The Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Dallas 2025 officially launches on May 19 and will run until May 25. Hosted at DreamHack Dallas inside the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center, this Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) tournament stands as the third major international event of the 2025 IEM series, following stops in Katowice and Melbourne.
Sixteen of the top CS2 squads from around the world have gathered to battle for their share of a $300,000 prize pool, with additional club performance bonuses at stake. Fans can expect top-tier competition, intense matchups, and a live playoff finale in front of a buzzing arena crowd.
IEM Dallas 2025 Structure Explained
IEM tournaments have long held a special place in the Counter-Strike esports calendar. Organised by ESL and backed by Intel, the series has remained a core part of the scene for over a decade, now continuing its legacy in the CS2 era as part of the ESL Pro Tour.
The Dallas edition uses a double-elimination group format (GSL) split into two brackets of eight teams each. All matches in this phase will be played in best-of-three (Bo3) format. Here’s how teams will advance:
- First place from each group heads directly to the Semi-finals
- Second place enters the Quarter-finals as high seeds
- Third place secures a Quarter-finals spot as low seeds
- The bottom five in each group are eliminated
From May 23, the Playoffs begin with a single-elimination bracket. Quarter-finals and Semi-finals will be Bo3, and the Grand Final on May 25 will be a best-of-five (Bo5) face-off.
Prize Pool Breakdown
The total prize money for IEM Dallas 2025 is $300,000, distributed among all 16 participating teams. Additional club bonuses will reward overall performance, making the stakes even higher:
| Placement | Prize | Club Bonus |
| 1st | $125,000 | $160,000 |
| 2nd | $50,000 | $100,000 |
| 3rd–4th | $25,000 | $80,000 |
| 5th–6th | $12,500 | $60,000 |
| 7th–8th | $7,000 | $40,000 |
| 9th–12th | $5,000 | $20,000 |
| 13th–16th | $4,000 | — |
The Competing Teams
Direct Invites
Eight top-tier organisations received direct invitations based on their Valve Regional Standings (VRS). Notably absent from the list are NAVI and Team Spirit, both likely skipping due to scheduling overlaps.
- G2 Esports – huNter-, malbsMd, Snax, HeavyGod, hades
- Team Vitality – apEX, ZywOo, flameZ, mezii, ropz
- FaZe Clan – rain, karrigan, frozen, EliGE, s1mple
- Aurora Gaming – XANTARES, MAJ3R, Wicadia, woxic, jottAAA
- MOUZ – torzsi, xertioN, Jimpphat, Brollan, Spinx
- Team Liquid – NAF, Twistzz, ultimate, NertZ, siuhy
- FURIA – yuurih, KSCERATO, FalleN, molodoy, YEKINDAR
- The MongolZ – bLitz, Techno4K, 910, mzinho, Senzu
Qualified Through Regionals
Through regional qualifiers, eight more teams earned their spots from Europe, North America, South America, and Asia.
- Team Falcons – Magisk, NiKo, TeSeS, kyxsan, m0NESY
- BC.Game Esports – pr1metapz, nawwk, nexa, CYPHER, Perfecto
- 3DMAX – Lucky, Ex3rcice, Maka, Graviti, bodyy
- GamerLegion – ztr, Tauson, PR, REZ, acoR
- HEROIC – SunPayus, LNZ, yxngstxr, xfl0ud, tN1R
- NRG – oSee, HexT, nitr0, Jeorge, br0
- Legacy – latto, dumau, saadzin, n1ssim, lux
- Lynn Vision Gaming – westmelon, z4kr, EmiliaQAQ, Starry, C4LLM3SU3
Top Contenders to Watch
Vitality Eyes Another Title
Team Vitality enters the tournament as the team to beat, having already claimed victory at both IEM Katowice and IEM Melbourne earlier this year. They sit comfortably atop the VRS leaderboard with 2,117 points and feature powerhouses like ZywOo and apEX.
Falcons Poised for Revenge
Challenging Vitality’s dominance is Team Falcons. After finishing as runners-up in two recent major events, they’re climbing the ranks fast and currently hold the third spot globally. With continued strong form, they’re a real threat for a breakthrough win in Dallas.
Full Match Schedule
Group A – Opening Matches (May 19–21)
- 5:30 PM – 3DMAX vs. GamerLegion
- 8:00 PM – Team Vitality vs. Legacy
- 10:30 PM – G2 Esports vs. Lynn Vision Gaming
May 20
- 1:00 AM – FURIA vs. The MongolZ
- 5:30 PM / 7:00 PM – Lower Bracket Quarter-finals
- 5:30 PM / 7:00 PM – Upper Bracket Semi-finals
May 21
- 4:30 PM – Lower Bracket Semi-finals (two matches)
- 9:30 PM – Lower Bracket Final
- 9:30 PM – Upper Bracket Final
Group B – Opening Matches (May 19–22)
- 5:30 PM – Team Liquid vs. FaZe Clan
- 8:00 PM – MOUZ vs. BC.Game Esports
- 10:30 PM – HEROIC vs. Aurora Gaming
May 20
- 1:00 AM – Team Falcons vs. NRG
- 9:30 PM – Lower Bracket Quarter-final
May 21
- 12:00 AM – Lower Bracket Quarter-final
- 9:30 PM / 12:00 AM – Upper Bracket Semi-finals
- 7:00 PM – Lower Bracket Semi-finals (two matches)
May 22
- 12:00 AM – Lower Bracket Final
- 12:00 AM – Upper Bracket Final
Playoffs (May 23–25)
Quarter-finals – May 23
- 7:15 PM – Group B 2nd vs. Group A 3rd
- 10:15 PM – Group A 2nd vs. Group B 3rd
Semi-finals – May 24
- 7:15 PM – Group A 1st vs. TBD
- 10:15 PM – Group B 1st vs. TBD
Grand Final – May 25
- 8:00 PM – TBD vs. TBD
What to Expect
With a mix of favourites, rising challengers, and hungry underdogs, IEM Dallas 2025 is shaping up to be a landmark event for CS2. Vitality’s dominant run could be tested once again by a resilient Falcons side, while fan-favourites like FaZe Clan and G2 Esports promise thrilling plays.
With $300,000 on the line and a roaring crowd at DreamHack Dallas, every round is bound to deliver action-packed moments. Whether it’s a Cinderella run or a dynasty in the making, the road to the IEM trophy starts now.
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