The wild esports summer in Dallas — all you need to know for DreamHack Dallas 2025 and other events

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Starting this May, Dallas, Texas, becomes a beating heart of esports. The city is set to host a series of top-tier esports events that will have fans from around the world tuning in, centered around the local DreamHack Dallas festival. Whether you're into Counter-Strike, StarCraft II, or even GeoGeuessr, Dallas is the place to be for unforgettable matchups, top-tier esports, and live energy like no other.

Bookmark this guide for everything you need to know about the summer of Esports in Dallas 2025 — including must-see tournaments, key players to watch, venue info, and how to catch the action in person or online.

DreamHack Dallas 2025 is set to transform the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center into a vibrant hub of esports excitement May 23-25. As part of the renowned DreamHack festival series, this event offers a unique blend of competitive gaming, community engagement, and entertainment. On top of the various events organized and hosted by DreamHack Dallas, the festival also offers a sprawling exhibition floor, gaming set-ups, tabletop games, cosplaying activities, a creator hub, and much more. 

DreamHack Dallas 2025 x EWC: StarCraft II 

• Dates: May 31–June 2

• Prize pool: $50,000

StarCraft II is a real-time strategy game known for its high-speed tactical gameplay, where players control alien or human factions to build armies, gather resources, and outmaneuver opponents. It has been especially popular in South Korea but maintains a dedicated global community.

Through the DreamHack weekend, May 23-25, the DreamHack Dallas 2025 for StarCraft II takes place, acting as a qualifier for the game’s upcoming Esports World Cup tournament in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event starts with an open 32-player bracket, eventually leading to the final playoffs where players will battle it out for a $50,000 prize. The lucky top four finishers at the event also win a trip to Riyadh and a spot at the Esports World Cup 2024 this summer, which boasts a prize pool of $700,000.

DreamHack Dallas 2025 x EWC: Chess

• Dates: May 23-25

• Prize pool: $20,000

Chess, the classic game. Now fully embraced by the esports world thanks to platforms like Chess.com and major streaming events, competitive chess has evolved into a fast-paced, broadcast-friendly spectacle. Esports chess usually uses rapid or blitz formats, where each player has just minutes to make their moves, creating thrilling, high-pressure games that blend centuries-old strategy with digital-age excitement.

During DreamHack Dallas 2025, the festival will host a Chess Open featuring a $20,000 prize pool. The tournament is made up of Swiss Stage qualifiers, which lead to an eight-player double-elimination playoffs. All games are played 10+0 time control, with devices provided by DreamHack. 

  With a $1,500,000 prize pool, the Esports World Cup 2025 chess tournament is one of the largest chess events ever   

Slightly different to the DreamHack StarCraft II event on the same weekend, the top four finishers for this chess event advance not directly to the $1.5M Esports World Cup, but rather to the EWC Last Chance Qualifier. Details for the Last Chance Qualifier are still sparse, but it will take place this summer in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The qualifier is also open to all players who are willing to make the trek. Registration for the Chess Open at DreamHack Dallas 2025 is open online until May 16.

Brawl Stars Championship 2025: Brawl Cup

• Dates: May 23-25

• Prize pool: $50,000

Brawl Stars is a mobile-based, fast-paced team shooter where players control colorful characters with unique abilities in short, chaotic matches. Esports matches are typically 3v3 or solo modes, emphasizing quick reflexes, teamwork, and smart use of power-ups. It’s especially popular among younger audiences and features a vibrant, international competitive scene.

The Brawl Cup is the official mid-season event of the Brawl Stars Championship 2025, featuring the top 8 teams from the Americas, EMEA, and Asia. On top of the $50,000 up for offer during the May 23-25 weekend, the winner of the event qualifies directly for the Brawl Stars World Finals 2025, taking place this November and featuring a $1,000,000 prize pool.

The second and third-place finishers at the event will not advance directly to the finals but instead qualify for the Last Chance Qualifier to the event. The Brawl Stars Championship 2025: Brawl Cup not only features the world’s best, but the stakes are high, with a chance at a chunk of the million-dollar prize down the line. 

Halo Championship Series 2025: Dallas Open

• Dates: May 23-25

• Prize pool: $150,000

Halo esports centers around 4v4 team-based arena shooter, emphasizing map control, weapon timing, and coordinated team play. Rooted in console gaming history, Halo’s pro scene has evolved alongside the franchise, with legendary teams and players competing in events that blend old-school mechanics with modern esports polish. 

The Halo Championship Series 2025: Dallas Open is one of the top Halo events of the year, boasting a prize pool of $150,000 and featuring established, partnered organizations and two teams who battled it through the Open stage. After round-robin groups, the Championship Bracket begins with the best six teams. 

  Halo returns to Dallas this May with $150,000 on the line, image via HaloWaypoint  

On top of the cash offering, teams at the event can also earn HCS Points, which are essential for qualifying to the biggest international tournaments. The top four finishers at the tournament also qualify directly to the Halo Championship Series 2025: Salt Lake City Major, which takes place this August with $250,000 on the line.

GeoGuessr World Cup 2025 - Americas Major

• Dates: May 23-24

• Prize pool: $17,500

GeoGuessr is a unique esports experience where players are dropped into a random Google Street View location and must guess where they are on a map, quickly and accurately. High-level play relies on obscure geographic knowledge, visual clues, and rapid deduction. It’s a newer and more cerebral esport that appeals to fans of geography, puzzles, and competitive trivia.

The GeoGuessr World Cup 2025 - Americas Major is an exclusive six-player event, featuring the North and South American talent competing in the GeoGuessr World Cup today. The invited players compete not only for the $17,500 cash prize, but also World Ranking points, which can determine who qualifies for Regional Majors as well as the World Finals. 

Call of Duty League 2025: Stage 4 Major

• Dates: May 23–25

• Prize Pool: TBA

Call of Duty esports is a high-octane, first-person shooter spectacle featuring tight team play, quick engagements, and objective-based game modes like Search and Destroy or Hardpoint. The scene is known for its fast gameplay and major North American presence.

The Call of Duty League 2025: Stage 4 Major marks the final major of the 2025 CDL season. Teams will compete for a last grab at crucial CDL Points to determine their final standings. First place in the event will take home 100 CDL Points, as well as a significant chunk of the currently unannounced prize pool.

Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025

• Dates: May 19-25

• Prize Pool: $300,000

Counter-Strike is one of the most iconic and established esports in the world. Played in 5v5 format, teams alternate between attacking and defending bomb sites. With decades of history, massive international tournaments like Intel Extreme Masters series, and a deep ecosystem, CS2 is a top tactical FPS shooter.

  IEM Dallas 2025 is one of the premiere third-party Counter-Strike 2 tournaments of 2025, image via ESL  

Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2025 features teams invited both through the official Valve Ranking System and some teams who have qualified through various regional events. With $300,000 on the line, it's one of the biggest tournaments coming to Dallas this year, and it promises high action among the top teams. Featuring a short Group Stage from May 19-22, the DreamHack weekend will host the Playoffs stage of the tournament, made up of its top six teams. 

ESL Impact League Season 7 Finals

• Dates: May 22-25

• Prize Pool: $123,000

In tandem with IEM Dallas 2025, DreamHack Dallas will also host the women’s ESL Impact League Season 7 Finals. The series is dedicated to promoting diversity and inclusion in esports, and the LAN Finals mark one of the biggest women's Counter-Strike tournaments of the year. With Valve’s new ranking system heavily based on prize money earned, the winner of this event could slide themselves significantly up the rankings.

Esports NEXT 2025: Conference & Awards

• Dates: May 22-23

• Venue: Omni Dallas Hotel, Dallas, Texas

Hosted just around the corner from DreamHack Dallas, the Esports Trade Association is also hosting their flagship Esports Next 2025 conference from May 22-23. The conference is a convergence point for industry professionals, exploring all sides of the esports industry in a singular event. The B2B event will feature market analysis, forecasting, and shed light on some of the exciting, emerging innovations from the competitive gaming landscape. 

Dallas is poised to be the epicenter of esports this May, offering a diverse array of events that cater to fans of various games and competitive formats. Whether attending the Esports NEXT 2025 conference for work or craving some esports action, there’s something for everyone.