Your CS2 esports guide to IEM Cologne 2025

Get ready for the latest iteration of one of the greatest Counter-Strike tournaments of all time. Yes, I am, of course, talking about the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Cologne 2025 event, kicking off this week and running into early August. Here’s what you must know so you don’t miss out on any of the S-Tier action.

IEM Cologne 2025 details

IEM Cologne 2025 runs from 23 July to 3 August, as the best teams in the world, invited based on their ranking in the VRS, compete for their share of the $1 million prize pool. At the current Dollar to Rand exchange rate, that’s roughly R17.8 million!

There are 24 teams competing in total, but only 16 will compete in the Main Event (starting in the Group Stage), since first up, 16 teams will compete in the Play-In stage, featuring a double-elimination bracket format, where all matches are BO3.

The Play-In Stage teams are:

• Complexity
• FaZe Clan
• Astralis
• GamerLegion
• 3DMAX
• Team Liquid
• HEROIC
• Virtus.pro
• FURIA
• TYLOO
• MIBR
• B8
• FlyQuest
• paiN Gaming
• BIG
• Ninjas in Pyjamas

The eight teams that make it through the Play-In Stage will join the Direct Invite teams in the Group Stage. The Group Stage of IEM Cologne 2025 boasts two double-elimination GSL-style format groups of eight teams each. All matches in this stage are BO3.

The Group Stage Direct Invite teams:

• Team Vitality
• Team Falcons
• The MongolZ
• G2 Esports
• MOUZ
• Team Spirit
• NAVI
• Aurora Gaming

The top three teams from each group advance to the Playoffs Stage, with placement in the Single-Elimination bracket based on their performance in the Group Stage. The Playoffs Stage takes place from 1 to 3 August, at the awesome LANXESS Arena in Cologne, Germany, also known by esports fans as the Cathedral of Counter-Strike. Quarterfinals and Semifinals matches are BO3, and the Grand Final is BO5.

You can watch all the IEM Cologne 2025 action by tuning in to the official ESL_CSGO Twitch channel. Don’t miss out, as IEM Cologne is one of the most iconic annual Counter-Strike events in history, and stay tuned to Esports Central for a ton of CS2 esports coverage.

Header image via ESL.