Get ready to watch intense battles at the “Cathedral of Counter-Strike” as the Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2024 (IEM Cologne 2024) pits the best Counter-Strike 2 teams in the world.
This year, the legendary Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany once again serves as the stage for elite squads across the globe, with a passionate crowd roaring in the stands.
Here’s all you need to know about the iconic tournament.
What is IEM Cologne 2024?
This year’s IEM Cologne marks the first time that the premier tournament is played on Counter-Strike 2.
The competition features the world’s 24 best teams vying for the largest share of the whopping US$1 million prize pool and 7,000 BLAST Premier points.
The champion also qualifies for the BLAST Premier World Final this year and the IEM Katowice 2025.
Matches take place on a LAN within the massive Lanxess Arena in Cologne. This impressive venue can seat nearly 20,000 fans, creating an electric atmosphere for the players and spectators.
IEM Cologne 2024 format
The competition is divided into three stages: play-in, group stage, and playoffs.
Sixteen teams clash in a double elimination bracket. Opening games are best-of-one while the remaining matches are best-of-three.
The top eight squads join the eight directly invited teams in the group stage.
In the group stage, the 16 teams are divided into two double elimination GSL groups. They compete in best-of-three matches, with the top three teams from each group advancing to the single elimination playoffs.
The group winners advance directly to the semifinals, while the runners-up and third-place teams go into the quarterfinals as high and low seeds respectively.
Quarterfinal and semifinal matches are best-of-three, while the grand final is a best-of-five series.
IEM Cologne 2024 schedule
The tournament takes place from August 7 to 18, 2024.
| IEM COLOGNE 2024 STAGE | SCHEDULE |
| Play-in | August 7-9 |
| Group stage | August 10-13 |
| Playoffs | August 16-18 |
IEM Cologne 2024 teams
Directly qualified teams
| IEM COLOGNE 2024 TEAMS | QUALIFICATION |
| Team Spirit | IEM Katowice 2024 champion |
| FaZe Clan | IEM Chengdu 2024 champion |
| MOUZ | ESL Pro League Season 19 champion |
| G2 Esports | IEM Dallas 2024 champion |
| Team Vitality | ESL World Ranking |
| Natus Vincere | ESL World Ranking |
| Astralis | ESL World Ranking |
| Virtus.pro | ESL World Ranking |
Play-in teams
| IEM COLOGNE 2024 PLAY-IN TEAMS | QUALIFICATION |
| HEROIC | ESL World Ranking (Europe) |
| Eternal Fire | ESL World Ranking (Europe) |
| Team Falcons | ESL World Ranking (Europe) |
| Complexity Gaming | ESL World Ranking (North America) |
| 9z Globant | ESL World Ranking (South America) |
| The MongolZ | ESL World Ranking (Asia) |
| FlyQuest | ESL World Ranking (Oceania) |
| Team Liquid | ESL World Ranking |
| Imperial Esports | ESL World Ranking |
| FURIA Esports | ESL World Ranking |
| BIG | ESL World Ranking |
| BetBoom Team | ESL World Ranking |
| paiN Gaming | ESL World Ranking |
| MIBR | ESL World Ranking |
| SAW | ESL World Ranking |
| ALTERNATE aTTaX | German Qualifier |
IEM Cologne 2024 prize distribution
| PLACE | TEAM | PRIZE MONEY | BLAST PREMIER POINTS |
| Champion | TBD | US$400,00 | 3,000 |
| 2nd | TBD | US$180,000 | 2,000 |
| 3rd-4th | TBD TBD | US$80,000 | 1,200 |
| 5th-6th | TBD TBD | US$40,000 | 500 |
| 7th-8th | TBD TBD | US$24,000 | 300 |
| 9th-12th | TBD TBD TBD TBD | US$16,000 | 0 |
| 13th-16th | TBD TBD TBD TBD | US$10,000 | 0 |
| 17th-20th | TBD TBD TBD TBD | US$4,500 | 0 |
| 21st-24th | TBD TBD TBD TBD | US$2,500 | 0 |
Where to watch IEM Cologne 2024
All matches are streamed live on the official ESL Counter-Strike channels and Intel Extreme Masters website.
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