All participants of IEM Chengdu 2025 — one of the key autumn tournaments in the ESL Pro Tour calendar — have now been revealed. Sixteen teams from across the world have received direct invites and will compete in Chengdu from November 3 to November 9, 2025, for a $1,000,000 prize pool.
Everything About the Tournament
Intel Extreme Masters Chengdu 2025 will be one of the most important events of the autumn season in the ESL Pro Tour. The competition will take place from November 3 to November 9, 2025, in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
At stake is a $1,000,000 prize pool, which will be distributed among the participants. The format includes a group stage played in a Double Elimination system (Best-of-3) and playoffs culminating in a Best-of-5 Grand Final.
List of Teams
Organizers have confirmed the full list of teams that accepted direct invitations to IEM Chengdu 2025. Sixteen teams will compete in the main stage:
- Team Vitality (VRS Europe)
- Team Spirit (VRS Europe)
- FURIA Esports (VRS Americas)
- paiN Gaming (VRS Americas)
- The MongolZ (VRS Asia)
- TYLOO (VRS Asia)
- MOUZ (VRS Global)
- Natus Vincere (VRS Global)
- Team Falcons (VRS Global)
- FaZe Clan (VRS Global)
- Astralis (VRS Global)
- G2 Esports (VRS Global)
- 3DMAX (VRS Global)
- Lynn Vision (VRS Global)
- Virtus.pro (VRS Global)
- Heroic (VRS Global)
This lineup became final after Aurora and GamerLegion declined their invites to the tournament, leaving space for other participants.
Importance of the Tournament for Teams
IEM Chengdu 2025 is a Masters-level event within the ESL Pro Tour system and is classified as a Valve Tier 1 (S-Tier) tournament. This status makes it one of the most prestigious competitions of the CS2 season, with results that significantly impact the global team hierarchy. For participants, it is an opportunity to solidify their place among the elite, earn ranking points, and prove their strength on a major international stage.
Equally important is the financial aspect: the $1 million prize pool is split between players ($300,000) and clubs ($700,000). In addition, the Annual Club Incentive program provides further payments based on participation and match viewership. This makes IEM Chengdu not only a high-profile competitive event but also a vital source of income for both players and organizations, underlining its significance in the broader development of CS2 teams.
