Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2024 begins Wednesday with 24 teams competing for a share of the $1 million prize pool.
It’s the first $1 million prize pool in Europe since Counter-Strike 2 launched in September. That has drawn top teams from around the world including G2 Esports, MOUZ, FaZe Clan and Team Vitality, along with Polish teams Rebels Gaming and ENCE.
The final three days of the competition will feature the remaining six teams competing on stage at the Spodek Arena, with the grand final scheduled for Feb. 11. The winning team will earn a spot in IEM Cologne.
The first ESL Pro Tour Championship event of the year, IEM Katowice also presents opportunities for teams to earn points toward the Intel Grand Slam V.
SCHEDULE/FORMAT
Play-In Stage (Jan. 31-Feb. 2):
–16 teams will compete in a double-elimination bracket.
–Opening matches are best-of-one.
–All following matches are best-of-three.
–The top eight teams will advance to the Group Stage where they will join eight directly invited teams.
Group Stage (Feb. 3-6):
–Two groups of eight teams will compete in separate double-elimination brackets.
–All matches are best-of-three.
–The top three teams from each group will advance to the Playoffs.
–Group Stage winners advance to the semifinals.
–The Group Stage runners-up advance to the quarterfinals as the High Seeds.
–The Group Stage third-place teams advance to the quarterfinals as the Low Seeds.
Playoffs (Feb. 9-11):
–The top six teams will compete in a single-elimination bracket.
–The quarterfinals and semifinals will be best-of-three.
–The Grand Final will be a best-of-five.
TEAMS ATTENDING
Play-In Stage:
–The Mongolz (qualified via ESL World Ranking (WR): AS)
–Cloud9 (qualified via ESL WR: EU)
–HEROIC (qualified via ESL WR: EU)
–Virtus.pro (qualified via ESL WR: EU)
–M80 (qualified via ESL WR: NA)
–Rooster (qualified via ESL WR: OCE)
–FURIA Esports (qualified via ESL WR: SA)
–Apeks (qualified via ESL WR)
–Astralis (qualified via ESL WR)
–BIG (qualified via ESL WR)
–BB (qualified via ESL WR)
–ENCE (qualified via ESL WR)
–Eternal Fire (qualified via ESL WR)
–GamerLegion (qualified via ESL WR)
–Team Spirit (qualified via ESL WR)
–Rebels Gaming (qualified via ESL National Championship PL)
Group Stage:
–G2 Esports (qualified via IEM Cologne 2023)
–MOUZ (qualified via ESL Pro League Season 18)
–FaZe Clan (qualified via IEM Sydney 2023)
–Complexity (qualified via ESL WR)
–Natus Vincere (qualified via ESL WR)
–Monte (qualified via ESL WR)
–Team Falcons (qualified via ESL WR)
–Team Vitality (qualified via ESL WR)
PRIZE POOL
1st: $400,000 (Qualifies to IEM Cologne 2024, BLAST Premier World Final)
2nd: $180,000
3rd-4th: $80,000
5-6th: $40,000
7-8th: $24,000
9-12th: $16,000
13-16th: $10,000
17-20th: $4,500
21st-24th: $2,500
The event will be broadcast live on the ESL Counter-Strike Twice and YouTube channels, with all matches also available on-demand on YouTube.
IEM Katowice will also include a $500,000 standalone Starcraft II competition, with $150,000 going to the winners. The 24-team event will again feature the IEM Expo from Feb. 8-11.
–Field Level Media