The ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has revealed the first details of the 2025 ESL Pro Tour, which will feature five IEM stops and two ESL Pro League events. EPL will be played within a new format.
As expected, IEM Katowice and IEM Cologne, two of ESL's most iconic events, will return in 2025. These are the only Championship-level events, representing the highest tier of competition in the ESL Pro Tour 2025.
What other events did ESL announce?
In addition to the two Championship-level events, there will be three Masters-level IEM stops in Dallas, Chengdu, and a third city yet to be disclosed.
However, IEM will not return to Rio de Janeiro in 2025. The poor outcome in terms of spectators did not bode well within the Counter-Strike community.
The #ESLProTour returns in 2025!$22M+ financial contribution for '25 & '26All BO5 finalsNo more BO1 openers2 EPT Championships5 EPT Masters events#IEM Katowice & Cologne tickets on sale next weekRead our blog below for dates & details on all the changes pic.twitter.com/jqJEPTYqp2
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) October 18, 2024
There have been rumors about the final event potentially marking a return of IEM Sidney in Australia, though we will have to wait and see whether this may be true.
ESL Pro League: Continuing Despite Challenges
Despite concerns that the ESL Pro League might be discontinued with the end of the partner leagues, EFG has confirmed that this flagship competition will return in 2025 with two editions, both to be held in Europe.
EPL will be played under a new format. The event will now feature 24 teams, down from 32 in previous years, and will adopt a Major-like format with two Swiss stages.
Team Selection: Fewer Qualifiers
A significant shift is seen in how teams will be chosen. ESL will largely move away from open qualifiers and will instead use the Valve Regional Standings to determine participants for IEM Katowice, IEM Spring, IEM Cologne, and IEM Chengdu.
Only IEM Dallas and the two Pro League seasons will feature qualifiers, accounting for about half of the teams.
To the joy of many, ESL also announced there will be no more best-of-one games played. Everything will be BO3, with the grand finals being BO5!
Overview of the Seven Announced Events
Championship-Level Events:
- IEM Katowice, Poland: January 29 – February 9
- IEM Cologne, Germany: July 23 – August 3
Masters-Level Events:
- ESL Pro League Season 21, Europe: February 25 – March 16 (Location TBD)
- IEM Spring: April 21 – 27 (Location TBD)
- IEM Dallas, USA: May 19 – 25
- ESL Pro League Season 22, Europe: September 23 – October 12 (Location TBD)
- IEM Chengdu, China: November 3 – 9
What do you think about this news? Will the removal of qualifiers for most of the events turn out to be a mistake?