IEM
Intel® Extreme Masters once again returns to Katowice, Poland, where thousands of passionate fans will fill the Spodek arena on March 2-4 to celebrate esports and conclude season 12 of the longest-running global pro gaming circuit in the world. IEM Katowice will host a CS:GO tournament consisting of the preliminary phase from February 27 to March 1 and the playoffs on March 2-4. 16 of the world’s best teams will compete for US$500,00 and a win counting towards the Intel Grand Slam.
A total of 8 out of the 16 participating teams will be determined through closed qualifiers, all of which will be preceded by open qualifiers with unlimited slots. Here’s how it’s going to go.
IEM World Championship Slot Distribution:
- 8 invitations
- 4 slots from the European qualifier
- 2 slots from the North American qualifier
- 1 slot from the Asian qualifier
- 1 slot from the Oceania qualifier
Oceania Qualifier – 1 team to Katowice
Two open qualifiers:
- unlimited slots
- single elimination best-of-one bracket with the final match being a best-of-three
- winner of each goes to closed qualifier
One closed qualifier
- 6 slots (4 invited, 2 from open qualifier)
- double elimination best-of-three bracket with the final match being a best-of-five (1:0 advantage for the team coming from upper bracket)
Schedule
- Open Qualifier #1 – 6th-7th of January
- Open Qualifier #2 – 17th-18th of January
- Closed Qualifier – 20th-25th of January
Asian Qualifier – 1 team to Katowice
Two open qualifiers:
- unlimited slots
- single elimination best-of-one bracket with the final match being a best-of-three
- winner of each goes to closed qualifier
One closed qualifier
- 6 slots (4 invited, 2 from open qualifier)
- double elimination best-of-three bracket with the final match being a best-of-five (1:0 advantage for the team coming from upper bracket)
Schedule
- Open Qualifier #1 – 7th-8th of January
- Open Qualifier #2 – 16th-17th of January
- Closed Qualifier – 19th-22nd of January
North American Qualifier – 2 teams to Katowice
Two open qualifiers:
- unlimited slots
- single elimination best-of-one bracket with the final match being a best-of-three
- winner of each goes to closed qualifier
One closed qualifier
- 8 slots (6 invited, 2 from open qualifier)
- single elimination best-of-three bracket
Schedule
- Open Qualifier #1 – 20th-21st of January
- Open Qualifier #2 – 25th-26th of January
- Closed Qualifier – 30th of January
European Qualifier – 4 teams to Katowice
Two open qualifiers:
- unlimited slots
- single elimination best-of-one bracket with decider matches being best-of-three
- two finalists of each go to closed qualifier
One closed qualifier
- 12 slots (8 invited, 4 from open qualifier)
- double elimination best-of-three bracket
Schedule
- Open Qualifier #1 – 23rd-24th of January
- Open Qualifier #2 – 31st of January – 1st of February
- Closed Qualifier – 3rd-4th of February
Sign up links for the open qualifiers, as well as the teams invited to the closed qualifiers will be released in the coming weeks, so make sure to follow IEM on Twitter and Facebook to not miss any updates.