CSGO Rio Major reportedly delayed again, until late 2021

Valve has officially confirmed the postponement of Counter-Strike: Global Offensive’s next premier championship event until no earlier than November 2021.

Internal communications obtained by HLTV reveal that Valve has completely restructured its competitive calendar, pushing the next CSGO Major deep into the second half of 2021. Initial scheduling had targeted an early 2020 return for the prestigious tournament series, but the developer’s revised timeline now extends the championship hiatus by an additional full year. The competitive community last witnessed a Major during the StarLadder Berlin championship in September 2019, resulting in an unprecedented competitive void exceeding two years for CSGO’s most celebrated tournament series.

Valve postpones 2021’s CSGO Major till at least late next year

This announcement arrives concurrently with CSGO’s substantial Operation Broken Fang content expansion, yet competitive enthusiasts face continued absence of LAN-based premier events until late 2021 according to verified communications. Traditionally, CSGO maintains a biannual Major schedule with spring and autumn championships, but global circumstances compelled Valve to reschedule the ESL One Rio Major from its original May 2020 date to late November, followed by complete cancellation in September 2020.

• Here’s how Operation Broken Fang’s new battlepass works
• Valve named a Broken Fang loadout after summit1g’s famous accident

Valve introduced Regional Ranking Tournaments as temporary online competitive replacements to maintain global team rankings during the LAN event hiatus. However, this interim solution hasn’t developed according to initial projections. Official regional ranking competitions haven’t occurred since DreamHack Open Fall for European squads and IEM New York Online for North American and CIS-based organizations, with both concluding in October 2020.

🔴
#ESLOne
Rio 2020
@CSGO
Major is canceled
🔄 Plan to return to LAN with
@IEM
Global Challenge

📅 The full event calendar for the rest of 2020

Read it here first:https://t.co/k4xhjN84Yy

— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS)
September 9, 2020

For teams adapting to this new competitive environment, understanding proper class selection strategies becomes increasingly important for maintaining competitive edge.

Valve’s internal correspondence outlines potential 2021 Major framework details, confirming both tournament organizer selection and European venue arrangements. Industry analysis strongly suggests ESL will serve as the organizing entity, given their original commitments to both the cancelled Brazil 2020 Major and the planned year-end 2020 championship event.

Depending on the global health situation, the next CSGO major may begin October 25.

When is the next CSGO regional ranking tournament?

Valve has maintained radio silence regarding forthcoming regional ranking tournament schedules, while the existing ranking structure experiences distortion from team regional migrations and roster changes despite penalties established in the developer’s April 4, 2020 official communication. Predicting whether the 2021 Major will materialize remains speculative, particularly considering escalating international travel complications. However, with most elite competitive rosters currently operating within European territories, Valve’s regional ranking system might achieve equilibrium despite initial turbulence as cross-regional competition continues in virtual environments. For comprehensive strategic preparation, consult our complete competitive guide for advanced tactical insights.

The extended competitive hiatus presents both challenges and opportunities for teams. Organizations can utilize this period for intensive skill development and strategic innovation. Many professional players are focusing on mastering new weapon mechanics and unlock strategies to gain competitive advantages when LAN events resume.

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