Event Background and Overview of IEM Chengdu 2025
ESL officially announced the list of 16 direct participating teams for the Intel Extreme Masters IEM Chengdu Station to be held in Chengdu, China from November 3rd to 9th, 2025 . This tournament is an important stop before the end of the CS2 season. It has a double-elimination group stage + six teams entering the knockout stage, and the total prize money is as high as $300,000.
Complete list of participating teams of IEM Chengdu 2025
Based on the latest results of the VRS (Valve Regional Rankings) system (data as of August 2025), the following 16 teams have confirmed their participation:
Team Vitality
Team Spirit
MOUZ
The MongolZ
FURIA Esports
paiN Gaming
Natus Vincere (NAVI)
Team Falcons
FaZe Clan
Astralis
G2 Esports
3DMAX
Lynn Vision Gaming
Virtus.pro (replacing GamerLegion)
HEROIC (replacing Aurora).
Among them, GamerLegion and Aurora declined the invitation, and the vacant spots were filled by the second-ranked Virtus.pro and HEROIC.
Major highlights and data analysis
1. All top teams are present
Vitality has won many major tournaments in 2025, including IEM Katowice, Austin Major, and IEM Cologne, and is ranked first in the world.
The MongolZ has soared in popularity after winning the EWC (Esports World Cup) championship and is an emerging force in Asia.
Team Spirit is expected to have a strong performance at the end of the season and win the championship at IEM Cologne.
2. NA teams are absent again
This IEM Chengdu is one of the few top-level events in 2025 that does not see the participation of North American (NA) teams, indicating that the overall competitiveness of the NA region is still declining. The two invitations to the Americas have been taken by Brazilian teams such as FURIA and paiN.
3. Competition system and prize highlights
Double elimination group stage, giving each team at least two chances in the group, making the schedule more fair and intense.
The knockout stage includes a single elimination system, and the final is a BO5 format to promote viewing.
US$300,000 prize pool maintains the appeal of this level of competition.
Event Summary and Outlook
In 2025, IEM Chengdu Station gathered numerous top CS2 teams, including the season’s strongest team Vitality and the Asian dark horse The MongolZ. This competition not only showcases the global competitive landscape, but also reflects the stage of continuous adjustment of North American teams. The core points are as follows:
Top lineup and intense competition: All 15 participating teams are of world-class level, ensuring a high-intensity competitive level.
The competition system is reasonable and highly entertaining: the double elimination system ensures fairness, while the five game three win final enhances the drama of the event.
Changes in Regional Pattern: The absence of North American teams has led to an increase in the influence of Central Asian teams, enhancing the regional diversity of the competition.
Brand Value Enhancement: As a crucial season finale, IEM Chengdu Station combines bonuses and exposure, providing a high-quality platform for brand communication.
Looking ahead to the future, the results of IEM Chengdu will profoundly affect the morale and ranking of each team in the upcoming Major seasons, while also testing the emerging strength of the Asian CS2 ecosystem.