What is the Intel Extreme Masters? A guide to esports’ longest-running event

If you’re a player or a fan of esports, you’re likely aware of the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM). This esports tournament, established in 2007, has been a staple of highlighting and heralding several players and teams over the years.

But it hasn’t stood still. Indeed, though IEM initially hosted games like Counter-Strike 1.6 and Warcraft III, you can tune in to the next IEM event in Dallas in May and watch players battle it out over Counter-Strike 2 and Starcraft II to gain some of the biggest prize pools in the industry.

However, if you’re new to esports and IEM is a puzzling term for you, we’ve created a guide below to help explain what the tournament is, why it’s lasted so long, and the prize pools it’s offered over the years.

The Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) is the longest-running esports tournament worldwide. It was first established in 2007 by the Electronics Sports League (ESL), and Intel, known for its business in computer processors and other components, sponsored the esports tournament across Europe. Two games were played at the first event: Counter-Strike 1.6 and Warcraft III, with Team Pentagram and Yoan Mario winning these, respectively.

Just a year later, IEM was hosting several events worldwide, which it still does today, in Cologne, Singapore, and Brazil. Over the years, the most popular esports games like League of Legends and PUBG have been held at IEM, but recently, Counter-Strike 2 has been the sole game at the event.

IEM 2025 began in February, and Team Vitality is already making waves in the tournament, winning 2-0 in the group stage against the French team, 3DMAX. The prize pool is a huge $1,250,000, with the winner set to claim $450,000. They then went on to win the IEM Melbourne trophy after a nail-biting Grand Final against Team Falcons to secure the ESL Grand Slam Season 5 title. The next will be in Dallas from 19-25 May at the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center.

The legacy of the IEM is not something to underestimate. Since 2007, the tournament has grown into one that players and viewers have come to know as a consistent, reliable, and incredibly entertaining event held every year.

It’s because of these factors that make it is a proving ground for upcoming and established talent in the esports industry, which could arguably make or break someone’s career at IEM. However, if a player or a team were to win, it would boost their visibility further, earn respect from both players and viewers, as well as revive a fledgling esports career. This can be from one standout match to several that could turn the tide for a player. It’s why IEM is the showcase for new and upcoming talent in the business.

In the past, several players have been able to build their legacies through IEM, such as s1mple. After competing at IEM 2019 with Counter-Strike Global Offensive and coming in third place, he went on to win at IEM 2020, earning a prize pool of $250,000. Other players, such as the now-retired Life, made his name at IEM 2013 with Starcraft II, and FeZe Clan winning several, beginning with IEM Sydney in 2018.

Ultimately, the legacy of IEM is something that new and existing players aspire to have on their record, and they’ll gladly come back to the tournament if they feel they need to prove themselves once again.

IEM’s remarkable longevity comes down to one reason: evolution. Much like esports itself, IEM has adapted to the changing landscape of what players and viewers want, such as switching from Counter-Strike 1.6, Valve’s classic first-person-shooter, to Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, and now Counter-Strike 2. Both ESL and Intel know which games bring the biggest audiences and players alike, which is why they can also host IEM at several locations around the world, from Katowice to Cologne, Beijing, and San Jose. Even in 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, IEM New York was held online to make sure that the tournament kept going and players and viewers could still take part.

It’s no surprise that IEM is held up as one of the most successful esports events today. If you’re a new or long-standing player in the business, you know of IEM. It’s outlasted others like the Electronic Sports World Convention (ESWC) and the Cyberathlete Professional League (CPL), still standing after two decades and still in favour with millions of fans. With innovations such as sideshows, arena surprise moments, and more, IEM is set to be relevant for another two decades and beyond.

Since the first IEM tournament in March 2007, a significant prize pool has been established for the league that wins out, which began with €160,000 for the first event. Over the years, the amount has fluctuated, varying between $175,000 and $1,000,000.

At the time of writing, IEM 2025 is in full flow, with the first two events of the tournament, held in Katowice and Melbourne, won by Team Vitality. Two more events are coming up, each with varying prize pool amounts:

IEM Dallas 2025: $1,000,000

IEM Cologne 2025: $1,250,000

IEM Chengdu 2025: $1,000,000

Seeing the amount jump by a significant margin is no surprise, with IEM being the longest-running esports tournament, so it has big brand recognition for players and viewers alike.

The Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) has cemented its place in the esports industry. Known for its consistency, its showmanship, and prolific teams taking part, such as 3DMAX and Team Vitality, it’s an event worth watching every year.

As it approaches its 20th anniversary in 2026, IEM’s legacy remains intact, free of controversy. It is also seen as a place of nurturing new and existing talent in games like Counter-Strike 2 and Starcraft II. With IEM 2025 in full swing and the next event being held in Dallas between May 19-25, it looks set to be another event to watch from start to finish.