Picture Credit: Twitter
ESL, the biggest esports organizer in CS-GO is all set to kick off its first top-tier tournament of the 2023 circuit IEM Katowice 2023. The event commenced from February 1, with a massive total prize pool of $1,000,000 USD (INR 8,16,32,500). The tournament has been split into three stages – Play-In, Group Stage and Playoffs – with the first two taking place in an offline studio format while the latter will take place in front of a live audience at the iconic Spodek Arena in Katowice, Poland.
Here is the complete information for the IEM Katowice 2023.
The first proper top-tier CS:GO tournament of the 2023 competitive season is about to start next week onwards with some of the best teams from around the world stepping forward to deliver their best.
Format:
A total of 24 participants will be competing in this tournament, a mix of qualified and invited teams. Out of these, 16 teams will start with the Play-In Stage, while eight teams will directly begin from the Group Stage. All the opening matches will follow a best-of-one-series. The top eight teams will advance to the Group Stage.
Group Stage:
The eight qualified teams along with the eight directly qualified teams will once again comprise of a 16-team bracket. These teams will be divided into two groups of eight teams each. The group will follow a double-elimination bracket. Every match in this stage will feature a best-of-three series. The top three teams from each group will qualify to the Playoffs.
The winners from each group will directly qualify for the semifinals while the second and third-placed teams will qualify for the quarterfinals.
Invited and qualified teams:
A total of 24 invited and qualified teams will be competing in the IEM Katowice 2023. Out of these, eight teams have directly qualified for the Group Stage while the remaining 16 teams will start out from the Play-In Stage.
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1
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FaZe Clan
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IEM Cologne 2022
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Group Stage
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2
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Team Vitality
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EPL Season 16
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Group Stage
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3
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Outsiders
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IEM Rio Major 2022
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Group Stage
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4
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Heroic
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ESL World Ranking
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Group Stage
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5
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Team Liquid
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ESL World Ranking
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Group Stage
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6
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NAVI
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ESL World Ranking
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Group Stage
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7
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G2 Esports
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ESL World Ranking
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Group Stage
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8
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MOUZ
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ESL World Ranking
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Group Stage
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9
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NIP
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ESL World Ranking EU
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Play-In Stage
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10
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Team SPirit
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ESL World Ranking EU
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Play-In Stage
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11
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Cloud9
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ESL World Ranking EU
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Play-In Stage
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12
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Complexity Gaming
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ESL World Ranking NA
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Play-In Stage
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13
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FURIA Esports
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ESL World Ranking NA
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Play-In Stage
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14
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MIBR
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ESL World Ranking SA
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Play-In Stage
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15
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IHC Esports
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ESL World Ranking AS
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Play-In Stage
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16
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Grayhound Gaming
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ESL World Ranking OCE
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Play-In Stage
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17
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OG
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ESL World Ranking
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Play-In Stage
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18
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ENCE
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ESL World Ranking
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Play-In Stage
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19
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BIG
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ESL World Ranking
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Play-In Stage
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20
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Sprout
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ESL World Ranking
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Play-In Stage
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21
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paiN Gaming
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ESL World Ranking
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Play-In Stage
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22
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Evil Geniuses
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ESL World Ranking
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Play-In Stage
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23
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Fnatic
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Elisa Masters Espoo 2022
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Play-In Stage
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24
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Permitta Esports
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Mistrzostwa Polski
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Play-In Stage
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Results and Schedule:
The tournament has been divided into three distinct stages, Play-In, Group Stage, Playoffs, all of them taking place between February 1-12. Out of the 24 teams, only 16 will start from the Play-In Stage while the remaining eight will directly start from the Group Stage.
Prize Pool
The total prize pool of $1,000,000 USD will be divided between all the 24 participating teams on the basis of their overall placement.
Live stream details:
The entire tournament will be broadcast live across YouTube and Twitch in multiple languages like English and French. Furthermore, multiple streams will be running simultaneously during the early stages of the tournament.