The Evolution of Pick’Em Rewards in Counter-Strike: Every Medal From the First Majors to Budapest 2025

In the world of Counter-Strike, countless tournaments take place each year, but the most anticipated and prestigious event has always been the Major — the official Valve-sponsored championship. Alongside periodic Operation coins, Pick’Em Challenge rewards hold a special place among in-game trophies. The modern version of the Pick’Em Challenge first appeared at ESL One Cologne 2015, giving players the opportunity to make predictions and earn unique medals of various tiers. In this article, we’ve gathered every Pick’Em medal available at Majors to show how the system evolved and what role it plays in the game’s history.

Complete Collection of Pick’Em Coins

Pick’Em medals have become an essential feature of every Major, allowing players to commemorate their participation and successful predictions. Over the years, the reward system has changed — from simple three-tier medals to modern coins with four rarity levels. Each Major brought its own stylistic touch to the Pick’Em Coin design, creating a unique collection that reflects the history of the tournaments. Below is the full list of all Pick’Em medals starting from 2015.

ESL One Cologne 2015 Pick'Em Challenge

ESL One Cologne 2015 took place in Cologne, Germany, from August 20–23, 2015, with a prize pool of $250,000. Although it was not a Major, it was considered one of the most prestigious events of the season, bringing together the world’s best teams. Fnatic claimed victory, defeating Team EnVyUs in the grand final. This was the first event to feature the modern Pick’Em Challenge, where players could earn one of three medals: bronze, silver, or gold.

DreamHack Cluj-Napoca 2015 Pick'Em Challenge

DreamHack Cluj-Napoca 2015 followed ESL One Cologne and became the next major tournament of the season. With a $250,000 prize pool, the event concluded with Team EnVyUs winning the title and earning $100,000 for first place. The Pick’Em Challenge again featured three medal tiers: bronze, silver, and gold.

MLG Columbus 2016 Pick'Em Challenge

MLG Columbus 2016 was held from March 29 to April 3, 2016, in Columbus, Ohio, and became the first Major in CS:GO history with a $1,000,000 prize pool. The tournament ended with Luminosity Gaming defeating Natus Vincere to win their first Major trophy. The event offered the traditional Pick’Em Challenge with bronze, silver, and gold medals.

ESL One Cologne 2016 Pick'Em Challenge

ESL One: Cologne 2016 ran from July 5–10, 2016, in Cologne, Germany, and was an official Major with a $1,000,000 prize pool. SK Gaming claimed the title by defeating Team Liquid, earning their second consecutive Major victory. The Pick’Em Challenge once again included bronze, silver, and gold medals.

ELEAGUE Atlanta 2017 Pick'Em Challenge

ELEAGUE Major: Atlanta 2017 took place from January 22–29, 2017, in Atlanta, USA, with a $1,000,000 prize pool. The event became legendary thanks to its dramatic final, where Astralis defeated Virtus.pro to win their first Major. Players could once again earn bronze, silver, and gold Pick’Em medals.

PGL Krakow 2017 Pick'Em Challenge

PGL Major Krakow 2017 was held from July 16–23, 2017, in Kraków, Poland, featuring a $1,000,000 prize pool. It became one of the most unpredictable Majors ever, with Gambit Esports stunning the world by defeating Immortals in the final to claim their only Major trophy. The Pick’Em Challenge retained its three classic medal tiers.

FACEIT London 2018 Pick'Em Challenge

FACEIT Major: London 2018 took place from September 5–23, 2018, in London, UK, with a $1,000,000 prize pool. Astralis secured their second Major title by defeating Natus Vincere in the grand final. This was the first Major to introduce the new "Major Pass" system, allowing players to complete challenges, upgrade their coin, and participate in the Pick’Em Challenge. The three traditional medal tiers — bronze, silver, and gold — remained available.

IEM Katowice 2019 Pick'Em Challenge

Intel Extreme Masters XIII — Katowice Major 2019 was held from February 13 to March 3, 2019, in Katowice, Poland, featuring a $1,000,000 prize pool. Astralis dominated the event, defeating ENCE in the final to win their third Major. This was the first Major to introduce the diamond Pick’Em medal — a new top-tier reward with a circular shape and updated design.

StarLadder Berlin 2019 Pick'Em Challenge

StarLadder Berlin Major 2019 took place from August 23 to September 8, 2019, in Berlin, Germany, with a $1,000,000 prize pool. Astralis once again emerged victorious, defeating AVANGAR and claiming their fourth Major title. This event was the first to feature medal designs inspired by the host city — a new tradition that added uniqueness to each Pick’Em Coin.

PGL Stockholm 2021 Pick'Em Challenge

PGL Major Stockholm 2021 ran from October 26 to November 7, 2021, in Stockholm, Sweden, and became the first Major after a two-year break due to the pandemic. Its $2,000,000 prize pool was the largest in CS history at the time. Natus Vincere made history by winning their first Major without dropping a single map, defeating G2 Esports in the final. All Pick’Em tiers, including the diamond medal, remained available.

PGL Antwerp 2022 Pick'Em Challenge

PGL Major Antwerp 2022 took place from May 9–22, 2022, in Antwerp, Belgium, with a $1,000,000 prize pool. FaZe Clan defeated Natus Vincere in the final, becoming the first international roster to win a CS:GO Major. The Pick’Em system preserved all reward tiers and featured a coin design inspired by the city of Antwerp.

IEM Rio 2022 Pick'Em Challenge

Intel Extreme Masters Rio Major 2022 was held from October 31 to November 13, 2022, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, with a $1,000,000 prize pool. Known for its electric fan atmosphere, the event ended with Outsiders defeating Heroic to win their first Major. The Pick’Em medals included all tiers from bronze to diamond, with a design inspired by the culture and imagery of Rio.

BLAST Paris 2023 Pick'Em Challenge

BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023 took place from May 8–21, 2023, in Paris, France, and became the final Major of the CS:GO era. With a $1,250,000 prize pool, Team Vitality claimed the championship by defeating GamerLegion, winning their first Major on home soil. The Pick’Em Challenge included all medal tiers, featuring a design reflecting the aesthetics of Paris and the BLAST brand.

PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 Pick`Em Challenge

PGL Major Copenhagen 2024 ran from March 17–31, 2024, in Copenhagen, Denmark, and became the first-ever CS2 Major. With a $1,250,000 prize pool, Natus Vincere defeated FaZe Clan to win their second Major. The event highlighted the rise of new stars such as w0nderful and iM and marked a refreshed CS2 meta. Pick’Em medals ranged from bronze to diamond, featuring a design themed around Copenhagen and the game's new era.

Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 Pick`Em Challenge

Perfect World Shanghai Major 2024 took place from November 30 to December 15, 2024, in Shanghai, China. The $1,250,000 event was the second CS2 Major, with Team Spirit defeating FaZe Clan in the final. The tournament’s MVP was the 17-year-old donk — the youngest Major MVP in history. The Pick’Em Challenge followed the established system, with bronze through diamond medals and a Shanghai-themed design.

BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 Pick`Em Challenge

BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 was held in Austin, Texas, and marked the next chapter of the CS2 era. For the first time, the format expanded to feature 32 teams, making the competition even larger. With a $1,250,000 prize pool, Team Vitality defeated The MongolZ in the final to earn their second Major title. The Pick’Em medals again included the four standard tiers, with a Texas- and BLAST-inspired design.

StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 Pick`Em Challenge

The upcoming StarLadder Budapest Major 2025 will take place from November 24 to December 14 in Budapest. The event will feature 32 teams and a $1,250,000 prize pool. Fans can expect exciting matches, surprising upsets, and new storylines that may reshape the competitive landscape of CS2. The Pick’Em Coin for this Major follows the familiar four-tier system, with a design reflecting Budapest’s atmosphere and StarLadder branding.

How Pick’Em Medals Have Changed Over the Years

In this article, we looked back at every Pick’Em Coin — from the earliest medals at ESL One Cologne 2015 to the upcoming StarLadder Budapest Major 2025. Early Pick’Em medals varied in shape and style but offered only three tiers: bronze, silver, and gold. Starting with IEM Katowice 2019, the Pick’Em Coin received a circular shape and a fourth tier — the diamond medal — a design that has remained mostly unchanged since. It would be great to see a more creative and distinctive approach to future Pick’Em designs, as these coins symbolize the history of Majors and the achievements of players around the world.