Following a dominant conclusion to the ESL Grand Slam V, the race for a new era of Counter-Strike dominance is set to begin. Team Vitality etched their name into the history books by completing their ESL Grand Slam run at IEM Melbourne, with a thrilling 3-2 victory over Team Falcons in one of the most competitive grand finals the scene has witnessed. Now, as the dust settles, a new ESL Grand Slam race is about to begin — and all eyes turn to IEM Dallas.

Taking place across May 19-25, IEM Dallas marks the first event in the race for the ESL Grand Slam VI. The iconic gold bars, the $1,000,000 prize, and a permanent legacy in CS history — will once again be awarded to the first team to win three ESL Pro Tour Masters tournaments and one EPT Championship tournament (Katowice, Cologne or an ESL-operated CS Major) inside a span of ten consecutive events. A complete overview of the ESL Grand Slam rules can be found here.

The ESL Grand Slam remains one of the most coveted achievements in professional Counter-Strike, and with the new season set against the backdrop of Counter-Strike’s ongoing evolution, the stakes are once again high and the question of whether anyone can stop Team Vitality’s current form remains to be seen.

Team Vitality's recent triumph added even more weight to their 2025 run so far following the arrival of ropz, highlighted by dominant showings at many top-tier events. Their consistency under pressure, coupled with the leadership of apEX and the firepower of ZywOo, proved too much for even the most ambitious challengers. Now, the field is reset, and every team — from storied veterans to rising lineups — has an equal shot at launching their own ESL Grand Slam run.

As IEM Dallas approaches, speculation grows over who will take the early lead in the ESL Grand Slam. Will Team Falcons get the better of Team Vitality this time around? Can FaZe Clan reignite their championship form? Or will a dark horse emerge to steal the spotlight?

One thing is certain: the race is on!