Esports Events to Watch in 2025

The 2025 esports calendar is packed with exciting tournaments and leagues across various games. Here’s a breakdown of the major events you shouldn’t miss.

January and February

• LEC Winter 2025: This League of Legends tournament runs from January 18th to March 2nd, featuring top European teams competing for the title.
• VCT 2025: Pacific Kickoff: VALORANT teams will battle it out from January 18th to February 9th in this regional kickoff event.
• BLAST Bounty Spring 2025: Counter-Strike 2 teams will compete in Copenhagen, Denmark, from January 23rd to 26th, with a $500,000 prize pool on the line.
• FISSURE PLAYGROUND Belgrade 2025: Dota 2 teams will gather in Belgrade from January 24th to February 2nd for this significant tournament.

March

March is a busy month for esports, with several high-profile events:

• Overwatch Champions Series 2025 – Asia Stage 1: Held in South Korea, this Overwatch 2 tournament will take place throughout March.
• LTA 2025 Cross-Conference: League of Legends teams will compete in Brazil during March.
• PUBG Mobile Global Open 2025: This PUBG Mobile event will run from March to April in Brazil.
• LPL Split 2 2025 and LEC Spring 2025: These League of Legends splits will occur in China and Germany, respectively, from March to May.
• VCT 2025: EMEA, Americas, and Pacific Stage 1: VALORANT tournaments will kick off in Germany, the US, and South Korea, running from March to May.
• Capcom Cup 11: The biggest Street Fighter 6 event of the year will take place in Japan from March 3rd to 8th.
• PGL Wallachia Season 3: Dota 2 teams will compete in Romania from March 8th to 16th.
• First Stand 2025: A new League of Legends tournament debuting in South Korea from March 10th to 16th.
• Call of Duty League 2025: Stage 2 Major: Held in the US from March 20th to 23rd.
• ARC World Tour 2024 Finals: Guilty Gear teams will compete in the US from March 21st to 23rd.
• RLCS 2025 – Birmingham Major: Rocket League teams will gather in the UK from March 27th to 30th.

May

Counter-Strike 2 dominates the May esports calendar:

• BLAST Slam III: Dota 2 teams will compete from May 5th to 11th, with a $1 million prize pool.
• PGL Astana 2025: Counter-Strike 2 teams will battle in Kazakhstan from May 10th to 18th for a $1.25 million prize.
• DreamLeague Season 26: Dota 2 players will compete in Europe from May 12th to 25th for $1 million.
• Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025: Counter-Strike 2 teams will compete in the US from May 19th to 25th.
• ESL Impact League Season 7: A women’s-only Counter-Strike 2 tournament in the US from May 23rd to 25th.
• Skyesports Masters 2025: Counter-Strike 2 teams will compete in India from May 26th to June 1st.

June

June is filled with international events:

• Call of Duty League 2025: Stage 4 Major: Held in June, location to be announced.
• VCT 2025: Masters Toronto: VALORANT teams will compete in Canada from June 7th to 22nd.
• BLAST.tv Austin Major 2025: Counter-Strike 2 teams will compete in the US from June 9th to 22nd.
• RLCS 2025 – Major 2: Rocket League teams will compete from June 26th to 29th, location to be announced.
• Mid-Season Invitational 2025: League of Legends teams will gather in Canada from June 27th to July 12th.

July

July marks the beginning of several major esports events:

• LPL Split 3 2025 and LEC Summer 2025: League of Legends splits in China and EMEA, respectively, running from July to August.
• PUBG Mobile World Cup 2025: Held in Saudi Arabia from July to August.
• VCT 2025: EMEA, Americas, and Pacific Stage 2: VALORANT tournaments in Germany, the US, and South Korea, running from July to August.
• IEM Cologne 2025: Counter-Strike 2 teams will compete in Germany from July 23rd to August 3rd.
• Esports World Cup 2025 – Chess: A chess tournament in Saudi Arabia from July 31st to August 3rd.

As the esports landscape continues to evolve, 2025 promises to be an exciting year with a diverse range of tournaments and leagues. Here are a few key points to consider:

Growing Popularity of VALORANT and Counter-Strike 2

VALORANT and Counter-Strike 2 are set to dominate the esports scene in 2025, with multiple major tournaments scheduled throughout the year. The VCT (VALORANT Champions Tour) and various Counter-Strike 2 events, such as the BLAST Bounty Spring and PGL Astana, highlight the growing popularity of these games.

International Reach

Esports events in 2025 will span across the globe, from Europe and North America to Asia and the Middle East. This international reach underscores the global appeal of esports and the increasing investment in hosting large-scale events in different regions.

Diverse Game Titles

While VALORANT and Counter-Strike 2 are prominent, other games like League of Legends, Dota 2, Rocket League, and PUBG Mobile also have significant tournaments. This diversity ensures that fans of various games have something to look forward to throughout the year.

Prize Pools and Participation

Many of these tournaments come with substantial prize pools, such as the $1.25 million for the PGL Astana 2025 and the $1 million for the BLAST Slam III. These high stakes attract top teams and players, ensuring competitive and thrilling matches.

Emerging Trends

The inclusion of new events, such as the First Stand 2025 for League of Legends and the Esports World Cup 2025 – Chess, indicates a trend towards innovation and expansion within the esports ecosystem. These new events can attract fresh audiences and provide more opportunities for teams and players to compete.

Overall, 2025 is shaping up to be a dynamic and engaging year for esports, with a rich calendar of events that cater to a wide range of interests and regions.