The years of 2002-07 are considered Counter-Strike's first Golden Age, as the game's popularity and market-share eclipsed all others in the fledgling esports industry. These tournaments continued for four years. CPL ceased operation in 2008, but another league, ESL, then added Counter-Strike to its Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) series.

These, along with the bi-annual CPL tournaments, were the dominant Majors of CS 1.6 through 2007. In 2002, the World Cyber Games became the next tournament to host competitive Counter-Strike, followed by the Electronic Sports World Cup in 2003. 2001 Winter CPL Counter-Strike tournament