Kicking off the second season of top-tier Counter-Strike will be the legendary IEM Cologne.

The German classic is back in its usual spot right after the player break and will serve as the first big tournament following BLAST.tv Austin Major in June. With $1.25 million on the line and the full CS elite in attendance, Cologne is set to deliver a blockbuster start to the second season of the year.

Among the headline teams are Vitality, Spirit, Falcons, and MOUZ, all looking to kick off their campaigns in style.

For Vitality, the question remains whether they can extend their dominant run from the first half of 2025 into the post-break calendar.

Below is everything you need to know ahead of the event.

Dates and location

🗓️ July 23 – August 3, 2025
📍 LANXESS arena, Cologne, Germany
💰 Prize pool: $1,250,000

Attending teams

Format

• Play-In:
  
  • Double-Elimination bracket
  • All matches are Bo3
  • The top eight teams advance to the Group Stage
    
    
• Group Stage:
  
  • Two double-elimination format (GSL) Groups
    • Each group has eight teams
    • All matches are Bo3
  • The top three teams from each group advance to the Playoffs:
    • Group stage winners advance to the Semifinals
    • Group stage runners-up advance to the Quarterfinals as the High Seeds
    • Group stage 3^rd place teams advance to the Quarterfinals as the Low Seeds
      
      
• Playoffs:
  
  • Single-Elimination bracket
  • The Quarterfinals & Semifinals are Bo3
  • The Grand Final is Bo5

(Source: Liquipedia)

Prize distribution

Here’s the combined prize distribution (main prize + club share):

• 1st – $460,000
• 2nd – $216,000
• 3-4th – $108,000
• 5-6th – $61,000
• 7-8th – $38,000
• 9-12th – $23,000
• 13-16th – $10,000

Bookmakers favorite

Winner odds have not yet been revealed.

How to watch

ESL on YouTube

ESL on Twitch