ESL Officially Announces IEM Melbourne 2025

Intel Extreme Masters is set to light up Melbourne in 2025, marking the city’s first time hosting the iconic esports tournament. Starting from April 21-27, the event will culminate in live arena playoffs at the prestigious Rod Laver Arena from April 25-27.

This highly anticipated tournament will feature 16 of the world’s best CS2 teams, vying for a prize pool of $300,000 USD and critical points toward qualifying for the BLAST Austin Major.

Tournament Format

The competition will follow a two-phase structure:

1. Group Stages (April 21-24)
   • Two double-elimination groups.
   • Best-of-three matches will determine which teams progress.
2. Playoffs (April 25-27)
   • Held live in Rod Laver Arena, featuring a single-elimination bracket.
   • Intense best-of-three matches will decide the champion.

A Return to Australia

Although not the first Tier-1 Counter-Strike tournament to be held in Australia, nor the first IEM, Melbourne’s selection as host has been five years in the making. Originally planned for 2020, the event was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Since then, Melbourne has hosted ESL Challenger events alongside DreamHack, but IEM Melbourne 2025 promises to elevate Australian esports to new heights.

Last year’s IEM Sydney drew 20,000 fans, and IEM Melbourne 2025 is expected to surpass that milestone.

“This event has been a dream for years. The Australian crowd always brings an unparalleled energy that resonates globally, and we’re thrilled to finally bring this world-class competition to Melbourne.”

-Marc Winther, Director of Game Ecosystems—Counter-Strike at ESL FACEIT Group

Ticket Information: Save the Date!

Tickets for IEM Melbourne go on sale Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 2:00 pm AEDT | 4 am CET | 10 pm EST (previous day) via Ticketek. Prices include:

• General Admission: AUD $189 (three-day pass)
• GA+: AUD $249 (includes enhanced seating options)
• Premium: AUD $359 (exclusive seating and goodie bag)
• VIP Experience: AUD $1,999+ (backstage tours, exclusive perks)

Whether you’re attending in person or tuning in online, this tournament is set to deliver unforgettable moments and showcase why Counter-Strike remains at the pinnacle of competitive gaming. Don’t miss your chance to be part of the action!

For more information, you can check out ESL's official announcement HERE.

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Featured Image Source: ESL

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