Written by Here are the Top 5 Esports Tournaments in April 2025. Counter-Strike 2 and Dota 2 are two of the most major games, with a number of important events lined up.
The PGL Bucharest 2025 for Counter-Strike 2 will be held from April 6th to 13th in Romania. ESL One Raleigh 2025 for Dota 2 will take place from April 7th to 13th in the US.
April 2025 will also witness other esports events. The ESL Snapdragon Pro Series: Mobile Masters 2025 for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) will take place from April 7th to 13th in Indonesia.
Additionally, the Overwatch 2 Champions Clash 2025 Hangzhou will be held from April 18th to 20th in China, as best Overwatch teams clash in a tournament.
The Call of Duty League 2025: Stage 3 Major will run from April 24th to 27th in the US, representing an important stage of the Call of Duty esports schedule.
April will also host YaLLa Compass Qatar 2025 for CS2 from April 15th through April 20th in Qatar, and Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025 from April 21st through April 27th in Australia, and both of these events will generate interest among the CS2 audience.
The FNCS 2025 Major 2 – Grand Finals of Fortnite will be held online between April 26th and 27th, providing a global platform for Fortnite gamers.
Finally, the BLAST Rivals Spring 2025 of Counter-Strike 2 will run from April 30th through May 4th in Mexico, an innovative format with eight teams vying for a $350,000 prize pool.
Top 5 Esports Tournaments in April 2025
1. PGL Bucharest 2025
PGL Bucharest 2025 is among the awaited esports events of April and represents the second large-scale Counter-Strike 2 tournament hosted by PGL this year.
After the success of PGL Cluj-Napoca in early February, this event will look to further cement PGL’s status as a top CS2 tournament organizer.
Tournament Details:
- Game: Counter-Strike 2 (CS2)
- Dates: April 6th – April 13th, 2025
- Location: Bucharest, Romania
- Qualifying Players/Teams:
- 12 teams directly invited based on Valve Regional Standings (VRS): Astralis, FaZe Clan, G2 Esports, Team Liquid, Virtus.pro, and others.
- 4 additional teams determined through regional qualifiers (Europe, Americas, Asia).
- Tournament Structure:
- Stage 1: Swiss system format with all matches as best-of-three (BO3). Top 8 teams advance.
- Stage 2: Single-elimination playoffs culminating in a best-of-five (BO5) Grand Final.
- Venue Details: Matches will take place at PGL Studios in Bucharest.
- Prize Pool: $625,000 total, distributed as follows:
- 1st place: $400,000 total ($200,000 prize + $200,000 club reward).
- Remaining amounts scaled down for lower placements.
The event includes a combination of direct invitations from the top teams as well as regional qualifiers. Popular teams such as Astralis, FaZe Clan, and G2 Esports participate.
A few of the big names like NAVI and MOUZ, though highly placed in the VRS standings, are missing from the event. This makes it more unpredictable in terms of competition.
The tournament follows a two-stage format. The first stage follows the Swiss system format, where teams play randomized matches over five rounds.
Teams are ranked into high, mid, and low tiers depending on their performance in these rounds. Only the top eight teams qualify for the playoffs.
The playoffs have a single-elimination bracket system with every match being BO3 except for the Grand Final, which is BO5. This format allows for high-pressure matches and acknowledges consistent performance during the event.
PGL introduced a new system of prize pool distribution for this event to make it similar to the practices of competitors such as BLAST and ESL.
A half of the prize pool goes directly to organizations as club rewards and the remaining half goes to players as prize money.
The winning team will receive $400,000 in total prizes ($200,000 prize money + $200,000 club reward), which makes this one of the better-paying CS2 tournaments of the year.
In contrast to big arena events such as those organized by ESL or BLAST, PGL Bucharest will be held at PGL Studios in Bucharest. This close environment provides a more contained production environment similar to BLAST Studios in Copenhagen.
2. ESL One Raleigh 2025
ESL One Raleigh is a major Dota 2 esports milestone as it comes back to the United States after five years. The event is on the ESL Pro Tour (EPT) circuit and is the second-to-last event where teams can get EPT Points that will determine qualification to the Riyadh Masters 2025.
With a massive prize pool of $1 million and intense global ranking stakes, this tournament is likely to feature world-class play.
Tournament Details:
- Game: Dota 2
- Dates: April 7th – April 13th, 2025
- Location: Raleigh Convention Center, Raleigh, North Carolina, USA
- Qualifying Teams:
- Direct Invitations (4): PARIVISION, BetBoom Team, Team Falcons, Team Liquid
- Regional Qualifiers (8):
- Western Europe: Tundra Esports, NAVI Junior
- Eastern Europe: Team Spirit
- Middle East and West Asia: Nigma Galaxy
- Southeast Asia: Talon Esports
- China: Xtreme Gaming
- North America: Shopify Rebellion
- South America: HEROIC
- Tournament Structure:
- Group Stage (April 7–9): Two single round-robin groups of six teams each, all matches are best-of-two. Top two teams from each group advance to the Upper Bracket of the playoffs, while ranks three and four move to the Lower Bracket. Remaining teams are eliminated.
- Playoffs (April 10–13): Double-elimination bracket, all matches are best-of-three except for the Grand Final, which is best-of-five.
- Venue Details: The Raleigh Convention Center is a state-of-the-art facility located in downtown Raleigh.
- Prize Pool: $1,000,000 distributed as follows:
- 1st place: $300,000 + 6,400 EPT Points
- 2nd place: $175,000 + 4,800 EPT Points
- Lower placements receive scaled rewards down to $25,000 for ranks 11–12.
The format of the event guarantees excitement and fairness. The group stage uses a single round-robin system with best-of-two matches, giving teams sufficient time to show their ability in several games.
This is followed by a double-elimination playoff bracket where teams experience fierce competition in best-of-three series. The Grand Final uses a best-of-five format to determine the champion.
The addition of eight regional qualifiers to four invite-only teams guarantees a selection from different parts of the world.
Established brands such as Team Liquid and Tundra Esports contribute experience and prestige to the competition, whereas emerging stars such as NAVI Junior introduce a sense of uncertainty.
The Raleigh Convention Center is the perfect venue for ESL One Raleigh. Situated in downtown Raleigh, it has already hosted large esports events for games such as League of Legends and Apex Legends.
Its state-of-the-art facilities guarantee high production standards for live viewers and online spectators. The event is sponsored by the Greater Raleigh Esports Local Organizing Committee (GRELOC) and enjoys North Carolina’s Esports Incentive Grant Fund.
Also Read: Top 5 Esports News Stories from March 24 to 30, 2025
3. Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025
Intel Extreme Masters Melbourne 2025 is a milestone for Australian esports as it returns tier-one Counter-Strike action to the nation after decades of waiting.
Tournament Details:
- Game: Counter-Strike 2 (CS2)
- Dates: April 21st – April 27th, 2025
- Location: Melbourne, Australia
- Qualifying Teams:
- Direct Invitations: Top 10 teams from Valve Regional Standings (VRS).
- Regional Qualifiers: Top two teams each from Europe, Americas, and Asia VRS rankings.
- Tournament Structure:
- Group Stage (April 21–24): Two double-elimination groups; all matches are best-of-three (BO3). Top six teams advance to playoffs.
- Playoffs (April 25–27): Single-elimination bracket at Rod Laver Arena, all matches are BO3 except for the Grand Final.
- Venue Details: Rod Laver Arena, Melbourne’s iconic sports venue, hosting live playoffs with thousands of spectators.
- Prize Pool: $300,000 USD distributed among participating teams.
- Additional Incentives: Critical VRS points for qualification to the BLAST Austin Major.
Melbourne is host city for IEM for the first time, after multiple events in Sydney were successful. First scheduled for 2020 but delayed because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the arrival of the tournament in Melbourne has been five years in the making.
The tournament is a part of ESL’s esteemed Intel Extreme Masters circuit, recognized for hosting top-level esports competitions around the world.
Sixteen top CS2 teams will clash not only for the $300,000 prize pool but also for essential Valve Regional Standings points that will qualify them for the BLAST Austin Major later this year.
Tournament Format:
- Group Stage: Teams are split into two double-elimination groups, and all matches are played as BO3. The format allows for even teams experiencing early setbacks to still have opportunities to recover and advance.
- Playoffs: The six top teams from the group stage make it to a single-elimination playoff bracket that is held live at Rod Laver Arena. Matches played here are BO3, apart from the Grand Final.
This carefully structured format guarantees high-stakes action throughout the event while giving all teams an equal chance to perform at their best.
The playoffs will be hosted at Rod Laver Arena, one of Australia’s iconic arenas that is famous for hosting big sporting events such as the Australian Open. This is a major improvement from past ESL Challenger events that were hosted in smaller arenas around Melbourne.
The arena guarantees an electric environment with thousands of fans attending live matches between April 25th and 27th.
Event organizers hope to beat last year’s record of 20,000 spectators at IEM Sydney. Tickets were available beginning January 23rd, with prices varying from general tickets that begin at AUD $189 to VIP packages that range up to AUD $1,999.
4. Call of Duty League 2025: Stage 3 Major
The CDL Stage 3 Major is one of the most important tournaments in the CDL schedule. Being the third major tournament of the season, it is a turning point for teams that wish to establish their position and make it to the CDL Championship at the end of the year.
Tournament Details:
- Game: Call of Duty
- Dates: April 24th – April 27th, 2025
- Location: United States (specific venue details not provided)
- Qualifying Teams:
- Top teams from the Call of Duty League standings after Stage 2.
- Tournament Structure:
- Group Stage: Teams compete in round-robin matches to determine seeding for playoffs.
- Playoffs: Double-elimination bracket culminating in a Grand Final.
- Venue Details: Venue specifics are yet to be revealed, but it will feature a large-scale arena setup typical of CDL Majors.
- Prize Pool: Estimated $500,000 distributed among top-performing teams.
The tournament comes after Stage 2, where teams have fought through regular-season games to qualify for this competition.
The CDL Majors are infamous for their charged environment, with gameplay and zealous fan support. Stage 3 Major ensures that this continues by inviting the world’s best Call of Duty teams to fight for supremacy.
The competition starts with a group stage where the teams play each other in round-robin matches to decide how they will seed the playoffs.
This system guarantees that all teams get a chance to display their prowess while also giving spectators plenty of exciting games. The playoffs follow a double-elimination bracket, allowing teams a second life even after a first loss.
Grand Final will likely feature a best-of-nine series, a special format of CDL Majets designed to probe the endurance and agility of teams playing across many maps.
Though details regarding the venue are still not revealed, CDL Majors normally have huge arenas with the latest production tools. The venues offer an experience for spectators, with huge screens, interactive lighting systems, and live commentaries.
Fans get to enjoy an exciting environment as they support their beloved teams with thousands of other passionate fans. CDL events are also recognized for being fun-filled fan zones where fans get a chance to engage in activities such as meet-and-greets with players and special merchandise giveaways.
This event is also important for squads seeking to cement their position in the league ranking before the CDL Championship. Being worth a prize pool of $500,000.
The Stage 3 Major is also crucial in determining narratives for the Call of Duty esports environment. Rivalries between Atlanta FaZe, OpTic Texas, and Toronto Ultra will be anticipated to take center stage.
5. ESL Snapdragon Pro Series: Mobile Masters 2025
The ESL Snapdragon Pro Series: Mobile Masters 2025 is among the most highly regarded mobile esports tournaments, specifically for Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB).
The event is the culmination of regional Snapdragon Pro Series circuits, where the top MLBB teams from around Asia gather to compete for glory and a large prize pool.
Tournament Details:
- Game: Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB)
- Dates: April 7th – April 13th, 2025
- Location: Jakarta, Indonesia
- Qualifying Teams:
- Direct Invitations: Top 8 teams from the Snapdragon Pro Series regional circuits.
- Regional Qualifiers: Additional teams from Southeast Asia, South Asia, and East Asia regions.
- Tournament Structure:
- Group Stage (April 7–10): Single round-robin format with best-of-three (BO3) matches. Top four teams advance to playoffs.
- Playoffs (April 11–13): Double-elimination bracket, all matches are BO3 except for the Grand Final, which is BO5.
- Venue Details: Matches will be held at the Jakarta International Expo (JIExpo).
- Prize Pool: $300,000 USD distributed among top-performing teams.
Indonesia is the perfect place for this tournament, with its eager MLBB following and proven track record of hosting effective esports tournaments. With Jakarta as the host city, Mobile Masters is set to provide high production and exciting matches.
The tournament starts with a single round-robin group stage where teams fight in BO3 matches to qualify for the playoffs. This format provides each team with sufficient chances to display their talent in several games. The top four teams qualify for the double-elimination playoffs.
The Grand Final follows a BO5 format, which puts teams’ endurance and flexibility to the test. This format ensures that only the most consistent and adaptable team will be crowned.
The Jakarta International Expo (JIExpo) is the venue for Mobile Masters 2025. Renowned for its world-class facilities and ability to accommodate big crowds. Audiences attending in person will be treated to a charged experience augmented by the latest production technology and live commentary.
The festival also has fan zones where fans get to participate in activities like meet-and-greets with athletes, VIP merchandise sales, and gaming stalls where people can sample MLBB’s latest releases.
Also Read: PUBG Mobile Global Championship