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Counter-Strike Players with the most Major appearances
DreamHack Winter 2013 marked the beginning of an era in Counter-Strike, establishing the Majors as the pinnacle of the game’s competitive scene. As the first Valve-sponsored Major, it set the stage for a decade of unforgettable moments: underdog triumphs, fierce rivalries, and the dominance of legendary teams and players.
Over the years, these Majors have become the ultimate proving ground, where the best teams from across the globe battle it out in packed arenas filled with deafening cheers. At a tournament where stakes are high, the prize isn’t just the trophy—it’s eternal recognition in Counter-Strike’s storied history.
With the Perfect World Shanghai Major approaching, let’s take a moment to honor the players who have graced the Major stage more times than anyone else. These are the icons that cemented their status as legends in one of the greatest esports titles of all time.
The big three
While many players came, conquered and left, others stayed to reach the legendary status in esports. Peter “dupreeh” Rasmussen, Dan "apEX" Madesclaire and Finn "karrigan" Andersen are the longest-serving active players with careers spanning over a decade and trophies to commemorate their achievements.
Although these active pioneers of the scene have 19 Major participations, only dupreeh managed to qualify to every CS:GO Major, while karrigan and apEX missed the cut at Dreamhack Winter 2014, FACEIT Major: London 2018 and IEM Katowice Major 2019.
Despite their numerous participation alongside some of the best teams in the world, the Danish and French in-game leaders have only won a single Major title each while Peter was crowned champion at 5 Major events with two different roster; 4 with Astralis and 1 with Team Vitality.
Dupreeh might’ve made every Major in CS:GO but he’s yet to reach his first in CS2, and considering the recent benching from the Falcons, either karrigan or apEX might take the lead as their future looks more promising by leading two of the best teams in the world.
rain continues his reign with FaZe Clan
Håvard "rain" Nygaard set the record for the longest tenure in a single Counter-Strike team with over 3232 days on his current team. Although it wasn’t until 2014 when he got picked up by an organization, joining FaZe Clan in 2016 proved rewarding as they haven't missed a single Major event since.
Similar to his leader, karrigan, rain only has a single Major title but still managed to reach the latter stages over the years including a 3rd-4th finish at DreamHack Open Cluj-Napoca 2015 with G2 Esports and two runner-up finishes with FaZe in 2018 and 2024.
Including the Perfect World Shanghai Major, Håvard took part in 18 different Major events throughout his career with the first being ESL One Cologne 2014 alongside London Conspiracy. The Norwegian star reached the highest highs in the scene and as he continues to deliver impactful tournaments, he’s yet another top candidate to cross the 20 Major appearances milestone.
The Counter-Strike veterans
While the "Big Three" reached their peak by the end of CS:GO, Richard "shox" Papillon, Andreas "Xyp9x" Højsleth, and Freddy "KRIMZ" Johansson were pioneers who set the stage for greatness, each boasting an incredible 17 Major appearances during an era when national teams flourished.
Shox was a cornerstone of the French scene, representing iconic teams such as VeryGames, Titan, LDLC, Epsilon, and later G2, where his flair and clutch play made him one of the most exciting players to watch. KRIMZ, on the other hand, began his rise with LGB Esports but cemented his legacy with Fnatic, where he became synonymous with consistency and excellence. Remarkably, KRIMZ remains an active competitor and continues to carry the Fnatic banner, a team he’s been with since 2016, and recently qualified for the Perfect World Shanghai Major.
Meanwhile, Xyp9x earned his place as the “Clutch Minister” with Astralis, spearheading their dominance in 2018 and attending every Major tournament until 2022. Known for his composure under pressure, he was instrumental in securing Astralis' historic Major victories and reshaping the competitive meta. While shox and Xyp9x have since stepped back from the spotlight, KRIMZ's ongoing presence keeps this golden era alive.
Honorable mentions
- Nicolai "dev1ce" Reedtz: 16 Major appearances
- Olof "olofmeister" Gustafsson: 16 Major appearances
- Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo: 16 Major appearances
- Danylo "Zeus" Teslenko: 15 Major appearances
- Janusz "Snax" Pogorzelski: 15 Major appearances
For the latest CS2 news and guides, follow Strafe Esports. To see all the teams qualified for the Shanghai Major, check out our article here. Check out our X account for the latest content and coverages.
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