IEM Cologne 2025

In the organizer's words:

One of the biggest and most exciting e-sports tournaments in the world returns to the LANXESS arena. Back in the "Cathedral of Counter-Strike", the 24 best teams in the world will once again compete against each other for the prize money and the trophy. Once again, the event promises pure excitement, thrilling moments on the monitors and an incredible showdown between the teams. The IEM will take place from August 1 to 3, 2025 in the cathedral city on the Rhine.

The event has proven that it is something very special in the gaming industry. With annual records, whether spectators on site or in the live stream - the IEM is one of the biggest events on the planet. With numerous guests from all over the world, the tournament has been thrilling every guest at the Cologne Cathedral since 2015.

According to a study published by ESL, more than 37,000 fans from 70 different countries cheered on the world's best Counter-Strike teams in 2024 and spent several days in Cologne. This means that IEM Cologne is also of great economic importance for the city. The economic value of the fans' visit to the Rhine alone amounted to 29.4 million US dollars. Of this, around 15.8 million US dollars were spent in the "Food & Beverages" and "Accommodation and Retail & Tourism" sectors. On average, a fan spent around 762 euros during their visit to the tournament in Cologne.

The ESL Pro Tour (EPT) will provide more than USD 11 million annually for teams and players participating in the circuit. Teams will also continue the Intel Grand Slam race for a chance to win USD 1 million in prize money. The ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) has also announced that it will financially support the Counter-Strike ecosystem with 22 million USD in 2025 & 2026.

"The EPT for Counter-Strike 2 is the definition of EFG's commitment to fostering a fertile competitive environment and continuously nurturing the legacy of Counter-Strike, as we have done since 2000," said Marc Winther, Director Game Ecosystems - Counter-Strike, at ESL FACEIT Group. "With a circuit that spans multiple continents and integrates different levels of competition, we look forward to further promoting the opportunities for world-class teams and passionate fans alike."

About the ESL Pro Tour

The ESL Pro Tour combines multiple ESL tournaments from different game titles, including Counter-Strike, Dota 2 and StarCraft® II, into dedicated circuits that build towards major championships each year. The overarching structure for global and regional competitions provides a consistent and clear path from "zero to hero" for aspiring players of all skill levels, a more engaging story for existing Counter-Strike, Dota 2 and StarCraft® II fans, and a more transparent structure for new esports fans.

The general pre-sale for IEM Cologne 2025 starts on Thursday, 24.10.2024, at 15.00 via the organizing ESL.

Source: ESL FACEIT Group