ESL reveals IEM Chengdu 2025 invited groups

ESL FACEIT Group has introduced the 16 groups which have accepted invites to compete on the upcoming Intel Excessive Masters (IEM) Chengdu 2025 occasion.

The invited groups heading to China have been decided by August’s Valve Regional Standings (VRS), which have been topped by French esports organisation Group Vitality.

Defending champions FaZe Clan are among the many invited groups competing on the remaining ESL-operated Counter-Strike 2 occasion of 2025. Notably, all 16 groups are inside the prime 20 of the worldwide standings, which have been revealed on August 4th.

Out of the groups accepting invitations, Aurora Gaming and GamerLegion are the one groups from the highest 20 which have declined an invite.

Group Vitality, Group Spirit, Group Falcons, MOUZ, and The MongolZ have accepted invites as they give the impression of being so as to add one other Tier 1 occasion victory to their names earlier than focus shifts to the 2026 season.

Norwegian organisation HEROIC, ranked 18th within the August VRS, is the lowest-ranked workforce to simply accept an invite to IEM Chengdu, one of many remaining occasions to happen earlier than consideration turns to the StarLadder Budapest Main which is able to spherical off the 2025 season.

2025 is the second time IEM has taken place in Chengdu, after the inaugural version came about in April 2024. FaZe Clan defeated MOUZ within the Grand Closing, securing $100,000 (~£74,201) in prize cash.

IEM Chengdu 2025 is about to be some of the aggressive CS2 occasions of the yr, with a number of notable groups trying to construct momentum forward of the Main.

The complete workforce record for the occasion is as follows:

Alongside VRS factors, groups will compete for a share of a $300,000 (~£222,557) prize pool and development in the ESL Grand Slam, a million-dollar prize awarded to the workforce that wins 4 occasions organised by the match operator.