Intel Extreme Masters is going down under! On May 6-7, IEM will host its first ever event on the Australian continent, with eight CS:GO teams battling it out for AUD260,000 at the Qudos Bank Arena. One of these competing teams will come from the Australia & New Zealand Qualifier and will have the opportunity to represent its region in front of a home crowd. Here’s the breakdown.
General qualifier info
The ANZ qualifier will consists of two stages: open qualifier and closed qualifier. The open qualifier will take place online on March 19 and 26 with teams fighting for two slots in the closed qualifier. The closed qualifier will take place online on April 1, 2 and 9 where eight teams, six invited and two from the open qualifier, will conclude the battle for the coveted slot at IEM Sydney.
Register for the open qualifier here!
Registration closes on Saturday, March 18th, at 20:00 AEDT (GMT+11)
Teams invited to the closed qualifier are as follows:
Tainted Minds
Chiefs.ESC
Team Immunity
Dark Sided
Avant Garde
Legacy Esports
Format
The open qualifier matches will be double elimination best of one. The closed qualifier matches will be double elimination best of three.
Rules
Find the complete ANZ qualifier rulebook here
Highlighted rules:
VAC banned players will not be permitted to compete
2 teams advance from the open qualifier
1 team advances to IEM Sydney 2017
Schedule
Open qualifier
Sunday, March 19th (all times in AEDT GMT+11)
12:00 – Upper Bracket Round 1
13:00 – Upper Bracket Round 2, Lower Bracket Round 1a
14:00 – Upper Bracket Round 3, Lower Bracket Round 1b
15:00 – Upper Bracket Round 4, Lower Bracket Round 2a
16:00 – Upper Bracket Round 5, Lower Bracket Round 2b
17:00 – Upper Bracket Final, Lower Bracket Round 3a
Sunday, March 26th (all times in AEDT GMT+11)
12:00 – Lower Bracket Round 3b
13:00 – Lower Bracket Round 4a
14:00 – Lower Bracket Round 4b
15:00 – Lower Bracket Round 5a
16:00 – Lower Bracket Final
Closed qualifier
Saturday, April 1st (all times in AEDT GMT+11)
12:00 – Upper Bracket Round 1
15:00 – Upper Bracket Round 2, Lower Bracket Round 1a
18:00 – Upper Bracket Round Final, Lower Bracket Round 1b
Sunday, April 2nd (all times in AEDT GMT+11)
12:00 – Lower Bracket Round 2a
15:00 – Lower Bracket Final
Sunday, April 9th (all times in AEDT GMT+11)
12:00 – Grand Final
15:00 – Grand Final (second series if needed)
Good luck and see you in Sydney!