From May 19 to 25, Dallas hosted one of the biggest esports events of the year – IEM Dallas 2025. This Counter-Strike 2 tournament brought together 16 of the best teams from around the world, all competing for a $1,000,000 prize pool and a key position in the ESL Pro Tour Grand Slam Season 6. With elite players, intense matchups, and a passionate crowd, it was a week full of action and unforgettable moments. The expert team at 1xBet has prepared this article to walk you through the key highlights, surprises, and results of this exciting tournament.
The tournament began with a group stage from May 19 to 21. Teams were divided into two groups of eight, using a double elimination GSL format. All matches were best-of-three. The top team from each group moved directly to the semifinals, while second and third place teams advanced to the quarterfinals.
The playoffs took place from May 23 to 25 and followed a single-elimination format. Quarterfinals and semifinals were played as best-of-three series, while the grand final was a best-of-five.
Team Vitality claimed the championship after a dominant 3-0 win over MOUZ in the final. This marked their sixth major title of the year, after victories at IEM Katowice, ESL Pro League Season 21, BLAST Open Lisbon, IEM Melbourne, and BLAST Rivals. Their star player ZywOo was named MVP of the tournament, setting a new record for the most MVP titles in CS2 history.
The playoff bracket featured many thrilling matchups. In the semifinals, Vitality edged out Team Falcons 2-1, while MOUZ shut down The MongolZ 2-0. Earlier, in the quarterfinals, Falcons defeated GamerLegion 2-1, and The MongolZ beat Aurora 2-0. The MongolZ – proudly sponsored by 1xBet – impressed the audience with their confident play and once again showed why they are one of the rising forces in the global CS2 scene.
A total of 16 teams took part in IEM Dallas 2025. Some of them were directly invited, including Team Vitality, FaZe Clan, MOUZ, G2 Esports, Aurora Gaming, Team Liquid, FURIA Esports, and The MongolZ. Others qualified through regional tournaments, such as Team Falcons, HEROIC, GamerLegion, BC.Game Esports, 3DMAX, NRG, Legacy, and Lynn Vision Gaming.
Team Vitality walked away with $125,000 and an additional $160,000 team bonus. MOUZ earned $50,000 plus a $100,000 bonus. Teams that finished in third to fourth place each received $25,000 and an $80,000 bonus. Even the teams finishing in 13th to 16th places earned $4,000, showing how competitive and well-funded the event was.
Aside from ZywOo’s standout performance, players like NiKo and m0NESY from Team Falcons also made headlines. NiKo showed strong individual play despite his team’s semifinal exit, while m0NESY proved himself as one of the most promising young talents in the scene.
IEM Dallas 2025 once again confirmed its reputation as one of the most important CS2 events of the year. It featured top-tier gameplay, rising stars, and unforgettable moments that will shape the rest of the esports season. The next major stop in the ESL Pro Tour Grand Slam will be IEM Cologne 2025 in August, promising even more action and surprises.
