Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Chengdu 2025 is the second-to-last S-Tier Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) LAN event leading up to the StarLadder Budapest Major. As part of the ESL Grand Slam, the tournament holds a lot of weight for all teams competing.
With top-tier CS2 esports glory and a significant prize pool on the line, IEM Chengdu 2025 is an unmissable event. Join us to discuss all the essential tournament details, including the format and schedule, teams competing, how to live stream the matches, and our expert betting predictions.
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IEM Chengdu 2025 Schedule & Format
From Nov. 3 to 9, IEM Chengdu 2025 takes place on LAN in China at the Chengdu Financial City Performing Arts Center. The event features two distinct stages of competition, the Group Stage and the Playoffs Stage. All matches take place in front of a crowd, adding pressure, atmosphere, and excitement.
IEM Chengdu 2025’s Group Stage (Nov. 3 to 5) features two double-elimination (GSL-style) groups of eight teams each. All matches in this stage of competition are best-of-three, with the top three teams from each group advancing to the Playoffs Stage. Group Stage winners earn spots in the Semifinals, runners-up become the High Seeds in the Quarterfinals, and 3rd-place teams are the Low Seeds in the Quarterfinals.
The Playoffs Stage (Nov. 7 to 9) features a single-elimination bracket format. Quarterfinals, Semifinals, and the Third-Place Decider matches are best-of-three, and the Grand Final is best-of-five.
For exact match start dates/times in your region, visit our dedicated IEM Chengdu 2025 CS2 betting section.
Prize Pool Distribution
IEM Chengdu 2025 boasts a $1 million total prize pool, split between a Team Share (which goes directly to the players) and a Club Share (awarded to the organizations). Check out the table below for the complete prize pool distribution.
| Place | Team Share | Club Share | Total Prize |
| 1st | $125,000 | $160,000 | $285,000 |
| 2nd | $50,000 | $100,000 | $150,000 |
| 3rd-4th | $25,000 | $80,000 | $105,000 |
| 5th-6th | $12,500 | $60,000 | $72,500 |
| 7th-8th | $7,000 | $40,000 | $47,000 |
| 9th-12th | $5,000 | $20,000 | $25,000 |
| 13th-16th | $4,000 | – | $4,000 |
| Total | $300,000 | $700,000 | $1,000,000 |
How To Watch IEM Chengdu 2025
To watch all the IEM Chengdu 2025 action live, look no further than our state-of-the-art CS2 betting section. When the matches begin, navigate to the “Live” tab and select any game you want to watch. A live stream and bet slip will appear, allowing all registered users to place in-play wagers while watching their favorite teams compete.
Alternatively, you can stream the event live on ESL’s Twitch and YouTube channels.
Teams Competing In IEM Chengdu 2025
Invites were based on the Valve Regional Standings (VRS) on Aug. 4, 2025. Here’s a list of all 16 teams attending IEM Chengdu 2025.
- Team Vitality
- The MongolZ
- MOUZ
- Team Falcons
- HEROIC
- Team Spirit
- Virtus.pro
- NAVI
- FaZe Clan
- Astralis
- FURIA
- G2 Esports
- 3DMAX
- paiN Gaming
- TYLOO
- Lynn Vision
Our Predictions For IEM Chengdu 2025
To make our IEM Chengdu 2025 predictions, we considered a myriad of factors, including current team/player form, recent results, VRS rankings, roster changes, and LAN performance.
Important: These predictions reflect the perceived strength of teams based on historical trends and the latest available odds. This analysis should not be interpreted as betting advice. Past performance does not guarantee future outcomes. Always gamble responsibly.
Team Vitality
Considered by many as the best squad in CS2, with Estonian rifler Robin “ropz” Kool and French AWPer Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut as the tips of its mighty spear, Team Vitality is our top pick.
The squad won an incredible seven S-Tier LAN tournaments in a row in the first half of 2025, lifting the BLAST.tv Austin Major trophy in the process. While they did suffer from a bit of a slump, Dan “apEX” Madesclaire’s men returned to their winning ways at the recent ESL Pro League Season 22 event, dealing a decisive clean 3-0 sweep to Team Falcons in the finals.
With an insatiable hunger for more trophies, few teams can go toe-to-toe with Team Vitality.
Team Vitality roster:
- Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut
- Robin “ropz” Kool
- Shahar “flameZ” Shushan
- William “mezii” Merriman
- Dan “apEX” Madesclaire (IGL)
- Danny “zonic” Sørensen (Coach)
FURIA
With legendary, two-time Major Championship winner Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo at the helm, FURIA is flourishing. Sitting pretty in a top spot on the VRS, the team won their first top-tier LAN trophy at FISSURE Playground 2 in September.
They also kept us on the edge of our seats at the Thunderpick World Championship (TWC) 2025 Finals in Malta. As the TWC 2025 champions, beating NAVI with a 3-2 reverse-sweep in the Grand Final, FURIA proved they can stay cool under immense pressure.
Both Danil “molodoy” Golubenko and Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato recently picked up their first MVP awards. Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis is clicking heads with incredible accuracy, so FURIA may just go all the way at IEM Chengdu 2025.
FURIA roster:
- Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis
- Yuri “yuurih” Boian
- Kaike “KSCERATO” Cerato
- Danil “molodoy” Golubenko
- Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo (IGL)
- Sidnei “sidde” Macedo (Coach)
Team Spirit
Russian powerhouse Team Spirit hasn’t earned a top-four finish since winning BLAST Bounty Season 2 in August. Despite their struggling performances, the team remains firmly in the top 10 on the VRS due to some monumental achievements this year, including lifting the coveted IEM Cologne trophy on Aug. 3, 2025.
With Belarusian star rifler, Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich (previously from HEROIC), replacing Myroslav “zont1x” Plakhotia on Sept. 8, there’s a renewed sense of urgency and hunger on Team Spirit. If 2024 Player of the Year Danil “donk” Kryshkovets can link up perfectly with tN1R on the server, there’s a good chance of a podium finish.
Team Spirit roster:
- Danil “donk” Kryshkovets
- Dmitriy “sh1ro” Sokolov
- Ivan “zweih” Gogin
- Andrey “tN1R” Tatarinovich
- Leonid “chopper” Vishnyakov (IGL)
- Sergey “hally” Shavayev (Coach)
Team Falcons
On paper, Team Falcons should win roughly half the events they compete in. While the Saudi Arabian organization’s CS2 superteam hasn’t found a ton of success, only winning one S-Tier LAN event (PGL Bucharest) in 2025 thus far, we think they may soar at IEM Chengdu 2025.
The addition of Maksim “kyousuke” Lukin bodes well, taking some pressure off the legendary Nikola “NiKo” Kovač. Most importantly, however, is that Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov topped the charts at ESL Pro League Season 22, finding high impact despite a 0-3 loss to Team Vitality in the Grand Final. If m0NESY can maintain his renewed form at IEM Chengdu 2025, Team Falcons could secure a top spot.
Team Falcons roster:
- Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov
- Nikola “NiKo” Kovač
- René “TeSeS” Madsen
- Maksim “kyousuke” Lukin
- Damjan “kyxsan” Stoilkovski (IGL)
- Danny “zonic” Sørensen (Coach)
Honorable mentions go to MOUZ, The MongolZ, HEROIC, and NAVI, who narrowly missed the cut.
We’re Ready For IEM Chengdu 2025
Can Team Vitality continue on their winning ways? Or will TWC 2025 champions FURIA power up and crush everyone in their path? We’re excited to find out the answers to those and plenty of other questions as we get closer to this incredible event. What we do know, though, is that CS2 esports fans are in for a treat at IEM Chengdu 2025, and we can’t wait to share in the excitement.
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