You can watch every Counter-Strike 2 Major for free on the organizer's Twitch or YouTube channel, usually in several languages, and on Oggo you can open live CS2 streams in the built-in player. The next Major is PGL Major Singapore 2026, scheduled for November 25 to December 13, 2026 at the Singapore Indoor Stadium. Dates come from the organizer and can change. Checked October 30, 2026.
Key takeaways
- Majors are played in two stages: a Swiss-system stage and a single-elimination playoff.
- Matches are best-of-one in early Swiss rounds, and best-of-three when elimination or qualification is on the line.
- Prize pool and history of every Major is in our Esports history.
Where to watch
Official broadcasts run on Twitch and YouTube, plus co-streams by popular casters and analysts. Open live CS2 streams to see what is on air now, and check the tournament schedule for upcoming events. Many events publish match lists on the organizer's page and on HLTV.
How a Major works
Teams enter through qualifiers and the Valve regional standings that rank them. In the Swiss stage a team that reaches three wins advances and a team that reaches three losses is out. The best eight teams then play a bracket to the final. Valve's rules describe invitations and seeding; our CS2 teams page shows the current Valve and HLTV rankings.
The Swiss stage in pictures
The format is the most common reason new viewers get lost, so it is worth a short visual explanation. In a Swiss stage nobody is eliminated after one loss. Teams with the same record meet each other, and the stage ends when each team has either won three matches or lost three. That creates plenty of tense "win or go home" matches, which is why many fans consider the Swiss stage the most exciting part of a Major.
Valve has changed the Major format over the years. Recent Majors have used several Swiss stages with teams entering in different stages, followed by an eight-team playoff, and the number of teams has also grown. We do not want to state the exact stage-by-stage schedule of the Singapore Major before the organizer and Valve have published it, so check the official event page for the final bracket and the exact day when each stage starts. What does stay stable is the logic: early matches can be best-of-one, matches that decide advancement or elimination are usually best-of-three, and the playoffs are best-of-three single elimination.
How a match is played
A pro match in Counter-Strike 2 is played on a map chosen in a pick and ban process. Each team bans and picks maps from the active pool until one map is left or the series is set. A map is played in rounds: the first team to win 13 rounds takes the map, and sides switch after 12 rounds. If the score reaches 12-12, overtime is played in short blocks until a team wins. In a best-of-three, the first team to win two maps wins the match.
In each round one side plays Terrorists and tries to plant the bomb, and the other plays Counter-Terrorists and tries to stop them or defuse it. A round ends when one team is eliminated, the bomb explodes, the bomb is defused or time runs out. Players earn money for kills, wins and objectives, and they spend it on guns and utility at the start of the next round.
Reading the economy
The economy is the most important concept to understand if you want to follow professional play. A team that cannot afford full equipment usually plays an eco round: it saves money and buys little, accepting a probable loss to be stronger later. A force buy is the opposite. The team spends what it has on a weaker setup to try to win anyway, for example after losing the pistol round. A full buy means rifles, armor and utility for everyone. When you see a team lose three rounds in a row and then win one with a cheap setup, it is often because the opponent was short on money and the casters talk about "breaking the economy". Our glossary defines these terms in more detail.
Roles to watch for
- In-game leader (IGL). Calls the strategy and adapts in real time. Often not the top fragger, and the role is as much about decisions as aim.
- AWPer. Uses the sniper rifle and holds key angles. A great AWPer can change the tempo of a map, like ZywOo or m0NESY are known for.
- Entry fragger. Takes the first duel to open a site. The role carries risk and requires teammates' trades.
- Lurker. Plays alone away from the team to catch rotations and flanks.
- Support. Throws utility and trades kills, and often sacrifices stats for team outcomes.
Time zones: when to wake up
Singapore is eight hours ahead of UTC, so many matches will land at inconvenient times in Europe and the Americas. The table converts an example 18:00 start. Use it as a guide only, and check the official schedule for actual times, which can change from day to day.
Choosing your broadcast
Many fans watch the main stream for the first map and switch to a co-stream if they want a more relaxed tone. Co-streams are usually allowed by the organizer under certain rules, and each has its own style, so try a few. If you want to avoid spoilers, do not open social media between matches, and watch the VODs only after you have finished the day you care about.
Using Oggo during the Major
On Oggo you can open live CS2 streams in the built-in player, see the tournament list and look up teams and players. Visit the CS2 pro settings page to compare sensitivity, crosshair and resolution of the players you watch, and the viewmodel generator if you want to try a pro-style viewmodel. Pro settings are not a shortcut to a better aim, but they are a good starting point for experiments.
How to enjoy a Major as a new viewer
- Pick a team. Even a casual rooting interest makes every round matter. Choose a team from the list above or a player you like.
- Learn three terms. Eco, force buy and retake explain most of what casters say.
- Watch one map fully. Maps differ in structure, and following a whole map with the same sides teaches more than clips.
- Use replays. Casters often show the best moments in slow motion between rounds.
- Take part in the community. The official Pick'Em or prediction features, if offered, are a fun way to stay engaged. Check the event page for details.
Common questions from first-time viewers
Do I need to play CS2 to enjoy it? No, but a few hours of play make the decisions easier to understand. Is it free? Official broadcasts are free on Twitch and YouTube. Some events offer paid extras, such as in-game items, which are optional. Are all matches live? The big ones are, and the organizer publishes replays. How do I find the schedule? The organizer's page and HLTV list matches and times.
A note on sources and dates
The Major dates and venue in this guide come from the organizer's announcements and reputable esports databases, and they were checked on October 30, 2026. Esports schedules change, and team rosters shift between events, so we avoid claims about current form or favorites. For up-to-date rankings and rosters, check HLTV and Liquipedia, which are listed below, and our teams and players pages.
A short history of Majors
Valve-sponsored Counter-Strike Majors began in 2013 with DreamHack Winter in Jönköping, Sweden, and have been the sport's biggest events ever since. Over the years the format moved from small group stages to larger Swiss-style events, and the list of winners reflects the shifts between generations of teams. Our esports history page records the Majors, winners and prize pools in one place, which is useful if you want context for the teams you will see in Singapore.
How to read the stats on screen
Broadcasts and HLTV show many numbers, and the table explains the ones you will see most often. Treat them as clues and not as verdicts. A player with a modest rating may be an IGL whose calls win rounds, and a support player may create the space that lets teammates get kills.
A three-week viewing plan
A Major lasts almost three weeks, which is a lot of Counter-Strike. You do not need to watch everything. Pick the days that matter to you: the first days of the Swiss stages are full of upsets, the last day of each stage has the matches that decide who advances, and the playoffs deliver the best series. If you have little time, follow the match list on the organizer's page, check the result of each day and watch only the matches with your favorite teams or the closest scores. A good alternative is to watch the highlight videos after each day and the full playoffs live.
If you want to watch live from Europe or the Americas, plan your sleep. Many matches begin in the morning in Singapore, which means the middle of the night elsewhere. Record VODs when possible, and avoid spoilers while you wait. Use a calendar to mark the days where your team plays, and set reminders on your phone so you do not miss the start.
What to look for in a match
Do not only follow the frag count. Look at how a team opens a round: do they stack one site, spread across the map or play slowly? Look at utility, the smokes, flashes and molotovs, because pro teams win many rounds through coordinated utility rather than raw aim. Notice how a team responds after losing a round: a calm reset usually shows a strong IGL. Finally, watch the map picks. A team that picks its best map and forces the opponent to play on theirs gains an advantage before the match even starts, and the veto is part of the show.
Watching with friends and keeping it social
A Major is more fun with other people. Organize a watch party in a voice channel, share a prediction sheet before the playoffs and agree on spoiler rules. Some communities run friendly prediction games where each member picks the teams that advance, which gives everyone a reason to follow even the early matches. If you are new to the game, ask a more experienced friend to explain a round during the break. The best way to learn is to hear someone describe what a team tried to do and why it worked or failed.
Who to follow
Start with the teams that dominate the headlines: Vitality, Falcons, Spirit, FURIA, MOUZ and Natus Vincere. Stars to watch include ZywOo, donk, m0NESY and NiKo.
Understand what you are watching
New to the game? The glossary explains terms like eco, force buy, lurk and retake, and the guide to ranks and rating shows how players are measured. Then train yourself with practice commands or on community servers.
