Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, or CS:GO, has become a significant title in esports since developer and publisher Valve first introduced the Major Championships in 2013. Initially promising a $250,000 prize pool, the Majors, as they are colloquially called, now offer a $1 million pot and feature 24 teams from around the globe.
According to an email recently sent out to event organizers, Valve will be canceling the next CS:GO Major Championship, the Spring Major, which was scheduled to take place from May 10-23, 2021. Although the reason for the cancellation was not specified, it is presumed to be due to the coronavirus pandemic that has affected game development, tournaments, and conventions throughout 2020.
Valve has stated that, if it makes sense, the next Major will take place from October 25-November 7, 2021, and the company already has a partner and EU venue lined up for the CS:GO tournament. It’s not clear if this will be a postponement of the Spring Major or if it will replace the Fall 2021 Major, which is scheduled for November 1-14 and has not yet been canceled.
The Spring Major is not the first CS:GO tournament to be directly impacted by the current global health crisis. The CS:GO ESL One: Rio Major was originally scheduled to take place from November 9-22, 2020, but it was canceled in September with no announcement specifying when or if it would be rescheduled, although ESL stated that it would continue to work to bring the Major to Rio.
September 2019’s StarLadder Berlin was the last CS:GO Major Championship to take place, which means over two years will have passed between tournaments if the planned rescheduling to October 2021 occurs.
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive is available on PC.
Source: Dexerto, Liquipedia