Everything You Need to Know Ahead of Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2024

• Intel Extreme Masters returns to Katowice as 24 of the world’s best Counter-Strike 2 teams battle it out from January 31 to February 11 for a share of the $1,000,000 prize pool, a spot in IEM Cologne later this year and a step forward in the race to secure Intel Grand Slam V
• During the final three days, the top six teams will compete in front of a live crowd at the iconic Spodek Arena
• Amongst others, local heroes Rebels Gaming and ENCE will attend to fight for the crowns
• StarCraft II also returns to IEM Katowice with 24 of the world’s best players including local hero Piotr ‘Spirit’ Walukiewicz, competing for their share of a $500,000 prize pool live in the MCK Auditorium from February 8 to 11

Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) returns to Katowice, Poland, for the twelfth time from January 31 to February 11, 2024. The Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) tournament, of which the final three days will take place live in the iconic Spodek Arena, will be the first of its scale to take place in Poland as well as the first ESL Pro Tour Championship event of the year.

Furthermore, during the last four days of IEM Katowice 2024, StarCraft II will make its return to the Auditorium of the International Congress Center (MCK). Both competitions will prompt fierce battles between teams and players for a spot in the legendary Hall of Heroes.

Here is all you need to know about IEM Katowice 2024

Counter-Strike 2

IEM Katowice 2024 will see the 24 best Counter-Strike teams compete for a total prize pool of $1,000,000, a win in the race to secure Intel Grand Slam V and a spot at IEM Cologne 2024. Commencing on January 31, contenders from around the globe will face off in Katowice in an attempt to reach the playoffs. There the six best teams will compete live in front of a packed-out audience at the legendary Spodek Arena from February 9 to 11, 2024.

Schedule and Format

Play-In Stage (January 31 to February 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 (February 3 to 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 runner-ups advance to the quarterfinals as the high seeds
  • The group stage third-place teams advance to the quarterfinals as the low seeds

Playoffs (February 9 to 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 Money (USD)

Broadcast Talent

• Desk
  • Freya ‘Freya’ Spiers
  • Tres ‘stunna’ Saranthus
  • Mike ‘DarfMike’ Winnick
  • Sam ‘TechGirl’ Wright

• Analysts
  • Mathieu ‘Maniac’ Quiquerez
  • Janko ‘YNk’ Paunovic
  • Joshua ‘steel’ Nissan
  • Jacob ‘Pimp’ Winneche
  • Alex ‘Mauisnake’ Ellenberg
  • Lucas ‘Bubzkji’ Andersen

• Arena
  • Oliver James Borg ‘OJ Borg’ D’Anastasi
  • Michał ‘wasiu’ Wasik
  • Eefje ‘Sjokz’ Depoortere
  • James ‘BanKs’ Banks

• Casters
  • Alex ‘Machine’ Richardson
  • Chad ‘SPUNJ’ Burchill
  • Adam ‘Dinko’ Hawthorne
  • Jason ‘moses’ O’Toole
  • Harry ‘JustHarry’ Russell
  • Hugo ‘Hugo’ Byron
  • Conner ‘Scrawny’ Girvan
  • Mohan ‘launders’ Govindasamy

Where to Watch

The live broadcast will be available on the ESL Counter-Strike Twitch and YouTube channels for fans around the world to watch. For those unable to tune in live, all matches will also be available to watch on-demand for free via YouTube.

For more information about the IEM Katowice 2024 Counter-Strike competition and the latest updates on the event, please visit the official website and follow ESL Counter-Strike on X, Facebook and Instagram.

StarCraft II

The last four days of IEM Katowice 2024 will see a standalone StarCraft II tournament take place where 24 of the world’s best players will be competing for a $500,000 prize pool in front of a live crowd. Held at the Auditorium of the International Congress Center (MCK) just next to the Spodek Arena in Katowice, the tournament will run from February 8 to 11.

Schedule and Format

Group Stage (February 8 to 10):

• Four groups of six players will compete in ’round robin’ formats
  • All matches are best-of-three

• The top three players from each group will advance to the playoffs
  • The winner of each group will advance to the playoffs quarterfinals
  • The second and third placed players of each group will advance to the playoffs round of twelve

Playoffs (February 10 to 11):

• Twelve players will compete in a single-elimination bracket
  • The round of twelve, quarterfinals and semifinals will be best-of-five
  • The Grand Final will be best-of-seven

Players Attending

Prize Money (USD)

*$500 per win in the group stage

Broadcast Talent

• Desk
  • James ‘Kaelaris’ Carro

• Stage Host
  • Rachel ‘Seltzer’ Quirico

• Casters and Analysts Stream A
  • Benjamin ‘DeMu’ Baker
  • Jared ‘PiG’ Krensel
  • Jessica ‘ZombieGrub’ Chernega
  • Jonathon ‘Wardi’ Ward
  • Kevin ‘RotterdaM’ van der Kooi
  • Simon ‘Lowko’ Heijnen

• Casters and Analysts Stream B
  • Dave ‘Steadfast’ Loose
  • Philip ‘BeoMulf’ Mulford

• Casters and Analysts Stream C
  • Julian ‘Lambo’ Brosig
  • Kevin ‘Harstem’ Koning

Where to Watch

The live broadcast will be available on the ESL StarCraft II Twitch channel and ESL YouTube channel for fans around the world to watch. For those unable to tune in live, all matches will also be available to watch on-demand for free via YouTube.

For more information about the IEM Katowice 2024 StarCraft II competition and the latest updates on the event, please visit the official website and follow ESL StarCraft II on X and Facebook.

IEM Expo

Held in conjunction with IEM Katowice 2024, the IEM Expo takes place on February 9 to 11 and is free to enter. Fans attending the event in person will have the opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of on-site activities including trying out the latest gaming technology and participating in sponsor activations for a chance to win prizes. There will also be limited space for attendees to join the audiences for the Counter-Strike 2 and StarCraft II live tournaments on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Stay tuned as additional details and activities will be revealed.

Assets for IEM Katowice 2024 can be found in the press kit, which is available here.