IEM Katowice 2023: Everything you need to know

IEM Katowice 2023 is the first 1 million dollars CS:GO tournament of the year and is set to begin on February 1 with the play-in stage.

IEM Katowice, one of the biggest tournaments in esports, returns to Katowice, Poland for the 2023 edition with 24 teams fighting for the much coveted trophy and a share of the $1,000,000 prize pool. The tournament will open the gates for the live audience in the playoffs stage which will be played February 10-12 in the legendary Spodek Arena. Until then, the play-in is ready to start on the first day of February with 16 teams looking to secure one of the 8 slots into the group stage.

IEM Katowice 2023 format

Play-in, February 1 - 3

16 teams
Double elimination bracket
Opening matches are BO1, all following matches are BO3
The top eight teams advanced to the Group Stage

Play-in teams

The play-in and the group stages will feature matches taking place at the same time and will all be broadcast on ESL’s main and secondary Twitch channels

Group Stage, February 4-7

16 teams, 8 directly qualified joined by 8 from the play-in
Two double-elimination format (GSL) Groups
All matches are Bo3
The top three teams from each group advance to the Playoffs
Group stage winners advance to the Semifinals
Group stage runners-up advance to the Quarterfinals as the High Seeds
Group stage 3rd place teams advance to the Quarterfinals as the Low Seeds

Directly qualified teams

Playoffs, February 10-12

Single-Elimination bracket
Quarterfinals and Semifinals are Bo3
Grand Final is Bo5

IEM Katowice 2023 action will move in the already sold out Spodek Arena beginning on February 10 with the top 4 teams fighting for the title. The champions will take home $400,000 and will secure a direct invite to IEM Cologne 2023.