ESL Impact in 2025

Details about the ESL Impact 2025 circuit featuring event dates, slot distribution and live Finals in Counter-Strike 2 revealed

Introduction

Today, we are excited to share the details about ESL Impact in 2025. This includes information about the Seasonal Club Incentive offering for teams competing in the ESL Impact League, changes to the invitation process, slot distribution, event dates, and more.

The major changes to the invitation process align with Valve's updated operational guidelines for Counter-Strike esports in 2025. While adhering to these new requirements, ESL Impact aims to remain true to its core values, ensuring that fans and players continue to enjoy the highest level of competition.

Seasonal Club Incentive

We are committed to supporting clubs through our continued investment in women's Counter-Strike. Our annual financial contribution of $700,000 will be dedicated to clubs participating in league seasons throughout 2025.

To encourage creativity, storytelling, and content quality, we are launching an incentive structure focused on Short-Form and Long-Form content creation. This program will also include a performance-based reward element for team organizations tied to their results in season finals. The goal is to help teams showcase their journey and connect with their fans.

This annual contribution will come in addition to the prize money and hospitality expenses included in each event. These benefits will continue to cover accommodation, flights, practice setups, and on-site hospitality. Each season will feature $350,000, with a distribution overview provided below.

• Club Prize Money: $100,000 for teams ranked in the Top-8 at the Season Finals.
• Short-Form Video Incentive: $125,000 for teams ranked in the Top-6 for short-form content.
• Long-Form Video Incentive: $125,000 for teams ranked in the Top-6 for long-form content.

Clubs will be rewarded based on their rankings, following the matrix outlined below. Additional details about the mechanics of the Short-Form and Long-Form incentives will be published in 2025, ahead of the season start.

$300,000 In Annual Prize Money

ESL Impact will maintain a total annual prize pool of $300,000, split evenly between seasons at $150,000 per season. A detailed distribution overview is provided below:

2025 Circuit

As we look into 2025, we will work in accordance with Valve's new tournament ruling for the ESL Impact circuit, changes to tournaments and regional slots will be happening in 2025.

Regional Slot Distribution for Season Finals

Regional slots for the Season Finals have been changed to adhere to the new rules, requiring every competing region to receive a minimum of two slots. With each competing region requiring two slots in the ESL Impact Finals, Europe will receive four slots, while North and South America will receive two slots each.

ESL Impact Season 7

ESL Impact League Season 7 will serve as a transitional phase, offering teams from Season 6 the opportunity to requalify. However, this will mark the end of requalification for future seasons. Starting with Season 8, participating teams will be determined through invites based on Valve Regional Standings (VRS) combined with open qualifiers.

Open Qualifiers Season 7 

• January 31 - February 6, 2025
  With four slots available for each of North America, South America and Europe, Open Qualifiers provide a chance for emerging teams to compete for a spot in ESL Impact League Season 7.

ESL Impact League Season 7 

• February 26 - April 13, 2025
  The 28 best teams from Europe, North America and South America will battle in their regional online league. The top four teams from EU and the top two teams from both NA and SA will qualify for the Global Finals in Dallas.

ESL Impact League Season 7 Global Finals in Dallas

• May 23 - May 25, 2025
  Competing for a share of the $150,000 prize pool and the coveted title, the best teams from around the globe will face off in front of a live audience at DreamHack Dallas 2025.

ESL Impact Season 8

ESL Impact Season 8 will have participating teams determined through VRS combined with open qualifiers. The invites will be issued using the first available VRS ranking in the month of July 2025, applying a women’s only filter to each of the sub lists used.

The monthly VRS publications, which will serve as the basis for team invitations, can be accessed here. Exceptions to invitations will apply if a player is banned by EFG or ESIC.

Open Qualifiers Season 8

• August 15 - 24, 2025
  Open Qualifiers in Season 8 will offer 8 teams from Europe and 6 teams from each of North America and South America a chance to participate in ESL Impact League Season 8.

ESL Impact League Season 8 

• September 10 - October 26, 2025
  The 28 best teams from Europe, North America and South America will rival online for a spot in the Global Finals in Stockholm. Once again, four teams from EU and two teams from both NA and SA will have a chance to qualify for the Finals.

ESL Impact League Season 8 Global Finals in Stockholm

• November 28-30, 2025
  Gathering in the capital of Sweden, the best teams will promise a spectacular closure of the year in an attempt to claim the season title and a portion of the $150,000 prize pool live in Stockholm 2025.

Outro

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