CS2: Valve Announces First BO5 Major Grand Final in Budapest
Sheep Esports brings you expert insights and breaking news in League of Legends Esports. On the eve of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, it’s clear this event marks more than just the fourth Major in the Counter-Strike 2 era.
Valve revealed on Tuesday that the grand final will be a best-of-five (BO5) series—the first time a Counter-Strike Major has done so. The competitive scene has awaited this change for years. Previously, Valve and tournament organizers limited the title-deciding match to best-of-three (BO3), despite evidence from other tournaments supporting BO5 finals.
Viewership Trends Support BO5 Finals
Recent events highlight the growing appeal of BO5 finals. Notably, IEM Cologne 2024, a non-Major traditionally concluding with a BO5, reached over one million peak concurrent viewers during its final, with 1,051,810 viewers. This figure places it among rare non-Major events breaking the million mark.
Similarly, IEM Katowice 2025 peaked at 1.29 million viewers for a BO5 final between Team Vitality and Team Spirit, another standard ESL tournament rather than a Valve Major.
Comparing Major and Non-Major Viewership
- The last CS:GO Major in Paris 2023 drew 1.53 million viewers.
- The first CS2 Major in Copenhagen attracted 1.85 million viewers.
These numbers indicate that longer series attract audiences, particularly when matches feature high stakes and top-tier teams.
Coordination with CS2 Gameplay Changes
The decision to hold a BO5 final in Budapest 2025 aligns well with CS2's transition to MR12 rounds, adding further depth and competitiveness to the event.
Valve announced the first Counter-Strike Major whose grand final will be a BO5, a shift anticipated for years.
“IEM Cologne 2024 surpassed the one-million mark with 1,051,810 peak concurrent viewers for its final, making it one of the rare non-Major events to cross that threshold.”
“IEM Katowice 2025 peaked at 1.29 million viewers for a Team Vitality– Team Spirit BO5 final, again at a standard ESL event rather than a Valve Major.”
Valve’s adoption of a BO5 grand final for the Budapest Major reflects the growing demand for longer, more engaging matches in competitive Counter-Strike.
Author's summary: Valve introduces the first BO5 grand final at the Budapest 2025 Major, responding to strong viewer support for extended series amid CS2’s evolving competitive landscape.