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The biggest moment in THE FINALS esports is about to kick off. This November, the Grand Major 2025 is landing at DreamHack Stockholm, and it’s shaping up to be a massive showdown for pros, rising stars, and fans alike.

With open access, high stakes, and a format built to keep the action intense, this is the tournament that’ll crown the first true Grand Major champion. Whether you’re playing, watching, or just curious, here’s the breakdown.

Key Dates

  • Registration Opens: 14 August 2025
  • Open Qualifiers: 30 August & 6 September 2025
  • Grand Major Finals: 28–29 November 2025 at DreamHack Stockholm

What is THE FINALS?

THE FINALS is a fast-paced, free-to-play competitive shooter developed by Embark Studios. It throws teams of three into destructible, highly interactive arenas where they battle to grab cash and deposit it in vaults before their opponents do.

What makes THE FINALS stand out is its mix of:

  • Dynamic environments – buildings, walls, and floors can be blown apart to change the flow of combat.
  • Unique playstyles – light, medium, and heavy builds with custom loadouts.
  • Spectacle and style – matches are presented as a high-energy game show, complete with announcers, flashy visuals, and unpredictable twists.

It’s a game where quick thinking and wild creativity are just as important as aim, and it’s built to deliver moments that look incredible both to play and to watch.

The Finals is a gloriously destructive shooter that's too frantic for its own good | Rock Paper Shotgun

Image Credit: Embark Studios

The Road to Stockholm

The Grand Major is open to three regions: America (NA), Europe, Middle East & Africa (EMEA), and Asia-Pacific (APAC).

Open Qualifiers

Here’s how teams make it from day one to the big stage. It all starts here. Each region gets two Open Qualifier events, giving teams two chances to fight their way through.

How it works:

  • Seeding Phase: Teams jump into 3v3 Final Round matches, playing three best-of-three heats. The first round is random, then the rest is based on win-loss records.
  • Knockout Phase: A single-elimination bracket where every match is do-or-die.

From each qualifier, the top eight teams move forward, that’s 16 per region heading to the Closed Qualifiers.

Image Credit: Embark Studios

In APAC, the process is run by Nexon and Tencent, so the exact format may differ slightly, but the goal’s the same: make the cut and keep your Grand Major dream alive.

Closed Qualifiers

This stage is where the action ramps up, and the broadcast coverage begins.

Hybrid Elimination Format:

  • Cashout Matches (3v3v3v3) – fast-paced, multi-team chaos.
  • Final Round (3v3) – classic THE FINALS head-to-head play.

Teams first battle it out in Cashout, with the top two moving to a Final Round. Win that, and you’re straight into the Grand Major. Lose, and you’ve still got a second shot in another Cashout run, but mess up twice, and you’re out.

Image Credit: Embark Studios

By the end:

  • NA sends 7 teams to Stockholm
  • EMEA sends 6 teams
  • APAC sends 3 teams

That’s our 16 Grand Major contenders.

The Grand Major – DreamHack Stockholm

28 November, Day One

All 16 qualified teams face off in hybrid elimination matches that mixes Cashout and Final Round Gameplay. By the end of the day, only eight teams survive.

image Credit: Embark Studios

29 November, Day Two

The eight become four, and this is where it gets spicy. These final four teams keep looping through Cashout matches and Best-of-Two Final Rounds. Each Final Round win earns a point. First to five points? They’re the Grand Major champions.

Image Credit: Embark Studios

More Than Just Matches

Embark Studios says the Grand Major won’t just be about the games. Expect:

  • In-game bundles and team-support items
  • Broadcasts with top-tier production
  • Opportunities to meet the devs at the event

Whether you’re grinding ranked, cheering from the crowd, or tuning in from home, you’re part of this story.

How to Register

Think you’ve got what it takes to make it to Stockholm? Sign-ups for the Open Qualifiers go live 14 August 2025. You can register your team directly through the official THE FINALS website here:

Register for the Grand Major 2025

Spaces are open across all three regions, so make sure you and your squad are ready before the qualifiers kick off at the end of August.

How to Watch

Streaming details for the Grand Major 2025 haven’t been revealed yet. But you can expect official broadcasts to land on THE FINALS’ YouTube channel and Twitch when the time comes.