Get ready! The CS2 action is heading back to Shanghai this October for CS Asia Championship 2025 or CAC 2025, a high-stakes Counter-Strike 2 tournament featuring some of the world’s best teams and a whopping $1,000,000 USD prize pool.
Hosted by Perfect World Esports, this year’s CAC will be held from 14 to 19 October 2025, bringing 16 teams to the big stage in China’s esports capital.
Perfect World Returns to the Arena
This October, Perfect World Esports is bringing world-class Counter-Strike 2 action back to Shanghai with the return of the CS Asia Championships 2025 (CAC 2025), a premier international tournament that puts top-tier international teams head-to-head with Asia’s best in a region that’s quickly becoming a CS2 powerhouse.
Perfect World is one of the biggest game publishers and tournament organizers in China. Under license from Valve, they are in charge of running Dota 2 and CS2 in China. They have a reputation for organizing high-profile esports competitions, such as the first-ever CS Major in China in 2024, which attracted more than 1.3 million viewers. Their flagship invitational, CAC, was introduced in 2018 with the goal of bringing international competition to China.
Now back for another year, CAC 2025 will feature a $1 million USD prize pool and 16 elite teams battling it out in a six-day LAN showdown from 14 to 19 October.
What to Expect at CAC 2025
The main event will feature 16 teams, with nine already invited and the remaining seven earning their spots through regional qualifiers. Here’s who’s confirmed so far:
- FaZe Clan
- TYLOO
- 3DMAX
- Lynn Vision
- paiN Gaming
- Virtus.pro
- Team Liquid
- Legacy
- B8
Image Credit: Perfect World
If you’re wondering about the format, it’s as intense as ever.
CAC 2025 Schedule:
- Group Stage: 14–16 October
- Two groups of 8 teams
- Double-elimination format
- Group winners advance straight to Semifinals
- 2nd and 3rd place teams move to Quarterfinals
- Playoffs: 17–19 October
- Single-elimination bracket
- All matches BO3, Grand Final is BO5
Prize Pool Breakdown
Total prize pool: $1,000,000 USD
- Teams share $600,000
- Players split $400,000
Yep, it’s one of the largest CS2 prize pools this side of the globe.
Regional Qualifiers: Your Team Could Be Next
In addition to the nine invited teams, the last seven slots are open for those who qualify through regional tournaments.
- Europe – 4 slots
- Registration: 4–9 August
- Matches: 10–11 August via Esportal
- Americas – 1 slot
- Registration: 11–15 August
- Matches: 16–17 August via Esportal
- China – 2 slots
- Registration: 12–18 September
- Matches: 19–21 September via PWA
It’s a golden opportunity for rising CS2 teams to go head-to-head with legends, and possibly walk away with a big slice of that million-dollar pie.
Mark your calendar for 14–19 October. The next great CS2 moment could be just around the corner in Shanghai.