| 2016 | |
 The MLG Major 2016 logo | |
| Tournament information | |
|---|---|
| Sport | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive |
| Location | Columbus, Ohio, US |
| Dates | March 29, 2016–April 3, 2016 |
| Administrator | Valve Major League Gaming |
| Venue(s) | Nationwide Arena |
| Purse | US$1,000,000 |
| Final positions | |
| Champions | Luminosity Gaming (1st title) |
| 1st runners-up | Natus Vincere |
| 2nd runners-up | Astralis Team Liquid |
| Tournament statistics | |
| Matches played | 27 |
| MVP | Marcelo "coldzera" David |
MLG Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Major Championship: Columbus, also referred to as MLG Columbus 2016[1] was the eighth Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Major Championship held by Major League Gaming (MLG) throughout March 29 to April 3, 2016, in the Nationwide Arena in Columbus, Ohio, United States.[2] It was the first CS:GO Major in North America as well as the first run by Major League Gaming, who previously ran an exhibition CS:GO tournament at X Games Aspen 2015.[3] It was also the very first CS:GO major in which ESL or DreamHack was not the organizer. It was announced on February 23, 2016, that MLG Columbus 2016 would be the first Counter-Strike tournament with a $1,000,000 prize pool.[4]
The playoffs had eight teams. Astralis, Fnatic, Luminosity Gaming, Natus Vincere, Ninjas in Pyjamas, and Virtus.pro were returning Legends. Counter Logic Gaming and Team Liquid were new Legends as FaZe Clan and Team EnVyUs had their Legends status taken away after failing to make the top eight. In the grand finals, Luminosity Gaming, which defeated Virtus.pro and Team Liquid, faced off against Natus Vincere, which defeated Ninjas in Pyjamas and Astralis. Luminosity Gaming won 2–0 as the underdog for its first major title and fifty percent of the $1,000,000 prize pool; in addition, it became the first non-European team to win a major title.[5]
- ^ "MLG Columbus 2016". Counter-Strike Blog. Archived from the original on 15 December 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ^ "Le prochain Major de CS:GO aux États-Unis". vossey.com (in French). 23 November 2015.
- ^ Walker, Alex (November 23, 2015). "Major League Gaming Is Getting On Board The Counter-Strike Train Too". Kotaku Australia. Archived from the original on November 24, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
- ^ "Major Growth". Counter-Strike Blog. Archived from the original on 14 December 2017. Retrieved 23 February 2016.
- ^ Lund-Hansen, Rasmus (April 3, 2016). "Luminosity Gaming are the MLG Columbus Major champions". GAMEREACTOR. Archived from the original on July 10, 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2017.