IEM Melbourne 2025 is the next big Counter-Strike 2 event. It will take place in Australia from April 21 to April 27, with a prize pool of $1 million. Out of this, $700,000 will be split between the participating clubs as part of ESL’s 2025 tournament structure.
Tournament format
Group Stage (April 21–24):
- Two GSL-style groups with 8 teams each
- Double-elimination brackets
- All matches are best-of-three (Bo3)
- Top 3 teams from each group advance:
- 1st place → Semifinals
- 2nd place → Quarterfinals (High Seed)
- 3rd place → Quarterfinals (Low Seed)
Playoffs (April 25–27):
- Single-elimination bracket
- Quarterfinals and Semifinals are Bo3
- Grand Final is best-of-five (Bo5)
Opening Matches
- MOUZ vs BIG
- GamerLegion vs 3DMAX
- FaZe vs paiN
- Complexity vs The MongolZ
- Vitality vs FlyQuest
- Virtus.pro vs Liquid
- Falcons vs SAW
- MIBR vs NAVI
Group A Preview
Group A might not have the top favorites, but it's much more balanced. That means we can expect some close matches and surprises. MOUZ are the clear favorites. They’re strong and consistent, and reaching playoffs should be no problem for them.
GamerLegion didn’t qualify for the Major, but they reached playoffs at PGL Bucharest 2025. That was their first deep run on LAN this season, and they looked solid. Their first opponent, 3DMAX, also reached playoffs in Bucharest and already have a spot at the Major, so they’ll be playing without pressure.
Complexity made the semifinals in Bucharest, but they’re still hard to predict. That event was their only big success in 2025 so far. They’ll face The MongolZ, who struggled in Bucharest but will play much closer to home in Melbourne. That might help them perform better.
From Group A, the most likely teams to make playoffs are MOUZ, FaZe, and The MongolZ. But with how even the group is, surprises are very possible.
Group B Preview
Vitality are the main favorites—not just in this group, but in the whole event. In 2025, they’ve won three events in a row. They’re also close to winning the Grand Slam Season 5, which would earn them $1 million in gold bars. This tournament is very important for them. Their bracket path looks manageable. Before the final round of the group, they’ll face FlyQuest, and then the winner of Virtus.pro vs Liquid. So they have a good chance to reach playoffs easily.
Liquid will be playing with their new in-game leader. They had a rough time at PGL Bucharest, finishing last, but now they need to improve quickly. There are not many events left before the Major, and the pressure is on. Falcons are one of the most interesting teams right now. They’ve signed m0NESY, one of the best AWPers in the world. That change already boosted their individual power, and they’re now considered a strong playoff contender. They will likely fight for the second playoff spot with NAVI, who still have their own issues.
Final Thoughts
IEM Melbourne 2025 is shaping up to be a great event. Group A promises balanced games and potential upsets, while Group B features some of the strongest teams in CS2. With $1 million on the line and the Grand Slam chase heating up, fans can expect top-level action across the board.
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