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What can we expect to witness at IEM Dallas 2025 this year?
There’s plenty of huge moments we’re keeping an eye for at IEM Dallas 2025. It’s the last event before we hit the BLAST Austin Major, so it’s the final chance for us to get a look at each squad before the big dance.
Here’s the most important storylines we can expect to see resolved at IEM Dallas 2025.
The return of s1mple: Can he save FaZe?
IEM Dallas sees Oleksandr “s1mple” Kostyljev return to active competition after a five month hiatus following a failed attempt to qualify for the Shanghai Major in 2024.
We all know theUkrainian superstar’s potential is sky-high, but he has his work cut out for him with FaZe Clan, who have slumped heavily in 2025. Captain Finn “Karrigan” Andersen didn’t mince words in arecent FaZe vlog, with the IGL frustrated and confused at the team’s performance and where exactly they were going wrong.
It’s always a huge risk to change a lineup a month out from the Major but given where FaZe was placed, you can’t fault them for making the move. Dallas serves as the proving ground for s1mple and FaZe, and their form there will be telling as to how far they’ll make it in Austin.
Vitality set up to extend streak, begin new Grand Slam run
The indomitable Vitality outfit goes from strength to strength, utterly dominating professional CS2 in 2025. Five trophies and a25-match win streak, their recentwin at BLAST Springwas as impressive as theirGrand Slam victory in Melbourne, with the team fresh off a flight from Australia without any preparation.
Mathieu “ZywOo” Herbaut may have already locked up the player of the year title,Robin “ropz” Kool’s additionis arguably the greatest roster move of the modern era — there’s little more for Vitality to accomplish apart from a win at the Austin Major.
But many pundits are already looking beyond the major. What about two Grand Slams in one year? The idea is preposterous — but if anyone can do it, it’s this version of Vitality.
Their run for a second Grand Slam begins in Dallas; if they wanted to make the dream happen, they’d have to win there first, then IEM Cologne, ESL Pro League Season 22, and finally IEM Chengdu.
Vitality ropz: “We know we’re eventually going to lose — the scene is so competitive”
Ropz cares not for win streaks, just trophies as Vitality shape as favorites for the Austin Major.
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Will Aurora’s time off help in Dallas?
Aurora’s 2025 has been a series of consistent group stage runs with upsets against the best in the world — pockmarked by crashing out in almost every playoff stage.
After theirgrand final loss to Spiritat BLAST Bounty Spring, Aurora (previously Eternal Fire) lost out at almost every playoff first round. Their qualification for six-straight playoffs is nothing to poke a stick at, but between concerns over stage fright andplayer healthafter such a packed start to the season, some are concerned Aurora has hit its peak.
The month-long break through April and May will have recharged Aurora’s batteries, which leaves them well-timed for a run in the U.S. Despite a little rust atPGL Astana, many are expecting the Turkish squad to show their best in Dallas and Austin.
Where their ceiling lies at these events is entirely up to them.
G2 holding on for dear life as Dallas approaches
It’s a hard knock life being a G2 fan at the best of times, but 2025 has been dour.
Following thedeparture of Nikola “NiKo” Kovač to Falcons, the team began its rebuild around Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov — but rumors of his defection with NiKo were rife andproved to be true in April. Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa was made responsible for leading the new project but the 22-year-old was undergoing a form slump of his own.
Coupled withvisa issuespreventing Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač from attending PGL Astana and compounded with thetemporary loan of Aleksander “hades” Miśkiewicz, you’d think G2 was in free fall.
However, through all the turmoil, G2 continues to make playoff runs at big events (PGL Astana excluded…). They haven’t looked comfortable for months but the talent for deep runs is there — it’s just got to click!
Contrary to popular belief, the North American crowd is always a great watch. We don’t get to see it often these days; there was just one S-tier event held on American shores in 2024 (it being last year’s IEM Dallas).
But we’ll be treated to double-trouble over the next month with IEM Dallas returning and BLAST’s Austin Major. Dallas acts as the perfect staging ground for some of the world’s loudest fans to make themselves heard.
Wanting to get amongst the action yourself? Tickets for IEM Dallas 2025 areavailable here! For moreIEM Dallascoverage orCS2news stay with us atesports.gg.
