CS2 Tournament Tiers: What S, A, B, C and D Mean
Quick guide
| Tier | What it is | Typical prize pool | Examples (2026) |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | Majors and the most prestigious international events | $250,000 or more | IEM Cologne Major, IEM Rio, Esports World Cup |
| A | big international events and top leagues | high, below the biggest events | ESL Pro League, PGL Astana, BLAST Bounty |
| B | strong second-level events | mid-sized | smaller international LANs and invitationals |
| C | lower-profile events, often by independent organizers | up to about $75,000 | CCT Europe Series, ESL Challenger League cups |
| D | very low-profile events, qualifiers and local leagues | rarely above $10,000 | ESEA Advanced, open qualifiers, national leagues |
What each tier means
S tier. The events every top team wants to win. Almost always played on LAN, often in arenas with a crowd, with the best teams in the world. Both Majors of the year are S tier.
A tier. Still international and still full of top teams, but a step below in prestige or prize money. Long-running leagues like ESL Pro League sit here, along with many big LANs. A top team plays most of its year at S and A tier.
B tier. The middle, and the least common level: most events are clearly above or below it. Good teams from the top 30 to 50 meet here, and it is often where rising teams first beat a big name.
C tier. Regular series run by independent organizers, regional cups and academy competitions. Many matches are online. This is where new rosters build results.
D tier. Small online cups, local and national leagues, and open qualifiers that anyone can enter. Most matches on a busy day are D tier.
Who decides the tier?
There is no official tier list. Valve does not publish one, so each data provider or wiki sets its own.
- R1GG uses the tiers from our data provider, PandaScore. It looks mainly at the organizer, the level of the teams and the prize pool, and sets the tier for each tournament separately.
- Liquipedia keeps its own tiers, and can move an event down, for example from S to A, if the attending teams are weaker than expected.
- HLTV does not use letter tiers for events.
So the same event can be S tier on one site and A tier on another. The differences are usually just one step.
Valve's own rules matter in a different way: only events that follow Valve's rules for tournament organizers count toward the Valve Regional Standings, which decide Major invites.
Tier 1, tier 2, tier 3
Fans and casters rarely say "A tier". They say tier 1, tier 2 and tier 3. Roughly:
| Community term | Letter tiers | Teams |
|---|---|---|
| Tier 1 | S and the strongest A | about the top 20 to 30 teams |
| Tier 2 | rest of A, and B | teams just below the top, strong academies |
| Tier 3 | C and D | regional teams, new rosters, amateurs |
The words describe both events and teams. A "tier 1 team" is one that regularly plays S and A tier events.
Why the tier matters when you watch
- Quality. S and A tier matches have the best teams, the best preparation and the best broadcasts.
- Predictability. Lower tiers have more upsets. Rosters change often and teams have less data on each other.
- Rankings. Results at bigger events count for more in team rankings. See CS2 Team Rankings Explained.
- Streams. S and A tier events almost always have official English broadcasts. Lower tier events may have only a small stream or none. See Where to Watch CS2 Tournaments.
Tiers on R1GG
- The calendar marks S and A tier events, so you can plan around the big weeks.
- The tournaments page lists events of every tier, from S to D, with the tier next to the name.
- The match schedule shows the tier of each match's tournament, so you can tell a Major quarterfinal from an open qualifier at a glance.
FAQ
What is an S tier tournament in CS2?
The top level of events: Majors and the biggest international tournaments, usually on LAN, with the best teams and prize pools of $250,000 or more.
Is there an official tier list for CS2 tournaments?
No. Valve does not publish one. Data providers and wikis assign tiers themselves, so the same event can be S tier on one site and A tier on another.
What is the difference between tier 1 and S tier?
Tier 1 is community slang for the top level of the scene. In letter systems it usually covers S tier and the strongest A tier events.
Are lower tier matches worth watching?
Yes, if you follow a team or a region. B and C tier events are where new teams appear and future stars play before they reach the top. Results are less predictable there.
Which tiers does R1GG show?
All of them. The calendar marks S and A tier events, while the match schedule and tournaments page list every tier from S to D.
Related guides
What Is a CS2 Major?A CS2 Major is the biggest event in Counter-Strike: 32 teams, $1.25M, sponsored by Valve. How Majors work, how teams qualify and every CS2 Major winner.
CS2 Team Rankings Explained: VRS, HLTV and the R1GG RatingWhy a CS2 team has a different rank on every list. How Valve's VRS, the HLTV ranking and the R1GG rating work, what each counts and which decides Majors.
Valve Regional Standings (VRS) ExplainedVRS is Valve's official CS2 team ranking that decides Major invites and seeding. What it measures, how it updates and how it differs from other rankings.
Where to Watch CS2 Tournaments: Official StreamsPro CS2 streams free on the organizers' Twitch and YouTube channels. Where to find official broadcasts, other languages and the stream for any match.
Tier 1Tier 1 in CS2 means the top level of the scene: the best teams and the biggest events, such as Majors.
LANLAN in CS2 esports means an offline event where both teams play on site, often in an arena.
Sources
Reviewed by the R1GG team
