ESL has officially unveiled its plans for the 2025 Pro Tour, and it looks like fans of Counter-Strike can expect a thrilling year packed with top-tier events. Among the most notable changes is the elimination of best-of-one (BO1) matches from all tournament formats, a move likely to please fans who have voiced their concerns since the release of CS2. Additionally, the announcement reveals exciting updates on the locations for seven different events spread across the year.
Here’s a detailed look at what the ESL Pro Tour 2025 has in store:
The ESL Pro Tour in 2025 will feature a series of tournaments starting with the iconic IEM Katowice, followed later in the year by the fan-favorite IEM Cologne. Meanwhile, ESL Pro League will continue with a revised format and a potential move away from Malta, which has been its host in recent seasons. Furthermore, the year will also see three other IEM events in Dallas, Chengdu, and another yet-to-be-disclosed location.
Key Dates for the ESL Pro Tour 2025
- IEM Katowice: January 29th-February 29th
- ESL Pro League Season 21: February 25th-March 16th
- IEM Spring: April 21st-April 27th
- IEM Dallas: May 19th-May 25th
- IEM Cologne: July 23rd-August 3rd
- ESL Pro League Season 22: September 23rd-October 12th
- IEM Chengdu: November 3rd-November 9th
As with previous years, IEM Katowice will reach its climax in the famous Spodek Arena, while IEM Cologne will conclude in the legendary LANXESS Arena. The journey to these playoffs begins with two stages of preliminary competition, featuring teams determined by the Valve Regional Standings. Every match in these stages will be best-of-three (BO3) rounds, eliminating the controversial best-of-one format.
The ESL Pro Tours Masters series will include IEM Spring and IEM Chengdu, which will invite teams based on Valve’s Regional Standings. For IEM Dallas, a mixed qualification process will bring teams from open and closed qualifiers, as well as through direct invitations.
ESL Pro League’s New Format
Changes in the ESL Pro League for 2025 will reduce the number of teams from 32 to 24 and adopt a new format akin to the current Major format, but utilizing best-of-three matches instead of BO1s. This structure includes two 16-team Swiss stages before narrowing down to the final eight teams who will compete in a playoff bracket.
Across all ESL events in 2025, grand finals will adopt the best-of-five (BO5) format, offering an epic conclusion to each tournament.
With these changes and a packed schedule, ESL is set to deliver an unforgettable year of Counter-Strike action, further enhancing the competitive landscape in 2025.
