Intel Extreme Masters: Coming Up Down Under

Get ready for the fire fight of the year. Beaming from Melbourne, Australia, to a screen near you this April 25 – 27, the Intel® Extreme Masters will see elite Counter Strike 2 players from around the world duke it out for a share of the $1,000,000 prize pot. IEM returns to Australia as part of the ESL Pro Tour after a 2023 Sydney stopover and a 2024 hiatus, and this time comes to Melbourne. With tickets to the physical tournament completely sold out, all the action will be streamed live online — so fans from around the globe can tune in, root for their favorite teams, and see what it takes to be the best of the best.

Before bringing the spectacle to Melbourne’s iconic Rod Laver Arena on the 25th, 16 of the world’s finest CS2 teams will fight their way through the group stage. Starting on April 21st, two double elimination groups of eight teams will compete for the Melbourne live playoffs, with the top three teams from each group making it through. Once in Melbourne, the six teams head into sudden death rounds, with quarter finals, semi finals, and the grand final, to crown the unforgettable third day of CS2 thrills.

Among the teams heading down under are big names such as US team FaZe Clan, MOUZ from Germany, Saudi Arabia’s Falcons, and The MongolZ from Mongolia — not forgetting France’s Vitality, who have dominated in nearly every appearance so far this year. But if one thing is certain, it’s that there will be shocks and surprises in store. As the group stage unfolds, fans will get a clearer picture of who’s on form, and perhaps a chance to back an underdog against the behemoths of the scene. It’s all to play for.

The full list of teams and their groups breaks down as follows:

In a burst of last-minute drama following one team’s unexpected withdrawal, US team Complexity have joined the lineup for Melbourne. With such an incredible opportunity landing at their feet, can Complexity pull something special out of the bag? We’ll be watching.

As a much-feted sideshow to the main action, there are rumors that the legendary Caches might stage a return, with Australia facing off against England in a Counter Strike spin on the infamous Ashes cricket series that began in 1882. The Poms and the Aussies never miss a chance to take a swipe at each other.

Established by Intel and ESL, and with a history dating back to 2006, Intel Extreme Masters is the longest-running global esports series in the world. Wherever you’re watching from, get ready with a cold drink and your loudest shouting voice on April 25th as one of the greatest CS2 tournaments the planet has ever seen takes center stage. Melbourne is ready, the teams are ready — are you?

For all the latest news, and to tune in to the official broadcast with FACEIT Watch on April 25 – 27, head to the official IEM Melbourne website. If you’re lucky enough to have a ticket for the live show in Melbourne, be sure to check out the Intel booth where Acer is showcasing some of its hottest new hardware.

As a special bonus to celebrate the Melbourne Intel Extreme Masters, we’re offering you a chance to win an Intel CPU beginning Friday April 25th. Be sure to tune in to enter to win and good luck!