Intel Extreme Masters returns to Katowice for its 2018 World Championship!

IEM

We are thrilled to announce that on March 2-4 2018, the city of Katowice, Poland, will once again be home to Intel Extreme Masters World Championship and the IEM Expo!

The 2018 Grand Finals of IEM Katowice, the world’s most prestigious and longest standing pro gaming circuit, will be the biggest and the most lucrative IEM event in its history. The IEM World Championship Katowice will once again crown the World Champions across Counter-Strike: Global Offensive and StarCraft II, with competitions spanning six days and the playoffs for both titles taking place March 2-4, 2018.

CS:GO

The world’s best 16 CS:GO teams will compete on the big stage in the Spodek Arena for the biggest prize pool in tournament history, where US$500,000 is up for grabs. IEM Katowice will be the seventh event in the Intel® Grand Slam series, which will award a US$1,000,000 bonus prize to the first CS:GO team that wins four out of the last ten US$200,000 events held between DreamHack and ESL. FazeClan, G2 and SK Gaming are all in contention to claim the Intel Grand Slam, with each team already securing one Grand Slam point this season.

StarCraft II

Top contenders in the StarCraft II competition will battle it out for a US$250,000 prize pool in the largest and one of the most renowned tournaments for the game outside of the StarCraft II World Championship Series. The winner of the tournament will also earn a direct seed to the WCS Global Finals.

IEM Expo

The fourth edition of IEM Expo will welcome the industry’s top brands, technology companies, and influencers and exhibit three separate esports stages hosting individual esports competitions in games not featured on the main stage. The event will also turn a spotlight on the Intel Experience Zone, demonstrating the newest tech and gaming technologies, allowing attendees to experience the latest games and hardware with a VR showcase. The IEM Expo will also be open to business trade visitors, providing a business center for esports industry executives and leaders.

See you in Katowice!

Tickets to Intel Extreme Masters Katowice World Championship and the IEM Expo will be available from November on Ticketmaster, granting attendees early entry as well other premium perks. General admission to both events, as well as IEM Expo will be free of charge, just like in previous years.

More information about additional esports competitions, attendee experiences and event schedules will be released in the coming weeks. Be sure to follow IEM on Twitter and Facebook for all updates.