Written by Here are the Top 5 Esports News Stories from March 17 to 23, 2025. Counter-Strike 2 made its appearance with the BLAST Open Spring tournament that went from March 19 through to March 30.
16 of the leading teams went in for a fight for the prize money amount of $400,000 with Team Vitality making their appearances favored following their success in ESL Pro League Season 21.
In Call of Duty, the OpTic Texas Major got underway on March 20, continuing to March 23. The event had all 12 partnered teams involved, with Atlanta FaZe looking to carry on their dominance after claiming multiple prior titles.
The VALORANT Champions Tour also dominated the headlines with Stage 1 kicking off in the Pacific and Americas regions on March 21. T1 and G2 Esports were favorites in their regions, with T1 at +225 to win the Pacific title and G2 Esports at +137 to claim the Americas.
The Esports World Cup Foundation also launched its 2025 Club Partner Program, choosing 40 organizations globally for a program with a $20 million cap. DreamHack Dallas was to have a $2 million prize pool in May.
Esports is also expanding in India, with developments such as Bihar to host the National Esports Championship in June 2025.
Top 5 Esports News Stories from March 17 to 23, 2025
1. BLAST Open Spring Event
The BLAST Open Spring tournament of Counter-Strike 2 that started on March 19 and continues until March 30, 2025, is one of the important tournaments in professional CS2 circles. This event is one of the important competitions following the shift to Counter-Strike 2.
The tournament is composed of 16 of the best teams globally. They are a combination of proven powerhouses and up-and-coming stars.
The prize pool is a good $400,000, divided among the involved teams according to their performance. This figure shows the financial input in CS2 esports and is the strong motivation for teams to put their best efforts forward.
The tournament usually adheres to a standard format, with teams playing in a group stage and then a playoff bracket. This format enables both round-robin games and pressure-packed knockout games.
Coming in as one of the favorites, Team Vitality has been performing well, just winning the ESL Pro League Season 21. Their success can be credited to a balanced roster and strategic play.
Teams such as FaZe Clan, Natus Vincere, and Heroic should also be expected to shine. These teams have been in good form in the last few months and have the talent and experience required to vie for the top positions.
Also Read: Top 5 Esports News Stories from March 10-16, 2025
2. OpTic Texas Major for Call of Duty
The OpTic Texas Major was held between March 20 and 23, 2025 and it was the second major of the 2025 Call of Duty season. The tournament featured all 12 partnered teams in the Call of Duty League (CDL).
The event comprised all 12 CDL franchises, such as Atlanta FaZe, OpTic Texas, and the Los Angeles Guerrillas. The lineup for each of the teams had skilled players popular for their intelligence and tactical plays.
The competition usually adheres to a default format, where it begins with a group phase in which groups are arranged as pools. From each pool, the top performers advance to the single-elimination bracket to end with the championship game.
Although the exact prize money for this tournament may not be known, large Call of Duty tournaments tend to have big payouts, frequently over $500,000. This is the motivation that makes teams give their all.
Coming in as one of the favorites, Atlanta FaZe has been a powerhouse in the Call of Duty world. Their team consists of extremely talented players who have been consistently producing top-notch performances, and they are a serious contender for the championship.
Being the home team, OpTic Texas was favored to play in front of their fans. They have been playing good form in recent tournaments and were likely to go deep in this tournament as well.
The Los Angeles Guerrillas and the New York Subliners were also thought to be strong teams. These teams possess great rosters and have the capability to upset the best teams on their good days.
3. VALORANT Champions Tour Stage 1
The VALORANT Champions Tour (VCT) Stage 1 opened in the Americas and Pacific regions on March 21, 2025. This stage initiated a new competition season for VALORANT. The VCT is a flagship tournament series produced by Riot Games, the studio behind VALORANT.
Stage 1 of VCT has Pacific and Americas teams. There are top teams from each region, some of the most popular being T1 and G2 Esports.
Pacific region consists of teams such as T1, ZETA DIVISION, and Paper Rex, whereas the Americas region consists of teams such as G2 Esports, Sentinels, and 100 Thieves.
The competition usually begins with a group stage, where teams are sorted into groups according to their seeding. The highest ranked teams in each group move on to a playoff bracket, often a single-elimination tournament.
This format guarantees that teams need to perform well over the course of the event to qualify for the finals.
Although details on Stage 1 prizes may not be available, VCT tournaments usually have generous rewards. Teams also gain VCT points for their performance, which are vital in qualifying for the VALORANT Champions towards the end of the year.
T1 is a favorite within the Pacific region. With a deep roster and steady gameplay, they have been a top contender in past VCT competitions. Their odds to take the Pacific title were +225.
In the Americas region, G2 Esports is seen as one of the favorites to win. They have displayed great skill and strategy with their team and are the favorite to win the region with +137 odds.
G2 Esports has been working to get more consistent and to develop a deeper team that can contend with anyone, including in the playoffs.
They are also anticipated to do well along with teams such as Sentinels and 100 Thieves in the Americas, and ZETA DIVISION and Paper Rex in the Pacific. They have skilled rosters and have been able to take out top teams on their best possible days.
4. Gumayusi Returns to T1 Lineup
The return of Lee ‘Gumayusi’ Min-hyung to T1’s League of Legends roster is a major move in the competitive community.
Gumayusi, arguably the best AD carry player in the world, had been benched by T1’s coaching staff mid-season. But in a shocking twist, T1’s CEO Joe Marsh stepped in and put Gumayusi back into the starting lineup.
Gumayusi’s first benching came as a shock and an issue of concern for fans and analysts alike. With his amazing talent and previous performances, T1’s coaching staff had deemed it necessary to try other options.
Joe Marsh’s decision to override the coaching team and bring Gumayusi back into the team demonstrates how valuable the player is to the team’s performance.
Such an action shows the nature of team management in esports, where team harmony must be balanced with picking players who have the right talent.
With Gumayusi returning to the team, T1 is likely to experience a performance boost instantly. His superior mechanics and game knowledge are invaluable in high-stakes situations, and his return will solidify the AD carry role in the team.
The return of Gumayusi can also influence team dynamics. His return might result in communication changes, with the team getting used to one of its top performers back on the starting lineup.
The move to return Gumayusi back to the team could also influence team morale and confidence. Players feel safer with a well-performing player in the team.
Gumayusi’s return to T1 impacts the balance of competition within the League of Legends Championship Korea (LCK) or whichever region T1 plays in. His return renders T1 a stronger team, changing standings and playoff fortunes for other teams.
5. Esports World Cup Foundation’s Club Partner Program
The Esports World Cup Foundation introduced its 2025 Club Partner Program, a program focused on empowering and helping esports organizations around the world.
The program identifies 40 esports clubs around the world to take part in a full-scale partnership that features monetary assistance, strategic advice, and networking opportunities.
The 40 partner clubs are chosen through a thorough assessment process. Performance of the team, stability in the organization, community involvement, and potential for growth are taken into account. This is done to ensure that the clubs are not only competitive but also beneficial to the esports ecosystem.
The initiative provides funding to the chosen clubs, which they can utilize to improve team operations, invest in player development, and upgrade infrastructure. The assistance is limited to $20 million.
The program offers strategic insight and mentoring. This involves exposure to industry professionals who can provide advice on team management, marketing strategy, and securing sponsorship. This guidance is essential for clubs that aim to expand their operations and gain viability.
The program encourages partner clubs and other stakeholders in the world of esports to network. It enables clubs to exchange best practices, information, and, more importantly create partnerships that may result in new developments.
Financial stability is a major issue for most esports clubs. The assistance provided by the Esports World Cup Foundation gives some relief from these pressures.
The resources provided by the program allow clubs to scale up their operations, which can result in greater competitiveness and a wider reach among the esports community. This can involve the recruitment of more staff, the purchase of improved equipment, or expansion into new territories.
The choice of clubs from various regions ensures international representation in esports. This improves the competitive scene by bringing in varied playstyles and strategies.
The initiative of the Esports World Cup Foundation supports the development of the esports sector through its backing of the sport’s underlying pillars, the clubs and teams. Through empowering these entities, the program supports a solid foundation for the continued growth of the sport.
Also Read: Esports World Cup 2025: Top 5 Things You Need to Know