BUILDING BACK, BIGGER “When we heard we would be hosting the first CS:GO major after the lockdown period, we started wondering how to make all the waiting worthwhile,” says Silviu Stroie, CEO of PGL. “Both us and the fans were hungry for some CS:GO, and we wanted to give them a major they would remember for years to come. The plan was to keep it simple and focus on the games. “We aimed to bring the event back to Sweden, a country with a ton of
THE PLANWAS TO KEEP IT SIMPLE AND FOCUS ON THE GAMES
history in Counter- Strike, and to have it hosted by an iconic panel line-up,” Stroie continues. “Add a touch of 4K, so both online and offline
viewers see all the action crisp and clear – then just let the players and crowd enjoy the game as it should be.” With a prize pool set at $2m – the largest in CS:GO history – PGL Major Stockholm 2021 was the first significant event in the world of CS:GO esports, with spectators in attendance, since the beginning of the pandemic. Teams from across the globe (24 in total, comprising 120 players) qualified in three different tiers; headliners included Ninjas in Pyjamas, Team Vitality and Evil Geniuses. From 26 October to 7 November, the Challengers, Legends and Champions Stages (the playoffs) ran over four days each. The final, in which Natus Vincere (Navi) conquered G2 Esports, became the most popular match in the history of CS:GO. At the peak of the broadcast, it was watched by 2,748,850 spectators.
EYES ON THE PRIZE G2 cheer (left), but Navi take home the trophy (top)
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