S-Tier Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) action returns to Australia for Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Melbourne 2025. It’s one of the most significant CS2 events of the year and features some of the top talent in the world competing for the huge prize pool at the iconic Rod Laver Arena. This tournament is such a big deal that it sold out 10 days before it started.
Excited? We are, too! That’s why we put together our in-depth guide to IEM Melbourne 2025. Join us for a deep dive into the essential details, including the format, schedule, teams competing, and prize pool distribution. We also compiled our very own expert betting predictions for anyone looking to place some wagers!
IEM Melbourne 2025 Schedule & Format
IEM Melbourne 2025 runs from April 21 to 27 and features two stages of competition. The Group Stage (April 21 to 24) will place the teams into two groups of eight. They’ll compete in a double-elimination (GSL-style) format where all matches are best-of-three.
The top three teams from each group will advance to the Playoffs Stage, while the rest are sent packing. Playoff spots are determined by Group Stage placements. Winners of each group advance directly to the Semifinals, while 2nd-place finishers advance to the Quarterfinals as the High Seeds, and 3rd-place teams survive to fight in the Quarterfinals as the Low Seeds.
The Playoffs Stage (April 25 to 27) will be a single-elimination affair. Quarterfinals and Semifinals are best-of-three, and the Grand Final is a best-of-five marathon.
Prize Pool Distribution
The table below outlines how much each team will earn at IEM Melbourne 2025.
| Place | Prize Money | Club Reward |
| 1st | $125,000 | $160,000 |
| 2nd | $50,000 | $100,000 |
| 3rd/4th | $25,000 | $80,000 |
| 5th/6th | $12,500 | $60,000 |
| 7th/8th | $7,000 | $40,000 |
| 9th-12th | $5,000 | $20,000 |
| 13th-16th | $4,000 | $0 |
| Total | $1 million | |
How To Watch IEM Melbourne 2025
You don’t need to travel to Australia to watch the matches live because we’ve got you covered in our CS2 betting section. Just navigate to the “Live” tab and select any IEM Melbourne match you want to watch. An embedded live stream and our bet slip will appear, allowing you to seamlessly make in-play bets. You can also stream the event live on ESL’s Twitch and YouTube channels.
Teams Competing In IEM Melbourne 2025
Ten teams received invites based on their global ranking, and six teams claimed spots at IEM Melbourne 2025 thanks to their Valve Regional Standings (VRS) in Europe, Asia, and the Americas. Here’s a look at the 16 teams battling it out in their groups:
Group A Teams:
- MOUZ
- BIG
- GamerLegion
- 3DMAX
- FaZe Clan
- paiN Gaming
- Complexity Gaming
- The MongolZ
Group B Teams:
- NAVI
- Team Falcons
- Virtus.pro
- MIBR
- Team Vitality
- Team Liquid
- SAW
- FlyQuest
In April, Eternal Fire (now Aurora Gaming) and Team Spirit withdrew from IEM Melbourne 2025. SAW replaced Aurora Gaming, and Complexity Gaming replaced Team Spirit, rounding out the list of 16 teams above.
Our Predictions For IEM Melbourne 2025
To make our IEM Melbourne 2025 predictions, we dove into all the latest available information, sifting through stats, matchup histories, and individual player form. We also considered team stats, global rankings, and results from recent S-Tier events such as PGL Bucharest, EPL Season 21, and IEM Katowice.
Important note: Our analysis should not be seen as betting advice to act upon. Past performances do not guarantee future results. Always gamble responsibly.
Team Falcons
Team Falcons won the last big S-Tier event, PGL Bucharest, with a clean 3-0 over G2 Esports in the Grand Final on April 13, 2025. The squad had been one of the top teams on paper after acquiring a trio from Heroic and legendary rifler NiKo, but this was their first trophy of 2025.
Yet, just as the dust settled over PGL Bucharest, one of the biggest roster moves in recent memory was announced. G2’s CEO confirmed that Team Falcons acquired AWP prodigy Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov. As reported by HLTV, m0NESY should compete under the Team Falcons roster in Melbourne, immediately replacing Abdulkhalik “degster” Gasanov.
Team Falcons roster:
- Nikola “NiKo” Kovač
- Emil “Magisk” Reif
- René “TeSeS” Madsen
- Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov
- Damjan “kyxsan” Stoilkovski (IGL)
- Danny “zonic” Sørensen (Coach)
Team Vitality
Team Vitality is the current leader in CS2 esports following three consecutive S-Tier tournament wins. The squad won IEM Katowice, ESL Pro League Season 21, and BLAST Open Season 1 Lisbon, cementing their position at the top of the HLTV World Rankings. They didn’t attend PGL Bucharest 2025, though, because they wanted to focus on IEM Melbourne.
With the “Chosen One” aka Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut on top form, and looking to break records in 2025, it’s tough to imagine a world where Team Vitality doesn’t make it to a podium position in Melbourne. Team Vitality isn’t just competing for their share of the IEM Melbourne 2025 prize pool; they are just one win away from the incredible $1 million Intel Grand Slam Season 5 prize. Yes, if Team Vitality wins IEM Melbourne, they’ll earn an additional $1 million!
Team Vitality roster:
- Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut
- Robin “ropz” Kool
- Shahar “flameZ” Shushan
- William “mezii” Merriman
- Dan “apEX” Madesclaire (IGL)
- Rémy “XTQZZZ” Quoniam (Coach)
MOUZ
MOUZ should come out on top as the highest-ranked team in Group A. With Swedish IGL Brollan in fantastic form while calling the shots on the server, this team has what it takes to reach the Semifinals of the Playoffs. Their skill is proven, but we do have two reasons why we don’t see them in the Grand Final—Team Falcons’ acquisition of m0NESY and Team Vitality’s mind-blowing form.
MOUZ roster:
- Ádám “torzsi” Torzsás
- Dorian “xertioN” Berman
- Jimi “Jimpphat” Salo
- Lotan “Spinx” Giladi
- Ludvig “Brollan” Brolin (IGL)
- Dennis “sycrone” Nielsen (Coach)
FlyQuest
Consider FlyQuest making it to the top four as our bold prediction for IEM Melbourne 2025. Let’s take a quick look at why we think it’s a bold pick. While the squad has shown decent form this year, they’re also ranked 26th in the HLTV World Rankings. So why do we think FlyQuest can make it to a 4th-place finish? They have the home crowd advantage!
FlyQuest might be a U.S.-based org, but its roster is stacked with Aussie talent. If the crowd can get behind the team, it may fuel the players to click heads with the best. They could even make it out of Group B to place 3rd, especially if NAVI underperforms.
FlyQuest roster:
- Jay “Liazz” Tregillgas
- Declan “Vexite” Portelli
- Iulian “regali” Harjău
- Corey “nettik” Browne
- Joshua “INS” Potter (IGL)
- Erdenetsogt “erkaSt” Gantulga (Coach)
Final Thoughts On IEM Melbourne 2025
IEM Melbourne 2025 is shaping up to be a must-watch for CS2 fans as these powerhouse rosters make their way to Australia. Whether you’re betting, watching, or just keeping up with the action, the stage is set for unforgettable plays and breakout performances. From stacked favorites like Vitality and Falcons to dark horses like FlyQuest, the competition is on another level for this event.
You can follow every second of every match right here at Thunderpick, where you can live stream all of IEM Melbourne and bet on your favorite teams!
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