The Most Anticipated Esports Tournaments in 2025

The world of esports has exploded in recent decades, with high school gamers transitioning from local matches to large-scale tournaments. These competitions offer significant prize money and pit them against thousands of fellow players in various categories based on size and prize pool.

We are about half-way through the year and some big esports tournaments have taken place already, but some of the most interesting are yet to hold. With expert insights from contributor Kate Richardson, a renowned analyst in sports betting and esports trends, we’re breaking down the biggest esports tournaments yet to take place this year.

The International 2025

The crown jewel of Dota 2, The International is arguably the biggest esports event and it continues to set records every year and the 2025 edition will be no exception. Internationals hold the record for the largest single-tournament prize pool of any esport event with $40,018,195 in the 2021 edition. Unfortunately, the prize money has dipped since then with the 2024 edition having a prize pool of just over $2.7 million.

This year’s edition will be taking place at the Barclay’s Arena in Hamburg and will run from 4th of September to 14th September, 2025. Last year’s edition of the International was widely bet on and this year will be no different. It will be a favourite for those looking to place bets on Dota 2.

To help players navigate the expanding betting landscape, MightyTips.com steps in with valuable betting insights. They provide up-to-date and the best odds from various betting platforms and provide practical advice on betting strategies, helping players make smarter and informed choices.

Esports World Cup 2025

Formerly known as the Gamers8 Festival, the Esports World Cup 2025 returns to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia with a revolutionary multi-game format. Some of the top games that will be played at the event include:

• Apex Legends
• CrossFire
• EA Sports FC
• Dota 2
• CS:GO
• Rainbow Six
• League of Legends
• Overwatch
• Call of Duty
• Fighters
• Mobile Legends
• and even Chess!

With $70,450,000 million in total prize money, it’s poised to be the biggest esports event of the year.

Teams are going to participate by country, adding a sense of national pride and relevance to the tournament. The massive 21-game lineup means a broader appeal for viewers and bettors alike.

League of Legends World Championship

The LoL Worlds is often called the Super Bowl of esports because of its massive viewership. China will host the 2025 edition and is expected to bring new twists and turns. The fearless draft format will be adopted for the first time and it will feature a total of 17 teams. The prize pool is currently at $5,000,000 and will continue to rise before the ultimate battle for the summoner’s cup in Chengdu, China.

Expect new meta shifts, breakout rookies, and intense team rivalries. For fans and bettors alike, it's one of the most entertaining and profitable tournaments of the year.

In perhaps the greatest eSports quote ever, Faker said “Every single person who’s succeeded in life has experienced failure at some point in their lives, so I think failure takes a bigger part in people’s lives than one may think. It’s important to not lose yourself in the emotions from success and failure.” He was a part of the squad that won back to back World Championships in 2023 and 2024.

Honour of Kings World Cup 2025

Honour of Kings is the first mobile game to make this list and rightly so. It’s the world’s most-played mobile game, and its global tournament is heating up with $3,000,000 in prize money for its inaugural World Cup tournament since the cancellation of Arena of Valor World Cup in 2022.

The World Cup 2025 will spotlight international talent, giving new teams from Latin America and the Middle East a chance to shine. 18 teams are going to be fighting for the prize money in Riyadh.

IEM Cologne 2025

The iconic Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2025 returns from July 23 to August 3 and will be hosted in Germany’s LANXESS Arena, widely known as the "Cathedral of Counter-Strike." With a $1.25 million prize pool ($1 million for players and $250,000 for clubs) the tournament remains one of the most prestigious tournaments on the CS2 calendar.

Top teams like Team Vitality, Natus Vincere, G2 Esports, and MOUZ will compete for glory in a format known for its intensity and depth. part of the ESL Pro Tour, IEM Cologne

“I don’t think I’m the best, but I also don’t think there is anyone better” - Olofmeister said while recovering and making his comeback to Counter-Strike. Unfortunately he’s currently inactive and won’t be part of the Faze Clan squad in the upcoming tournament.

PUBG Mobile World Cup

Another mobile game to make the list is the PUBG Mobile World Cup. It features a massive prize pool of $3,000,000 and will be played in Riyadh. Alpha7 Esports won the 2024 edition and are massive favorites to place in the top 3.

Fortnite FNCS 2025 Global Championship

Set for September 6–7, 2025, the Fortnite FNCS Global Championship will take place at the LDLC Arena in Lyon–Décines, France. This year, the format returns to Trios, featuring 33 top teams who qualified from regional FNCS events across North America, Europe, Asia, Brazil, the Middle East, and Oceania.

With a $2 million prize pool, the tournament is the grand finale of Fortnite’s $8 million FNCS season. Over two days, teams will compete in six matches per day, earning points for placement and eliminations. This high-octane event is expected to draw massive global viewership, both online and in-person.