Esports tournament organiser ESL FACEIT Group has revealed it will contribute at least $22m (~£16.8m) to its Counter-Strike ecosystem throughout 2025 and 2026.
The funds will go towards teams participating in the ESL Pro Tour circuit, which has been overhauled to adhere to Valve’s 2025 tournament operation guidelines.
According to a release, ESL FACEIT Group will provide at least $11m (~£8.4m) to teams and players in addition to its existing spend on flights, accommodation and practice setups for events taking place globally.
Alongside the financial contribution, the tournament organiser has unveiled details on the 2025 ESL Pro Tour circuit. IEM Katowice and IEM Cologne, two highlight regarded events in the Counter-Strike ecosystem, will be classed as ‘Championship’ events while seasons 21 and 22 of the ESL Pro League, IEM Dallas, IEM Chengdu and IEM Spring fall under the ‘Masters’ category.
ESL FACEIT Group says the reworked tournament circuit aims to build “a cohesive and sustainable ecosystem,” providing teams with opportunities to compete in events worldwide.
The funds will also provide the prize money for the Intel Grand Slam, a $1m (~£766,895) incentive awarded to the team that manages to win three ESL Pro Tour Masters events and one Championship tournament.
The tournament organiser continues to cement its position as one of the largest in the world. In October, it launched the ESL Saudi Challenge, a tournament series exclusive to gamers in Saudi Arabia. In August, it unveiled a multi-year partnership extension with logistics company DHL.
Marc Winther, Director of Game Ecosystems – Counter-Strike at ESL FACEIT Group, spoke on the news: “The EPT for Counter-Strike 2 is the definition of EFG’s commitment to fostering a fruitful competitive environment and continually nourishing Counter-Strike’s heritage.
“With a circuit that spans multiple continents and integrates diverse levels of competition, we are excited to further fuel opportunities for world-class teams and passionate fans alike.”
