IEM Katowice 2024: Format, Schedule, Teams, and More

IEM Katowice proudly stands as one of the most prestigious and iconic tournaments in Counter-Strike, a beacon of competitive gaming that has graced the Hall of Heroes since 2014.

With three CS:GO Majors under its belt, this annual extravaganza has become a pilgrimage for thousands of passionate fans worldwide.

The Spodek arena's extraordinary ambiance, the thunderous roar of the crowd, and the enduring legacy created over the years make IEM Katowice more than just a tournament. It's a force that drives innovation, leaving an ineffable mark on the eSports landscape and showcasing the beauty of competitive gaming to the entire world.

Format:

The tournament kicks off with the Play-In stage, featuring a double-elimination bracket where opening matches are Bo1, progressing to  Bo3 encounters from the second match onwards.

The top eight teams from the Play-In stage then advance to the Group Stage, consisting of two double-elimination GSL groups, each with eight teams.

Group matches are all Bo3, and the top three teams from each group proceed to the Playoffs.

The Quarterfinals and Semifinals are Bo3, with the Grand Final escalating to a thrilling Bo5 showdown.

Schedule:

The Play-ins stage will start from January 31st, 2024 and run till February 2nd, 2024. While the Group Stage will start from February 3rd, 2024 and will run till February 7th, 2024.

IEM Katowice 2024 Play-in stage Opening Schedule
Image Source: ESL / @IEM on X (formerly Twitter)

The Play-offs wil start on February 9th, and will take place in the coveted Spodek Arena. For fans attending the event in person, the following schedule will be followed throughout the weekend:

Friday, 09.02.2024:

12:00 - Doors open Spodek

14:30 - Access to Spodek seats

16:00 - Opening Ceremony

16:15 - Quarterfinal #1 (BO3)

19:30 - Quarterfinal #2 (BO3)

22:00 - Outdoor area closes

Saturday, 10.02.2024:

12:00 - Doors open Spodek

14:30 - Access to Spodek seats

16:00 - Opening Ceremony

16:15 - Semifinal #1 (BO3)

19:30 - Semifinal #2 (BO3)

22:00 Outdoor area closes

Sunday, 11.02.2024:

12:00 - Doors open Spodek

15:00 - Access to Spodek seats

16:50 - Opening Ceremony

17:00 - Grand Final (BO5)

22:00 - Outdoor area closes

All times are in local time for Katowice.(GMT+1)

Participating Teams:.

Directly Qualified Teams:

Eight teams have made it directly to the group stages. Three teams secured their invite courtesy of their results in previous tournaments such as IEM Cologne 2023, ESL Pro League Season 18 and IEM Sydney 2023. While the other teams have been invited based on their ESL World Rankings.

• G2 (IEM Cologne 2023)
• MOUZ (ESL Pro League Season 18)
• Faze Clan (IEM Sydney 2023)
• Vitality
• Complexity
• Natus Vincere
• Monte
• Falcons

Play-In Teams:

Sixteen teams have qualified to the Play-in stage based on their ESL World Ranking (excluding Rebels Gaming, who qualified via the ESL Mistrzostwa Polski Autumn 2023).

• Rebels Gaming
• Cloud9
• Virtus.pro
• Heroic
• Furia
• M80
• Rooster
• The MongolZ
• GamerLegion
• BIG
• Apeks
• Astralis
• Eternal Fire
• BetBoom
• ENCE
• Team Spirit

Prize Pool Information:

Sporting a total prize pool of $1,000,000 USD, the money will be split among the participating teams as follows:

• 1st: $400,000
• 2nd: $180,000
• 3rd-4th: $80,000
• 5th-6th: $40,000
• 7th-8th: $24,000
• 9th-12th: $16,000
• 13th-16th: $10,000
• 17th-20th: $4,500
• 21st-24th: $2,500

Where to watch?:

ESL will broadcast IEM Katowice 2024 live on Twitch and YouTube. The broadcasting talent for primary English stream is as follows.

The available Streams for IEM Katowice 2024 are as follows:

Twitch: Stream A | Stream B

YouTube: Stream A | Steam B

ESL: Stream A | Steam B

As the excitement builds, IEM Katowice 2024 promises to be a spectacle of skill, strategy, and pure gaming passion. Mark your calendars for this extraordinary event that continues to define the landscape of competitive gaming.

Follow along with the action on the Strafe app and on Strafe.com.

Featured Image Source: ESL

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