Intel Extreme Masters XIV Beijing: what’s known so far

What is Intel Extreme Masters?

The Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) is a series of international esports tournaments. Sponsored by Intel, these Electronic Sports League (ESL) sanctioned events are held in numerous countries around the world throughout the year. The collaborative series of tournaments throughout the year together form a season.

Owned by Turtle Entertainment, the league has existed for 13 seasons as of 2019. The season 10 tournament finals took place in Katowice, Poland. 

Image via Liquipedia.net

Intel Extreme Masters XIV – Beijing

The Tournament is the third part of the 14th Season of IEM. Its significance is more considerable than its predecessors due to the fact it leads to the IEM XIV World Championship. The Tournament will be featuring Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.

Venue:

This Tournament will be held in Haidian, Beijing, at the Beijing University Students’ Gymnasium.

Format:

• Group Stage: Nov. 7 – 8, 2019

• • Two double-elimination format (GSL) Groups
    
    • Each group has four teams
    • Seeded using the ESL CS:GO World Rankings
  • All matches are Best of Three
  • The top two teams from each group advance to the Playoffs
    

• Playoffs: Nov. 9 – 10, 2019

• • Single-Elimination bracket
  • The Semi-finals are Best of Three
  • The Grand Final is Best of Five

Prize pool:

The prize pool for this event is extremely generous and leaves many wide-eyed fans itching to see who will claim the prize. The prize pool is a sizable amount at $250,000, with half of it going to the top team. Distribution will be as follows:

• 1st   —  $125,000
• 2nd —  $ 50,000
• 3rd/4th —  $ 25,000
• 5th/6th —  $ 8,500
• 7th/8th — $ 4,000

Qualified Teams & Qualifiers:

There will be a total of eight teams that will be competing for securing the money bags. However, only five teams have got invitations based on their previous performances, and the others have to qualify through excruciating and tedious rounds to make it to the stage.

The Chinese & Asian Qualifiers are currently underway and the results will come front in just a few days; while the European Qualifiers were won by Mousesports.  The Qualifiers follow the bracket System and all matches are Best of Three except Grand final which is Best of Five. The five teams that qualified for the invite were:

1. Team Liquid
2. Astralis
3. Team Vitality
4. NRG Esports
5. Faze Clan

The Teams that put their blood and sweat to qualify are:

1. Mousesports (European Qualifier)
2. TBD (Chinese Qualifier)
3. TBD (Asian Qualifier)

Defending Champions:

Astralis returns to this year’s qualifiers as defending champions after taking the Season 13 World Championship. Their rise to the top of Season 13 has been overshadowed as Team Liquid leads the pack going into the tournament in Beijing.

As Team Liquid zeroes in on the competition while in Beijing, many wonder what Liquid will bring to the table here, and how Astralis will respond. One thing is for sure: fans and teams alike are in for an exciting tournament.

Written by Aashir Ahmed