By Sagar V. Mankar 
Hero Esports (previously known as VSPO) has announced the details of its upcoming Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) tournament as part of the Asian Champions League (ACL) 2025.
First announced in September 2024, the ACL is a multi-title tournament featuring up to 10 games, with a total prize pool of 15 million RMB ($2 million USD). So far 6 titles have been confirmed including Honor of Kings, Dota 2, Teamfight Tactics, Delta Force, Crossfire, and of course CS2.
This tournament marks a significant milestone as it opens doors for teams across China and Asia to compete at the highest level. CS2 teams from the region are competing for a substantial prize pool of $300,000.
Tournament Format and Schedule
The event will unfold in four distinct stages, beginning with the Chinese Open Qualifiers on February 15th and culminating in the Grand Final on May 16th.
Open Qualifiers (February 15th – April 13th)
- The tournament kicks off with the “Rookie Stage” in China, where any team can participate – a groundbreaking first for Chinese CS2 esports.
- Teams will face each other in a mix of best-of-one and best-of-three matches in a single-elimination format.
- The top 8 teams from different regions won’t go home empty-handed – each will receive $4,000 and advance to compete in a double-elimination bracket.
Closed Qualifiers (April 17th – 27th)
- The competition heats up as successful teams from the Rookie Advanced stage meet teams ranked 5th to 16th in Asia’s Valve Regional Standings (VRS).
- This stage will determine which four teams advance to the playoffs.
Playoffs (May 6th – 11th)
- The qualifying teams will face their toughest challenge yet – competing against the top 4 teams from the Asia VRS.
- These matches will use a best-of-three double-elimination format, ensuring that only the most skilled teams reach the final stage.
Grand Finals (May 16th)
- The tournament concludes in Shanghai with two teams battling for glory and their share of the impressive $300,000 prize pool.
- The champions will take home a whopping $100,000.
The ACL’s connection to Saudi Arabia’s Esports World Cup adds another layer of significance, as discussions are underway to integrate the tournament into global EWC qualifications. So there is a high chance that the winners or top teams from the tournament get invited to EWC in the summer of 2025.
If you don’t know, Hero Esports has received significant backing in 2023 with a $265 million investment from Savvy Games Group, a Saudi Arabian investment group.
As the tournament progresses, more details about prize distribution, teams, and qualifiers are expected to emerge.