About Counter-Strike

Counter-Strike began as a Half-Life mod in 1999 and has evolved into the most iconic tactical shooter in esports history. The game pits terrorists against counter-terrorists in objective-based rounds where teamwork, economy management, and individual skill all play crucial roles.

CS2, released in September 2023, brought the game to Valve's Source 2 engine with improved graphics, responsive tick rates, and overhauled smoke grenades. The competitive scene seamlessly transitioned from CS:GO, maintaining its position as the most-watched FPS esport.

Competitive Format

Professional CS2 matches are typically best-of-3 (BO3) or best-of-5 (BO5) for grand finals. Each map is played to 13 rounds (first to 13 wins), with overtime if tied 12-12. Teams switch sides after 12 rounds.

  • Map Pool: 7 active duty maps rotated by Valve
  • Team Size: 5 players + coach
  • Round Time: 1:55 + bomb timer
  • Economy: Buy system with loss bonus

Major Tournaments

The pinnacle of CS2 competition is the Valve Major Championships, held twice yearly with $1.25M prize pools and featuring the world's best teams competing for legendary status.

  • Valve Majors - 2 per year, $1.25M each
  • IEM Katowice - Premier annual event in Poland
  • BLAST Premier - Global circuit with World Final
  • ESL Pro League - Seasonal league format
  • IEM Cologne - "Cathedral of Counter-Strike"

Regional Scenes

CS has historically been dominated by European teams, particularly from Denmark, Sweden, France, and CIS regions. Recently, teams from South America (especially Brazil) and Asia have made significant strides.

Betting Markets

CS2 offers extensive betting options due to its round-based format:

  • Match Winner - Overall match result
  • Map Winner - Individual map outcomes
  • Map Handicap - Spread betting on maps
  • Round Handicap - Spread on round difference
  • Total Rounds - Over/under on rounds played
  • Pistol Rounds - Winner of round 1 and 13
  • First to X Rounds - Race markets