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.

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. The likes of Team Vitality, FURIA and Team Spirit have a chance to stamp their authority at the top of the Tier 1 scene ahead of the Major. 

Victory for Team Vitality would add another notable accolade to its ever-expanding trophy cabinet, along with a third contribution to its ESL Grand Slam campaign. The French organisation begins its campaign with a match against Virtus.pro.

FURIA’s strong second half of the year has moved the multinational team among the world’s best, putting it in an excellent position to contend for tournaments regularly in addition to being considered as a potential Major winner. 

Team Spirit hasn’t been in action since scoring a top-eight finish at ESL Pro League Season 22. After a short break, the team is always in the conversation for outright victory, especially with Danil ‘donk’ Kryshkovets excelling with a rifle in hand.

Team Falcons remains a force to be reckoned with in international Counter-Strike. Having placed no lower than fourth in 2025, and the pairing of Ilya ‘M0NESY’ Osipov and Maksim ‘kyousuke’ Lukin beginning to synergise, the Saudi organisation is building towards securing its first event win since April.

With several teams capable of lifting the trophy, there are also a handful of teams capable of flying under the radar and causing an upset. 

After securing a playoff place at PGL Masters Bucharest 2025, HEROIC looks determined to end the year on a high note after narrowly missing out on Major qualification. Even after several roster changes, the Norwegian organisation continues to find a way of competing at the top. 

The Chinese sides of Lynn Vision Gaming and TYLOO are no strangers when it comes to springing a surprise against the established names. With the region continuing to cement its place alongside Europe and North America, there’s a chance the pair can impress in front of their home crowd.

After topping the October VRS, The MongolZ had cemented its place among the world’s best teams following victory at the Esports World Cup and finishing runner-up to Team Vitality at the BLAST.tv Austin Major. 

Ahead of Chengdu, the team made the surprise decision to bench Azbayar ‘Senzu’ Munkhbold from the starting lineup, leaving it searching for a new addition in a bid to keep hold of its top spot. 

Chengdu will mark the debut of Unudelger ‘controlez’ Baasanjargal, a rifler armed with a wealth of experience. However, it remains to be seen whether controlez possesses the same level of firepower as Senzu, who was considered The MongolZ’s best player in its most recent tournament outings. 

With limited time to integrate controlez into the starting lineup, it will be interesting to see whether The MongolZ will continue its fine run of form or struggle to make it out of a group featuring Team Falcons and Team Spirit.

Of the 16 teams competing in the Group Stage, only six will advance to the Playoffs for an opportunity to lift the trophy and win the lion’s share of the prize pool. 

Group A looks to be an exciting prospect with Team Falcons and Team Spirit looking to build some pre-Major momentum. Based on recent form, HEROIC could cause an upset against a new-look MongolZ, opening the door for Astralis or NAVI to make a run. 

On the other side of the bracket, it’s an even closer contest with Team Vitality, FURIA, 3DMAX, G2 Esports, MOUZ, and FaZe Clan all capable of besting each other on any given day. 

Despite missing out on outright victory throughout the year, MOUZ’s consistency makes it hard to rule the team out of another playoff appearance.

IEM Chengdu 2025 Predicted Playoff Teams: Team Falcons, Team Spirit, NAVI, Team Vitality, FURIA, MOUZ