
- Winner: Evil Geniuses
- Runner-up: Astralis
- Prize Pool: $200,000
(1) IEM XII Katowice Major 2019
The most iconic CSGO event to happen every year, this tournament has the added flavour of being a Valve Major with a million dollar prize pool.
ENCE were the standout team of the tournament, defeating the likes of Liquid and Na’Vi on their way to the final.
- Winner: Astralis
- Runner-up: ENCE
- Prize Pool: $1,000,000
