IEM Sydney 2023 Announced | What To Expect From The Aussie Return

After 4 years for the reason that final Australian occasion, ESL has introduced the long-awaited return of IEM Sydney. The newly-announced Intel Extreme Masters occasion will happen later this yr, as one of many premiere CS:GO occasions of the season forward.

A Lengthy Time Coming

The return of IEM CS:GO occasions to Australia has been a while coming. IEM Sydney 2019 was the final outing, and the scene has modified a lot since then, together with a complete on-line period in between. For context, IEM Syden 2019 was received by a Liquid roster led by Stewie2K and Twistzz, which appears unfathomable now. It has at all times been a high-quality addition to the CS:GO event schedule, so it’s a welcome return. It’s at all times good to see the event schedule be shaken up, because it ensures every occasion is completely different year-on-year.

IEM Sydney 2023 would be the fourth-ever Intel Excessive Masters occasion held within the metropolis, with the champions earlier than Liquid being FaZe Clan and SK Gaming. The upcoming event represents a chance for a brand new crew to write down their very own chapter, particularly given the continuing craziness of the CS:GO roster modifications proper now.

IEM Sydney 2023 Particulars

The Aussies definitely know tips on how to placed on a present. Credit score: ESLCS on Twitter

With the event simply introduced, particulars about crew involvement are understandably scarce. Nevertheless, we are able to let you know what we do know concerning the upcoming IEM CS:GO occasion. IEM Sydney 2023 can be a part of SXSW Sydney, a five-day gaming pageant the place gamers can expertise hands-on play with many upcoming titles. With an IEM CS:GO event jammed within the center, it guarantees to be a particularly thrilling affair. Head of Gaming at SXSW Sydney Luke Lancaster had this to say on the upcoming occasion:

“I’m extremely humbled to work with a crew that shares the imaginative and prescient of presenting an occasion designed to showcase the facility, creativity and risk of video games in 2023. From the largest, most accessible showcase of impartial video games in Australia, to the sheer spectacle of Intel® Excessive Masters, we can’t wait to place Sydney on the map as an unmissable date within the worldwide video games calendar.”

IEM Sydney 2023 can be held between Sixteenth-Twenty second October, with the Playoffs happening within the Conscious Tremendous Theatre at ICC Sydney. A complete of 16 groups will qualify to play for a $250,000 prize pool, following the usual double-elimination Group Stage format. Additionally up for grabs is the Intel Grand Slam level, with Vitality and ENCE the one two groups on the board to this point. These groups will qualify by means of quite a lot of means. Six slots are reserved for ESL Accomplice Groups, with one other 4 reserved for ESL World Rating. One crew will obtain a Native Hero Invite (presumably Grayhound Gaming). The final 5 groups will qualify in a sequence of worldwide Qualifiers the dates for which could be seen beneath:

EU Open Qualifier #1: August 9-10
EU Open Qualifier #2: August 11-12
EU Closed Qualifier: August 23-25

NA Open Qualifier #1: August 9-10
NA Open Qualifier #2: August 11-12
NA Closed Qualifier: August 24-25

Oceania Open Qualifier #1: August 9-10
Oceania Open Qualifier #2: August 11-12
Oceania Closed Qualifier: August 22-23

Asia Open Qualifier #1: August 9-10
Asia Open Qualifier #2: August 11-12
Asia Closed Qualifier: August 24-25

IEM Sydney 2023 begins with the Group Stage on October Sixteenth, and concludes on October Twenty second. Earlier than we are able to get there, IEM Cologne 2023 awaits.