Schedule of the main eSports tournaments for 2025

Esports have long ceased to be just a part of gaming culture — today it is a full-fledged segment of the global sports industry. Every year the scale of tournaments grows, and the audience numbers hundreds of millions of viewers around the world. Games are getting a second life thanks to the competitive format, and new franchises are being created with an emphasis on esports from the very beginning.

2025 promises to be a record year for the number of tournaments both internationally and in Russia. The scene leaders remain the same — Dota 2, Counter-Strike 2 and League of Legends continue to dictate trends. But new projects are increasingly making a name for themselves on the horizon: Valorant, Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege, as well as mobile hits like Brawl Stars and PUBG Mobile. And that’s not all — there are big debuts ahead! For example, the shooter The Finals will enter the big esports scene for the first time, launching its first official tournament.

To help you navigate this dynamic and ever-changing world, we’ve prepared a detailed guide to the most anticipated esports events of 2025 — both in Russia and on the global stage. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just discovering this universe, our overview will help you be at the center of the most exciting battles.

Esports 2025: Schedule of the Largest Tournaments

Esports World Cup 2025

• Disciplines: 25 games, including Dota 2, CS2, PUBG Mobile, LoL, Apex Legends, Starcraft II, etc.
• Dates: July 8 — August 24.
• Venue: Riyadh (Saudi Arabia).
• Format: Offline.
• Prize fund: over $70,000,000.

The largest eSports event in history has already been dubbed the “Olympics for Gamers” — and this is no exaggeration. While the International Olympic Committee is only discussing adding virtual disciplines by 2027, the best of the best are already gathering here.

The championship will host tournaments in 25 games, and the prize fund is impressive: from 500 thousand to 3 million dollars for each discipline! The list includes legends of the genre like StarCraft 2 and Dota 2, and beloved fighting games — Tekken 8 and Street Fighter 6, and dynamic shooters — Overwatch 2, Apex Legends, and for mobile gamers — PUBG Mobile and Free Fire. Call of Duty fans have not been forgotten either: battles await in Warzone and Black Ops 6, and for lovers of something unusual — the crazy Rocket League.

And this is far from the entire list! Find all the details, schedule and broadcasts on the official website – this is where the main battle for eSports gold will unfold.

The International 2025

• Discipline: Dota 2.
• Dates: September 4-14.
• Venue: Hamburg (Germany).
• Format: Offline.
• Prize fund: $1,600,000.

The fourteenth Dota 2 tournament, beloved by CIS players, is preparing to surprise with its scale once again. Its peculiarity is that the prize fund is replenished not only by Valve developers, but also by fans of the game themselves. This makes the event truly “popular”.

Last year’s champion, Team Liquid from the Netherlands, still holds the title, and many are waiting to see if they can defend their title. This year, 16 of the strongest teams will enter the fight. Among them, fans are already waiting for Team Spirit, Parivision, BetBoom Team, Aurora Gaming and the legendary Natus Vincere. The tournament promises to be hot, because the stakes are high, and the ambitions of the participants are even higher.

FNCS 2025 Global Championship

• Discipline: Fortnite.
• Date: September 6-7.
• Venue: Lyon (France).
• Format: Offline.
• Prize fund: $2,000,000.

Fortnite is once again preparing a real holiday for players and spectators! Since 2019, Epic Games has been holding the main tournament for this iconic game, and every time it gathers the best of the best. But this season, we are in for a surprise: the usual duets are a thing of the past, now the battle will be in the trio format. The upcoming Championship will be the final point of the nineteenth season of FNCS and promises to blow up the arena with incredible emotions, dramatic moments and a heated fight for the title.

Rocket League Championship Series 2025 – World Championship

• Discipline: Rocket League.
• Dates: September 9-14.
• Venue: Lyon (France).
• Format: Offline.
• Prize fund: $1,200,000.

Right after the Fortnite tournament concludes, Epic Games will launch an exciting championship for Rocket League. This year, the number of participating teams has increased from 16 to 20, showcasing the growing popularity of the game. Additionally, for the first time ever, a thrilling 1v1 tournament will take place, where only one skilled player will emerge victorious and earn the prestigious title of world champion. Fans can expect intense matches and unforgettable moments as competitors battle for glory.

VALORANT Champions Tour 2025

• Game: VALORANT
• Dates: September 12 – October 5
• Location: Paris, France
• Format: Offline (LAN)
• Prize Pool: $2,250,000

Paris is about to become the beating heart of competitive VALORANT. The Champions Tour 2025 isn’t just another tournament — it’s the grand finale of a season that pushed players and fans through an emotional rollercoaster. For almost 10 months, teams have fought tooth and nail across the globe, grinding through countless matches in Challengers and Masters.

Now, only 16 teams remain. Each one has survived the chaos of qualifiers, some playing as few as 12 matches, others enduring more than 20 battles to earn their ticket to the City of Light. Everything they’ve worked for comes down to these final weeks — the cheers, the heartbreak, the clutch moments — all for a shot at glory and a share of a staggering $2.25 million prize pool. This isn’t just competition. This is history in the making.

League of Legends Worlds 2025

• Game: League of Legends
• Dates: Expected October – November
• Location: Beijing, Shanghai & Chengdu, China
• Format: Offline (LAN)
• Prize Pool: $5,000,000

If VALORANT has the Champs, League of Legends has Worlds — and Worlds 2025 is shaping up to be an unforgettable chapter in esports history. Every autumn, the biggest LoL tournament becomes more than just a competition; it’s a global phenomenon. This year, the journey takes us to China, where the stages of Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu will roar with the energy of millions of fans, both online and in the arenas.

Seventeen of the best teams on the planet will clash for the ultimate prize: a $5 million pool and a place among legends. But Worlds isn’t just about gameplay — it’s about moments that live forever. From breathtaking plays to jaw-dropping opening ceremonies, this event is famous for fusing esports with music and culture. One year it’s K-POP stars, the next it’s icons like Linkin Park electrifying the stage. Expect fireworks, expect goosebumps, expect history.

DreamHack Stockholm 2025 – A Gaming Festival You Can’t Miss

• Featured Titles: Overwatch 2, The Finals, Counter-Strike 2
• Dates: November 28–30
• Where: Stockholm, Sweden
• Format: Offline LAN
• Estimated Prize Pool: $610,000

This November, Stockholm will transform into a gamer’s paradise as DreamHack Stockholm 2025 brings together some of the biggest esports showdowns of the year. The crown jewel of the event? The Overwatch Champions Series World Final, where the best teams in the world will fight for ultimate glory. The prize pool will be boosted by in-game crowdfunding, so the final figure is still a mystery—but considering 2024’s total reached half a million dollars, fans can expect something big.

And that’s not all. The festival will also debut The Finals Grand Major 2025, marking the first global tournament for the game, complete with a $100,000 prize pool. For Counter-Strike 2 enthusiasts, there’s an exciting twist: a BYOC (Bring Your Own Computer) competition, where everyday players can step into the spotlight and battle for a $10,000 prize pool.

BLAST R6 Major Munich 2025 – Siege at Its Peak

• Game: Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege X
• Dates: November 8–16
• Where: Munich, Germany
• Format: Offline
• Prize Pool: Expected to exceed $750,000

November also brings us the BLAST R6 Major in Munich, the ultimate stage for Rainbow Six Siege X. Sixteen elite teams, each with four players, will clash after proving their dominance in qualifiers like Six Invitational and Reload. Organized by Ubisoft in partnership with BLAST—the masterminds behind some of Counter-Strike 2’s most prestigious events—this major promises to be one of the most thrilling tournaments of 2025.

Brawl Stars World Finals 2025 – The Mobile Showdown

• Game: Brawl Stars
• Dates: November (Exact dates TBA)
• Where: Location yet to be announced
• Format: Offline
• Prize Pool: $1,000,000

When it comes to mobile esports, nothing beats the Brawl Stars World Finals. This flagship event will wrap up the competitive season with 16 of the world’s best teams battling for a staggering $1 million prize pool. While the venue is still under wraps, the championship will cap off a season that spanned three continents. To top it all off, the developers have prepared a special documentary celebrating the unforgettable moments of the 2024 season.

Marvel Rivals Ignite 2025: The Grand Finals

• Game: Marvel Rivals
• Dates: November
• Location: Yet to be announced
• Format: Offline
• Prize Pool: $1,000,000

Marvel Rivals is the new kid on the esports block, and this tournament will mark the thrilling conclusion of its debut competitive season, Ignite. Throughout regional clashes and the Mid-Season Finals, we’ve witnessed strategies evolve, metas take shape, and true contenders rise. The location of the ultimate showdown remains a mystery for now, but considering the Mid-Season event was held in the game’s birthplace—Hangzhou, China—the stakes for an equally iconic venue are sky-high.

StarLadder Budapest Major 2025

• Game: Counter-Strike 2
• Dates: November 24 – December 14
• Location: Budapest, Hungary
• Format: Offline
• Prize Pool: $1,250,000

Prepare for the most anticipated Counter-Strike 2 event of the year. The StarLadder Major is back for the first time since 2019, and it’s making a jaw-dropping return. For the first time in history, the championship will take place in Hungary, inside a spectacular 360° viewing arena—offering fans an immersive experience like never before. With 32 of the world’s best teams in the fight and over 50 million viewers expected to tune in, this Major promises to be a record-breaking celebration of CS2’s competitive spirit.

PUBG Global Championship 2025

• Game: PUBG: Battlegrounds
• Dates: December
• Location: To be revealed
• Format: Unknown
• Prize Pool: To be announced

The crown jewel of PUBG esports is shrouded in mystery. Details about the PUBG Global Championship 2025 remain scarce—especially since the second-largest event of the year, part of the Esports World Cup, hasn’t even happened yet. What we do know: last year’s prize pool hit an impressive $1.5 million, and history suggests this year’s purse won’t fall short. Fans worldwide are bracing for one of the most competitive and high-stakes showdowns in battle royale history.

Game festivals

If you’re into gaming, 2025 in Russia is going to be something special. Imagine this: massive halls buzzing with energy, fans cheering for their favorite teams, and cosplayers filling the aisles with vibrant colors. That’s the vibe you can expect at the biggest gaming festivals of the year — and yes, esports will take center stage. While the organizers are still keeping some details close to the chest, one thing is certain: these tournaments aren’t going anywhere.

Here are the must-know dates if you don’t want to miss out:

IGROPROM 2025

• When: September 19–21.
• Where: Moscow, Russia.
• Format: Offline, live and electric.

RED EXPO 2025

• When: October 31 – November 3.
• Where: Moscow, Russia.
• Format: Offline — perfect for meeting fellow gamers.

Comic Con & IgroMir 2025

• When: December 12–14.
• Where: Moscow, Russia.
• Format: Offline — think cosplay, comics, and competitive gaming under one roof.

Honestly, 2025 is shaping up to be a dream year for esports fans. Whether you love watching epic showdowns or jumping into the competition yourself, there’s going to be something for you. Classic titles will keep their place at the top, but expect newcomers and even mobile games to steal the spotlight.

Our advice? Save this list now. These aren’t just dates on a calendar — they’re chances to experience the thrill of gaming with thousands of like-minded fans. Get ready, because by the end of this year, you’ll have stories to tell and memories to last a lifetime.

Dota 2 Tournament Schedule for 2025

Just like last year, the main milestones of the season will once again be the grand summer Riyadh Masters and the legendary The International from Valve. Players can expect a busy schedule throughout the year. Already at the end of January, a series of four top tournaments in a row will start – each with an impressive prize pool of $1,000,000. These events will set a high pace, and there are three more tournaments ahead that will not allow the passion to fade for a minute. From June to September, the community’s attention will be riveted to two key championships, which traditionally become the epicenter of the world Dota scene. And closer to November, the professional scene will return to its usual rhythm, preparing for a new round of competitions. The final months of the year will turn into a confident start to the next season, including at least five major tournaments that will once again challenge the strongest and give fans spectacular confrontations around the world.

CS 2 tournament schedule for 2025

This year is going to be absolutely packed for Counter-Strike fans. Beyond the two Majors, the calendar features more than 25 major tournaments — and with such a tight schedule, some of them will be happening back-to-back, or even at the same time. We’ve cherry-picked the ones you’ll definitely want to follow, and even then, the list turned out huge.

What’s worth getting hyped about? First off, the legendary Intel Extreme Masters events are making a comeback in February and again in the summer stretch from July to August. Then, PGL is shaking things up with a brand-new series of events — and yes, one of them will take place in Kazakhstan, which is a pretty big deal for the region. Adding to the mix, the Russian-speaking tournament operator FISSURE has announced two top-tier competitions in Serbia, promising even more drama for the CS scene.

The Main Esports Tournaments in 2025

The coming months are going to be a treat for esports fans. First on the horizon are two massive showdowns: the Apex Legends World Championship and the Rainbow Six Siege global finals — a double dose of adrenaline for anyone who loves battle royales and tactical shooters.

Summer isn’t slowing down either. We’re getting a wave of international competitions, including mid-season clashes for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang and League of Legends. (By the way, the MLBB World Championship has been rescheduled all the way to January 2026.) And let’s not forget EVO in Las Vegas — the ultimate battleground for fighting game fans, where legends are made every year.

As we roll into fall, the spotlight shifts to two giants: Valorant and Fortnite. And, just like in 2024, the year will go out with a bang — thanks to not one but two PUBG World Championships, covering both the mobile and PC arenas.