By Sagar V. Mankar 
ESL FACEIT Group, a leading esports tournament organizer, has announced its commitment to investing over $22 million (~£16.8 million) into its Counter-Strike ecosystem over the next two years, 2025 and 2026.
Out of the $22 million, 50% ($11 million, ~£8.4 million) will be allocated to support the teams and players competing in the ESL Pro Tour (EPT).
This financial incentive is in addition to the existing support ESL already provides, such as covering costs for travel, accommodation, and practice facilities for global events. The aim is to ensure that teams are well-supported, enhancing their participation and performance.
In addition to the financial support, ESL FACEIT Group has outlined significant changes to its 2025 ESL Pro Tour circuit.
Key tournaments like IEM Katowice and IEM Cologne, which are considered prestigious within the Counter-Strike community, will be categorized as ‘Championship’ events. Meanwhile, other notable tournaments such as ESL Pro League seasons 21 and 22, IEM Dallas, IEM Chengdu, and IEM Spring will fall under the ‘Masters’ category.
This restructuring aims to create a more open and sustainable competitive environment that aligns with Valve’s updated CS2 guidelines.
Part of the investment will also be used to fund the prize pool for the Intel Grand Slam, a highly coveted award in the Counter-Strike scene. The Intel Grand Slam offers a $1 million (~£766,895) prize to the team that wins three ESL Pro Tour Masters events and one Championship event.
Previously, ESL’s other major competitors like BLAST, PGL, and returning StarLadder also announced their CS2 circuit for 2025 and 2026.