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IEM heads back Down Under with Melbourne set to host tier one CS2 LAN

BBG News

Australian CS2 fans won’t be missing out on top-tier Counter-Strike in 2025!

Five long years have passed since I first dreamt about it, but now it seems like reality is finally within reach! The news that Melbourne, Australia will be the stage for the ESL’s Intel Extreme Masters Spring tournament in April has been whispered amongst CS2 fans for quite some time, and I can hardly contain my excitement!

16 teams, leading the Valve Regional Standings (VRS), are heading to the city of Melbourne for a chance to win a substantial $300,000 USD prize and earn crucial points towards qualifying for the BLAST Austin Major.

IEM Melbourne 2025 dates set; tickets on sale this Thursday

Two years have passed since I attended the packed Super Aware Theatre for the inaugural S-tier CS:2 LAN at IEM Sydney. Now, it’s Melbourne’s turn to take center stage! The much-anticipated IEM Melbourne begins on April 21st, and the final three days (April 25th to 27th) promise to be a spectacle, taking place in the illustrious Rod Laver Arena.

As a gamer, I’m excited to share that for IEM Melbourne 2025, there won’t be any qualifiers like we’re used to. Instead, the tournament is moving to VRS (Virtual Reality Sports), which means the top-ranked teams globally and from each sub-region will receive a direct invitation. Here’s how it breaks down:

1. Global Top Ranked Teams: The cream of the crop from around the world will get their tickets punched.
2. Sub-Regional Representatives: Each region will send its best representatives to represent their gaming community on the global stage.

So, let’s gear up and aim high because this time it’s a direct shot to the big leagues!

  • The top 10 teams in the global VRS rankings will receive the first invites.
  • The top two teams from each VRS region (Americas, Europe, and Asia) will also receive invites.
  • Should an invite be declined, the next-ranked team will be invited.

According to ESL FACEIT Group’s director of game ecosystems, Marc Winther, the Australian audience consistently contributes something extraordinary to our Counter-Strike events. The vibe in the stadium is always distinctive, pulsating with energy and excitement, and this vibrancy is evident even online. Fans worldwide eagerly anticipate the antics of the Australian crowd.

Melbourne becomes Australia’s CS2 crown jewel

Initially planned for 2020, Melbourne was expected to become Australia’s new home for IEM, following a three-year run in Sydney that ended in 2019. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in cancellations in the year 2020. However, competitive Counter-Strike games made their Melbourne debut in 2022, materializing as the ESL Challenger series.

For three consecutive years, ESL Challenger was co-hosted with DreamHack Melbourne. However, in early December 2024, the team announced that DreamHack would not be returning to Australia. This change of direction towards online events meant no more Challenger events for Australian fans.

With those worries eliminated, we’re thrilled beyond words to welcome the world’s top video game players to our shores! Minister for Tourism, Sport and Major Events Steve Dimopoulos expressed this enthusiasm as he announced that these talented individuals will demonstrate their skills at one of the largest esports tournaments Australia has ever hosted.

2pm AEDT on Thursday, January 23rd is when ticket sales begin through Ticketek. General Admission, priced at $189 AUD, allows entry to all three days of the playoffs. GA+ tickets are available for $249, and Premium tickets, featuring a special seating area and a gift bag, cost $359.

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2025-01-20 08:40

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