CS2 Tier 1 Champions: 2025

Following their triumph at the Perfect World Shanghai Major in late 2024, Team Spirit entered 2025 recognized as a leading global team. After defeating Fnatic and FlyQuest in the closed qualifiers, the esports organization sustained its impressive performance on LAN, comprehensively defeating HEROIC and NAVI to secure a spot in the year’s initial Grand Final.

Despite Eternal Fire claiming the initial map in the Grand Final, Team Spirit asserted its dominance, concluding the series 3-1 while also securing $288,125 (~£213,725) in prize funds. This achievement solidified Team Spirit’s standing among Counter-Strike’s elite, prominently featuring Danil ‘Donk’ Kryshkovets.

Team Vitality secured the BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023 trophy, reinforcing its stature among the foremost teams globally. IEM Katowice 2025 set the stage for the French organization’s most recent period of supremacy.

Team Vitality advanced through the Group Stage effortlessly with victories over FaZe Clan and Virtus.pro, before eliminating The MongolZ in the semi-final to arrange a momentous confrontation with Team Spirit in the final.

Team Vitality showcased remarkable performance against the BLAST Bounty Season 1 champions, securing the event title with a convincing 3-0 triumph, thereby attaining its inaugural trophy of the year. This accomplishment signified Vitality’s second victory in ESL Grand Slam Season 5, a million-dollar undertaking for squads engaging in Tier 1 events organized by ESL FACEIT Group.

Another participant among the teams competing this year is MOUZ, which concluded January 2025 as the sixth-ranked CS2 team worldwide, according to the Valve Regional Standings (VRS). Despite its ranking being lower than other participating teams, the German organization entered the Playoffs and attained its Grand Final position after surpassing PaiN Gaming and Astralis.

Joining MOUZ in the Grand Final was Team Falcons, which was in the process of executing roster adjustments as interest focused on the Austin Major. MOUZ seemed the superior team from the onset, finalizing the series 3-1 to secure its first LAN victory since May 2024. Despite suffering defeat in the final, Team Falcons demonstrated indications of promise as it persisted in solidifying its presence within the top global teams.

Following its triumph at IEM Katowice in February, ESL Pro League Season 21 further established Team Vitality’s status as a formidable force in CS2. The team dominated its group without conceding a single map before dispatching Team Liquid in the quarter-finals to set up a confrontation with The MongolZ in the semi-final.

The Mongolians emerged as the singular team to achieve a map victory against the French contingent throughout the tournament and proceeded to overcome MOUZ in the Grand Final, adding another trophy to their expanding collection. The victory signified Vitality’s inaugural Pro League triumph since 2022, when it defeated Team Liquid to secure Season 16.

Three days following its Pro League triumph, Team Vitality returned to compete at BLAST Open Lisbon, another event spotlighting prominent entities in CS2 esports. Mirroring its performance in Pro League, the French organization advanced to the playoffs without forfeiting a single map, automatically earning a spot in the semi-finals.

Sustaining its formidable performance, Team Vitality secured a 2-1 victory against Team Spirit, thus earning a subsequent appearance in the Grand Final alongside MOUZ. The best-of-five series extended to the fifth and deciding map, with Team Vitality ultimately emerging triumphant with a 3-2 result. In addition to securing the substantial share of the prize pool, the French team also acquired three Frequent Flyer Points, contributing to BLAST’s $2m (~£1.4m) revenue-sharing venture.

PGL Bucharest marked the concluding occasion when Ilya ‘m0NESY’ Osipov represented G2 Esports before joining Team Falcons.

The Saudi Arabian organization rebounded from two consecutive defeats with victories over PaiN Gaming, Rare Atom, and The MongolZ to ensure a Playoff position.

With momentum on its side, Team Falcons overcame GamerLegion and FaZe Clan to arrange a showdown with G2 Esports in the Grand Final. G2 failed to secure more than eight rounds on any of the three maps, with Team Falcons claiming a 3-0 victory. This triumph also denoted Emil ‘Magisk’ Reif’s last performance within the Team Falcons initial lineup.

In April, Counter-Strike proceeded to Australia, with 16 teams from across the world engaging in competition before a fully attended audience.

Team Vitality’s sustained success persisted after it triumphed over a reformed Team Falcons in an exhilarating five-map Grand Final. Securing victory in Australia, Vitality secured Season 5 of the ESL Grand Slam, receiving an additional $1m (~£741,234) in prize funds.

The French powerhouse remained a dominating force in CS2 as attention started concentrating on the Austin Major. Team Vitality topped its group with decisive wins over Wildcard and MOUZ to ensure yet another entry into the playoffs of a Tier 1 event.

Vitality defeated Team Spirit in the semi-finals to establish a rematch against Team Falcons akin to the IEM Melbourne Grand Final. The best-of-five series again pushed to its limit, with Team Vitality appearing as victors to incorporate another triumph to its collection.

Vitality’s AWPer Mathieu ‘ZywOo’ Herbaut’s outstanding performance garnered his fifth successive HLTV MVP award for the year, elevating his career total to 25.

Team Spirit had not claimed a Tier 1 event title since BLAST Bounty Season 1, but oversaw a significant advancement at PGL Astana, smoothly progressing from the Group Stage into the Playoffs. Triumphs over Ninjas in Pyjamas and FURIA, facilitated their place in the Grand Final against Astralis, where a 3-1 victory was secured.

Donk sustained his recognition as one of Counter-Strike’s best riflers through another impactful showing. The Russian standout recorded his second MVP award of the year after securing his first subsequent to Team Spirit’s BLAST Bounty Season 1 win.

Given Team Spirit’s absence, Team Vitality was presented with a prime chance to fortify its placement atop the VRS through a robust showing at IEM Dallas. The event amassed substantial attention due to Counter-Strike icon Oleksandr ‘S1mple’ Kostyliev debuting for FaZe Clan.

Following a smooth transition through the Group Stage, the French organization prevailed over Team Falcons in the semi-finals before confronting MOUZ in a repeat of the ESL Pro League Season 21 Grand Final.

Vitality brought the event to a close by executing a thorough 3-0 rout of MOUZ, further enhancing the team’s accomplishments.

Team Vitality’s propulsion demonstrated no signs of diminishing at the Austin Major. Even despite an unforeseen defeat against Legacy, which brought its 30-match winning streak to a sudden end, the team advanced to the Moody Center with considerable ease, achieving wins against Nemiga Gaming, 3DMAX, and Virtus.pro.

Through further victories against NAVI and MOUZ, the team secured an additional presence in a CS2 Grand Final. Despite a brave attempt from The MongolZ, Team Vitality secured the second Major of the CS2 period and its seventh tournament win of 2025, cementing its position as a preeminent roster.

Another performance brimming with highlights from ZywOo facilitated his second Major MVP award.

IEM Cologne served as the first competition subsequent to the post-Major player respite. With numerous teams implementing roster modifications, the journey to the renowned setting of Counter-Strike hosted individuals intending to displace Team Vitality from its top rank.

Vitality navigated the Group Stage in the form anticipated from a team regarded as the world’s finest; nevertheless, its streak concluded with a 2-0 semi-final loss to MOUZ.

This scenario left MOUZ and Team Spirit to compete in the Grand Final for the championship and the trophy.

Team Spirit then assumed command of the series, defeating MOUZ 3-0, and claimed the title of the foremost CS2 team on the planet. The victory also indicated Ivan ‘zweih’ Gogin’s initial Tier 1 triumph since entering the roster in July.

Team Spirit carried on gathering propulsion from Cologne, presenting another compelling display at BLAST Bounty Season 2. Moving into the event, reports surfaced indicating the probability of former HEROIC player Andrey ‘tN1R’ Tatarinovich joining the team, replacing Myoslav ‘zont1x’ Plakhotia post the Esports World Cup.

In spite of the distraction surrounding the anticipated roster adjustment, Team Spirit progressed through the online closed qualifiers. The Russian organisation outclassed Virtus.pro and MOUZ to ensure an additional Grand Final presence.

Irrespective of the event utilizing an unusual format, Team Spirit secured the trophy through a triumph against The MongolZ in the Grand Final.

With Team Vitality succumbing in the semi-finals, the important query centers on whether the French side’s leadership is approaching its end.

Disclaimer: This article will undergo continuous revisions upon the completion of a Tier 1 event.