By Sagar V. Mankar 
In an exciting first for Australian esports, Melbourne is set to host one of the biggest Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) tournaments ever seen in the country. The prestigious Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) will bring together 16 of the world’s best teams to compete for a massive $1 million prize pool in April 2025.
The week-long gaming spectacle will kick off on April 21, with the most matches taking place at the iconic Rod Laver Arena from April 25th to 27th. This venue, famous for hosting the Australian Open tennis tournament, will now witness intense virtual battles between gaming superstars.
Here’s a breakdown of the format:
Group Stage
- Teams: 16 invited teams based on Valve Regional Standings (VRS) which will be finalized in February 2025
- Structure: Two double-elimination groups with 8 teams each.
- Matches: All matches are best-of-three (Bo3).
- Advancement: The top 3 teams from each group advance to the playoffs.
Playoffs
- Teams: 6 teams from the group stage.
- Structure: Single-elimination bracket.
- Matches: Quarterfinals and semifinals are best-of-three (Bo3), while the grand final is best-of-five (Bo5).
Teams breakdown:
- Top 10 teams from global VRS rankings
- Two best teams from Europe
- Two best teams from the Americas
- Two best teams from Asia
Prize Pool Distribution
Total Prize Pool: $1,000,000
- 1st Place: $125,000 (Player) + $160,000 (Club)
- 2nd Place: $50,000 (Player) + $100,000 (Club)
- 3rd-4th Place: $25,000 (Player) + $80,000 (Club)
- 5th-6th Place: $12,500 (Player) + $60,000 (Club)
- 7th-8th Place: $7,000 (Player) + $40,000 (Club)
- 9th-10th Place: $5,000 (Player) + $20,000 (Club)
- 13th-16th Place: $4,000 (Player)
Australia’s Minister for Tourism, Sport, and Major Events, Steve Dimopoulos, expressed his enthusiasm, stating,
“We’re thrilled to host the world’s best gamers at one of the biggest esports tournaments in Australia’s history. Melbourne will come alive with thousands of fans and competitors, boosting our economy as they enjoy our renowned cafes, restaurants, and hotels.”
Tickets will go on sale on January 23rd at 3 AM GMT with a price range varying from $259 to $369. Those unable to attend in person can catch all the action live on FACEIT Watch or through ESL Counter-Strike’s official channels on Twitch and YouTube.
IEM Melbourne 2025 is part of a larger series of IEM events happening throughout the year, with tournaments also planned in Dallas, Cologne, Katowice, and Chengdu. The series kicks off with IEM Katowice on January 29th, 2025.
Source: ESLGaming