A group of 24 teams is set to take part in the $1 million Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2022 tournament early next year.
In all, 16 teams will take part in the play-in stage, and eight teams already have qualified for the group stage at the tournament, scheduled for Feb. 15-27. The winner will receive $400,000 and 1,800 ESL Pro Tour circuit points.
The eight group-stage teams for the Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament are Natus Vincere, Gambit Esports, G2 Esports, Team Vitality, Heroic, Virtus.pro, FURIA Esports and Team Liquid.
The 16 play-in teams to participate are Ninjas in Pyjamas, Astralis, FaZe Clan, GODSENT, Extra Salt, MIBR, Renegades, TYLOO, BIG, Entropiq, OG, Copenhagen Flames, Fnatic, ENCE, MOUZ and Wisla Krakow.
Wisla Krakow earned its way into the tournament after winning Poland’s national championship. The other teams got their invitations based on circuit points.
The first two days of the event will be best-of-one double-elimination play. Winners move on to the group stage from Feb. 17-20, with a double-elimination format and best-of-three matches. Single-elimination playoffs will be contested Feb. 25-27.
–Field Level Media