Best CS2 tournaments in 2025

From iconic venues to fresh locations, the season will feature fierce competition, massive prize pools, and unforgettable moments. Stay tuned for a detailed schedule to catch all the action from the year’s biggest CS2 events.

CS2 2025 Tournaments Calendar

The CS2 2025 calendar promises an exhilarating year for esports fans, with prestigious S Tier tournaments across the globe. The key question is when is the Major in CS2? The first Major, set in June in Austin, Texas, marks a historic moment for the region, while the second Major, with dates, still speculated, will continue the year’s excitement.

Besides the Majors, two tournaments stand out as must-watch events for both teams and fans: IEM Katowice, set to take place in Poland in just over two months, and IEM Cologne, one of the most prestigious tournaments, returning to its traditional late July to early August slot.

CS2 Tournaments 2025 Review

Credit: HLTV | PGL CS2 Major Copenhagen 2024

The CS2 2025 season is set to deliver an array of exciting tournaments, each offering unique formats and intense competition. With new formats, intriguing stages, and fierce rivalries, these tournaments promise to keep fans on the edge of their seats all year long.

BLAST Bounty 2025 Season 1 Finals

The BLAST Bounty 2025 Season 1 Finals, taking place from January 23rd to January 26th, 2025, in Copenhagen, Denmark, is a thrilling event that marks the beginning of the CS2 season. With a $500,000 prize pool and 8 top-tier teams competing, the tournament will see intense battles as teams fight to claim victory in a high-stakes environment. The event will feature a unique structure that adds to the excitement, with group stages leading into the final bracket matches.

Participating Teams:

• Spirit
• G2 Esports
• Natus Vincere
• Vitality
• paiN
• Eternal Fire
• BetBoom
• HEROIC

As teams battle for supremacy, the tournament promises a combination of traditional competitive CS2 action and the unique BLAST Bounty system, making it a must-watch event for both casual viewers and hardcore fans.

IEM Katowice 2025 Play-in

IEM Katowice 2025 will take place from February 11th to 25th in the legendary Spodek Arena, Katowice, Poland. This renowned tournament is a key highlight of the CS2 calendar, featuring 24 elite teams from around the globe competing for a prestigious title and a massive $1,000,000 prize pool.

Participating Teams

• FURIA (#8, Valve Ranking)
• Liquid (#9, Valve Ranking)
• Astralis (#11, Valve Ranking)
• paiN (#12, Valve Ranking)
• Eternal Fire (#13, Valve Ranking)
• MIBR (#14, Valve Ranking)
• Virtus.pro (#15, Valve Ranking)
• 3DMAX (#17, Valve Ranking)
• Wildcard (#18, Valve Ranking)
• HEROIC (#19, Valve Ranking)
• BIG (#20, Valve Ranking)
• GamerLegion (#21, Valve Ranking)
• FlyQuest (#22, Valve Ranking)
• Complexity (#23, Valve Ranking)
• SAW (#24, Valve Ranking)
• Imperial (#25, Valve Ranking)

With its iconic venue, passionate crowd, and a lineup of top-tier teams, IEM Katowice 2025 is set to deliver some of the most thrilling moments in competitive Counter-Strike.

PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025

PGL Cluj-Napoca 2025 is set to take place from February 14th to 23rd in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, featuring 16 top-tier teams competing for a prize pool of $1,250,000.

The tournament will feature a Swiss-format Group Stage, with all matches being Best-of-Three (Bo3). The top teams will advance to the Playoffs, which will follow a single-elimination bracket, culminating in a Best-of-Five (Bo5) Grand Final. A third-place decider match will also be played as a Bo3.

Prize Distribution:

• 1st Place: $400,000
• 2nd Place: $187,500
• 3rd Place: $150,000
• 4th Place: $87,500
• 5th-8th Place: $62,500 each
• 9th-11th Place: $31,250 each
• 12th-14th Place: $18,750 each
• 15th-16th Place: $12,500 each

As of now, the participating teams are yet to be announced.

ESL Pro League Season 21

ESL Pro League Season 21 will take place in Stockholm, Sweden, from March 7th to March 16th, 2025, featuring 16 teams and a prize pool of $400,000. The tournament will start with group play in a Swiss format, followed by a playoff stage where the top teams will compete for the prize money.

Participating Teams:

• Spirit
• G2 Esports
• Natus Vincere
• Vitality
• MOUZ
• The MongolZ
• Liquid
• Falcons

The prize distribution includes $100,000 for the first place, with additional rewards for the top 16 teams, ensuring a competitive environment throughout the event.

Skyesports Masters 2025

Skyesports Masters 2025 will run from May 26th to June 1st, 2025, with eight top teams competing for a $500,000 prize pool in India. The event will feature a single-elimination playoff format, with all matches played in a best-of-three (Bo3) structure, culminating in a best-of-five (Bo5) grand final.

Key Details:

• Date: May 26th - June 1st, 2025
• Location: India (TBA)
• Teams: 8 (TBA)
• Prize Pool: $500,000

The Skyesports Masters 2025 promises intense competition in a ranked event, spotlighting the region's growing prominence in the global esports scene.

PGL Astana 2025

PGL Astana 2025 is set to take place from May 10th to May 18th in Astana, Kazakhstan, offering a $1,250,000 prize pool and featuring 16 of the world's top teams. The tournament will begin with a Swiss-format group stage, followed by single-elimination playoffs, culminating in a best-of-five grand final and a best-of-three third-place decider match.

Key Details:

• Date: May 10th - May 18th, 2025
• Location: Astana, Kazakhstan
• Teams: 16 (qualified via regional qualifiers and Valve rankings)
• Prize Pool: $1,250,000

As one of the premier events on the CS2 calendar, PGL Astana 2025 will showcase elite-level competition and strategic brilliance, solidifying its place as a cornerstone of the competitive season.

The BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025

The BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025 marks one of the most anticipated CS2 events of the year, running from June 9th to June 22nd in Austin, Texas. With a $1,250,000 prize pool and a new 32-team format replacing traditional RMRs, the Major promises intense competition and exciting gameplay. Notably, Train will replace Vertigo in the map pool for this event, shaking up strategies and tactics.

Key Details:

• Date: June 9th - June 22nd, 2025
• Location: Austin, TX, United States
• Teams: 32 (expanded format starting in 2025)
• Prize Pool: $1,250,000
• Map Pool Update: Train replaces Vertigo

The Austin Major is expected to be a milestone in CS2 history, highlighting the transition to a larger competitive ecosystem while maintaining the high stakes and thrilling action that define Major tournaments.

IEM Cologne 2025

IEM Cologne 2025 returns to the Lanxess Arena from July 26th to August 3rd, 2025, continuing its legacy as one of the most prestigious events in CS2. With 16 of the world’s best teams competing for a $1,000,000 prize pool, the event features a thrilling mix of group-stage battles and high-stakes playoffs.

Key Details:

• Date: July 26th - August 3rd, 2025
• Location: Cologne, Germany
• Teams: 16
• Prize Pool: $1,000,000
• Formats: Double elimination (Bo3); group winners advance to the semi-finals, while 2nd and 3rd place teams proceed to the quarter-finals + Single elimination (Bo3), culminating in a Grand Final (Bo5).

Known as "The Cathedral of Counter-Strike," IEM Cologne 2025 promises unforgettable moments as elite teams clash in pursuit of the prestigious title. With the stage set in the iconic arena, fans can expect unparalleled intensity and passion.

StarLadder StarSeries Season 20

StarLadder StarSeries Season 22 is set to return from September 11th to September 20th, 2026, bringing together 16 teams for an unranked competition. Though the prize pool and exact location remain undisclosed, this event continues the legacy of StarLadder’s renowned tournaments.

Key Details:

• Date: September 11th - September 20th, 2026
• Teams: 16
• Prize Pool: TBA
• Location: TBA
• Event Type: Unranked

StarLadder StarSeries Season 22 is expected to showcase thrilling gameplay as teams compete for supremacy in this iconic series.

The Thunderpick World Championship

Thunderpick World Championship 2025 Finals is scheduled to take place from October 15th to October 19th, 2025. With a prize pool of $850,000, eight top-tier teams will battle it out in this highly anticipated ranked event. While the exact location remains to be announced, the championship promises intense competition and thrilling moments.

Key Details:

• Date: October 15th - October 19th, 2025
• Teams: 8
• Prize Pool: $850,000
• Location: TBA
• Event Type: Ranked

Continuing its legacy, the Thunderpick World Championship Finals will once again set the stage for some of the world's best teams to showcase their skills and vie for the prestigious title.

CS2 Tournaments Conclusion

The 2025 CS2 tournament circuit boasts a total prize pool of $19.4 million across 30 events, highlighting the growing investment and global appeal of competitive Counter-Strike. Flagship events such as the BLAST.tv Austin Major, PGL tournaments, and IEM Katowice continue to set the bar high with prize pools of $1,250,000, while smaller regional events maintain competitiveness with $300,000–$600,000 offerings.

Tournament formats emphasize fair competition and viewer excitement, with Swiss or double-elimination group stages leading into single-elimination playoffs. Best-of-five grand finals remain a staple for high-stakes matches, ensuring thrilling conclusions. Notable innovations include the expansion of team slots at majors, as seen in the BLAST.tv Austin Major's 32-team format.

This year's calendar showcases the balancebetween tradition and innovation, with a mix of iconic venues like Katowice and Cologne alongside newer locations such as Astana and Qatar. The continued evolution of formats and prize structures reflects a dynamic, thriving competitive scene.