Aussie Counter-Strike followers will likely be handled to the very best CS2 motion as ESL heads Down Beneath in March for IEM Melbourne 2025. The Victorian capital was to play host to an IEM-level occasion means again in 2020 earlier than COVID noticed the event canceled.
Now, after almost 5 years and several other smaller ESL Challenger occasions, Melbourne’s Rod Laver Area opens its doorways to 16 of the world’s finest groups. Who will depart Australia as champions?
Right here’s all the things it is advisable find out about IEM Melbourne 2025: Schedule, group checklist, standings, and how one can watch!
Desk of contents
IEM Melbourne 2025 format and groups
IEM Melbourne sees top-flight CS2 return to Australia for the second time in three years after IEM Sydney kicked off a brand new period of Counter-Strike in 2023.
All groups acquired invitations to IEM Melbourne by way of VRS rankings on Feb. 2. The 16 groups will likely be cut up into two teams of eight, the place they’ll play out a GSL double-elimination bracket. The 2 higher bracket groups will play for a spot within the semis with the loser touchdown within the quarters. The decrease bracket winner will be part of them within the quarterfinal, that means three groups per group progress to the finals.
The highest six will enter Rod Laver Area on March 25 and play a single-elimination best-of-three bracket, with the grand closing a best-of-five. The champion will stroll house $125,000 richer.
The house crowd will likely be represented by FlyQuest, with the Aussie squad touchdown an invitation whereas Justin “jks” Savage flies the native flag on Workforce Liquid. Listed below are the groups attending IEM Melbourne:
| Qualification | Workforce(s) |
|---|---|
| VRS Invitations (as at Feb. 2) |
Workforce Vitality Workforce Liquid paiN Gaming The MongolZ FlyQuest FaZe Clan Natus Vincere MOUZ Workforce Falcons Virtus.professional GamerLegion 3DMAX MIBR BIG |
| Replacements | SAW Complexity |
* April 11: Spirit has withdrawn from IEM Melbourne; changed by Complexity.
IEM Melbourne 2025 schedule, outcomes, and standings
Group Stage
All match occasions are in CEST (UTC+2).
Monday, April 21
- 3:15am LIVE: FaZe 2-0 paiN | MongolZ 1-1 Complexity
- 5:45am: MOUZ vs. BIG | 3DMAX vs. GamerLegion
- 8:15am: Vitality vs. FlyQuest | Liquid vs. VP
- 10:45am: Falcons vs. SAW | NaVi vs. MIBR
Tuesday, April 22
- 3:15am: TBD vs. TBD | TBD vs. TBD
- Group A decrease bracket. Loser is eradicated.
- 5:45am: TBD vs. TBD | TBD vs. TBD
- Group A higher bracket.
- 8:15am: TBD vs. TBD | TBD vs. TBD
- Group B decrease bracket. Loser is eradicated.
- 10:45am: TBD vs. TBD | TBD vs. TBD
- Group B higher bracket.
Wednesday, April 23
- 3:15am: TBD vs. TBD | TBD vs. TBD
- Group A decrease bracket. Loser is eradicated.
- 5:45am: TBD vs. TBD | TBD vs. TBD
- Group B decrease bracket. Loser is eradicated.
- 8:15am: TBD vs. TBD
- Group A decrease bracket closing. Winner proceeds to quarterfinals, loser is eradicated.
- 8:15am: TBD vs. TBD
- Group A higher bracket closing. Winner proceeds to semifinals, loser proceeds to quarterfinals.
- 10:45am: TBD vs. TBD
- Group B decrease bracket closing. Winner proceeds to quarterfinals, loser is eradicated.
- 10:45am: TBD vs. TBD
- Group B higher bracket closing. Winner proceeds to semifinals, loser proceeds to quarterfinals.
Playoffs
Friday, April 25
- 9am: TBD vs. TBD
- Quarterfinal.
- 12pm: TBD vs. TBD
- Quarterfinal.
Saturday, April 26
- 9am: TBD vs. TBD
- Semifinal.
- 12pm: TBD vs. TBD
- Semifinal.
Sunday, April 27
- 8:30am: TBD vs. TBD
- Grand closing (best-of-five).
Standings
Right here is the total standings and prize cash on provide at IEM Melbourne 2025:
| Placement | Prize ($ USD) | Workforce(s) |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | $125,000 | TBD |
| 2nd | $50,000 | TBD |
| Third-4th | $25,000 | TBD, TBD |
| Fifth-Sixth | $12,500 | TBD, TBD |
| Seventh-Eighth | $7,000 | TBD, TBD |
| Ninth-Twelfth | $5,000 | TBD, TBD, TBD, TBD |
| Thirteenth-Sixteenth | $4,000 | TBD, TBD, TBD, TBD |
Tips on how to watch IEM Melbourne 2025: All streams
IEM Melbourne is streamed dwell on Twitch and YouTube throughout two streams: Stream A and B. Full replays will likely be out there after every matchday concludes by way of the above channels.
For these in search of broadcasts in different languages, head to the occasion’s Liquipedia web page for extra. Tickets to attend the occasion dwell are briefly provide: go to Ticketek for particulars.
For extra CS2 esports protection go to esports.gg.
