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IEM Chengdu 2025 preview: The road to the Major heats up

IEM Chengdu 2025 is the penultimate Tier 1 Counter-Strike event of 2025. For several of the world’s best teams, the tournament is another opportunity to compete on LAN before attention turns to the StarLadder Budapest Major.

Sixteen teams from August’s Valve Regional Standings (VRS) have accepted invitations to compete in China from November 3rd to 9th, 2025. With a crowd present from the Group Stage, teams will be thrust straight into the limelight as the battle for a playoff place begins.

Image of Team Vitality Counter-Strike players celebrating during ESL Pro League Season 22
Image credit: Helena Kristiansson, ESL FACEIT Group

With nine of the top 10 teams from October’s VRS in action, IEM Chengdu 2025 is shaping up to be one of the most competitive events of the year so far.