CS2: Valve Announces First BO5 Major Grand Final in Budapest
Sheep Esports brings expert insights and breaking news from the League of Legends Esports scene. Ahead of the StarLadder Budapest Major 2025, it’s clear this event marks more than just the fourth Major of the Counter-Strike 2 era.
Introduction of BO5 Grand Final
Valve revealed on Tuesday that the grand final at this Major will be the first ever best-of-five (BO5) series, a long-awaited change in the scene. Previously, Valve and tournament organizers limited title-deciding matches to best-of-three (BO3), despite evidence supporting BO5 format’s ability to sustain audience interest.
Viewer Statistics Supporting BO5
- IEM Cologne 2024, although not a Major, traditionally ends with a BO5 final and achieved a peak of 1,051,810 concurrent viewers.
- IEM Katowice 2025 reached 1.29 million peak viewers for the Team Vitality vs Team Spirit BO5 final, another ESL event and not a Valve Major.
- 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 clearly show that longer series do not discourage viewers; rather, they improve engagement when the stakes are high and top teams compete.
Significance of Budapest 2025
The timing of the Budapest Major aligns well with CS2’s adjustment to a match format of MR12, making the BO5 format a coherent progression for the competition.
Valve’s move to a BO5 grand final is a welcome shift, reflecting audience trends and enhancing the competitive experience.
Author’s summary: Valve’s introduction of a BO5 grand final at the 2025 Budapest Major marks a strategic evolution in Counter-Strike 2, backed by strong viewership data supporting longer, more intense matches.