Vitality are just one win away from claiming the Intel Grand Slam title and the $1 million prize. With three victories already secured, a triumph at IEM Melbourne 2025 would make them the fifth team in history to achieve this feat. What adds extra weight to their potential victory is that they could become the last team to win the Grand Slam under Intel’s name. In March 2025, ESL announced that Intel would no longer sponsor the award, marking the end of their long-standing partnership. A win in Melbourne would not only seal Vitality’s place in history, but also close a significant chapter in CS esports.
The Fight for the Intel Grand Slam
It’s hard to imagine a CS team that wouldn’t dream of adding the Intel Grand Slam trophy to its collection. This prestigious award, worth $1,000,000, goes to the first team to win four ESL-organized S-Tier events within a span of ten consecutive tournaments. The prize is paid directly to the players.
Currently, seven teams are still in contention for the Intel Grand Slam Season 5, with Team Vitality being the closest to claiming the title. Out of those seven, five are competing at IEM Melbourne 2025: Vitality, NAVI, FaZe, Team Falcons, and MOUZ.
Previous Intel Grand Slam Winners
The first team to claim the title was Astralis. They began their journey with a win at DreamHack Masters Marseille 2018, defeating NAVI in the final. Although they lost the next tournament, IEM Sydney 2018, to FaZe, they bounced back with victories at IEM Chicago and ESL Pro League Season 8 Finals, defeating Team Liquid in both finals and becoming the first-ever Intel Grand Slam champions in 2018.
The second team to win the Grand Slam was Team Liquid, who had previously lost to Astralis twice. They set an unbroken record by winning four tournaments in just 63 days:
- IEM Sydney 2019
- DreamHack Masters Dallas 2019
- ESL Pro League Season 9 Finals
- ESL One Cologne 2019
NAVI were the third to complete the Grand Slam, though their journey was significantly longer. They started with a victory at IEM Katowice 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of six major events. Their run resumed in 2021 with wins at DreamHack Masters Spring 2021, IEM Cologne 2021, and ESL Pro League Season 14, eventually securing the Grand Slam.
FaZe Clan took just over a year to earn their Grand Slam. They kicked things off with wins at IEM Katowice 2022 and ESL Pro League Season 15, then added IEM Cologne 2022 to their count. Despite three consecutive failures — at ESL Pro League Season 16, IEM Rio Major 2022, and IEM Katowice 2023 — they finally clinched the title in March 2023 by defeating Cloud9 in the final.
READ MORE: IEM Melbourne 2025 Group Stage Begins: Upsets and Expected Victories
Vitality’s Path to the Intel Grand Slam
The French team has been in sensational form. Since the start of 2025, Vitality have won IEM Katowice 2025 and BLAST Open Spring 2025, and currently hold the No. 1 spot in the HLTV world rankings.
Despite setbacks in ESL Pro League Season 19 and IEM Dallas 2024, where they lost to MOUZ and G2 respectively in the finals, their victory at IEM Cologne 2024 marked the beginning of their Grand Slam campaign. In 2025, they added two more trophies — IEM Katowice 2025 and ESL Pro League Season 21 — and are now just one step away from the million-dollar prize.
All eyes in the CS community are on IEM Melbourne 2025. If Vitality can maintain their powerful form, they could become the fifth team in history to win the Intel Grand Slam. Given their current level and preparation, they’re the clear favorites to do so.
The Last Intel Grand Slam?
In March 2025, ESL confirmed that Intel is no longer the sponsor of the Grand Slam. Starting with ESL Pro League Season 21, the series has been officially rebranded to the ESL Grand Slam, though Intel remains a partner for the Intel Extreme Masters circuit.
Intel’s departure was likely driven by financial challenges, including a drop in share value, which led the company to reduce its esports budget. Additionally, increased competition among CS2 tournament organizers may have influenced their decision.
Despite the change in sponsorship, ESL has assured that the ESL Grand Slam will continue at least through 2026, dispelling rumors that the series would end after Season 5.
