Picture Credit: Twitter

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.

1

FaZe Clan

IEM Cologne 2022

Group Stage

2

Team Vitality

EPL Season 16

Group Stage

3

Outsiders

IEM Rio Major 2022

Group Stage

4

Heroic

ESL World Ranking

Group Stage

5

Team Liquid

ESL World Ranking

Group Stage

6

NAVI

ESL World Ranking

Group Stage

7

G2 Esports

ESL World Ranking

Group Stage

8

MOUZ

ESL World Ranking

Group Stage

9

NIP

ESL World Ranking EU

Play-In Stage

10

Team SPirit

ESL World Ranking EU

Play-In Stage

11

Cloud9

ESL World Ranking EU

Play-In Stage

12

Complexity Gaming

ESL World Ranking NA

Play-In Stage

13

FURIA Esports

ESL World Ranking NA

Play-In Stage

14

MIBR

ESL World Ranking SA

Play-In Stage

15

IHC Esports

ESL World Ranking AS

Play-In Stage

16

Grayhound Gaming

ESL World Ranking OCE

Play-In Stage

17

OG

ESL World Ranking

Play-In Stage

18

ENCE

ESL World Ranking

Play-In Stage

19

BIG

ESL World Ranking

Play-In Stage

20

Sprout

ESL World Ranking

Play-In Stage

21

paiN Gaming

ESL World Ranking

Play-In Stage

22

Evil Geniuses

ESL World Ranking

Play-In Stage

23

Fnatic

Elisa Masters Espoo 2022

Play-In Stage

24

Permitta Esports

Mistrzostwa Polski

Play-In Stage

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.