The Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) is a series of international esports tournaments held in countries around the world. These Electronic Sports League (ESL) sanctioned events, sponsored by Intel, as of 2024[update] currently host events in Counter-Strike 2 and StarCraft II. Other game titles were hosted in the past.[1] The body that owns the league is Turtle Entertainment. The League has operated 17 seasons as of 2023[update]. The highest tier of events, known as Masters Championships, are held in the summer in Cologne, Germany and in the new year in Katowice, Poland and offer the most prize money.[1] Other events, known as Masters events, are held in numerous cities around the globe, which have included Dallas, Shanghai and Sydney.[1]
History
The Intel Extreme Masters are a product of the ESL. In 2006, when the Intel sponsored European tournament saw room for expansion outside of Europe, especially in North American markets, Intel provided funds for a worldwide tournament, billing it as the Intel Extreme Masters.[2] In 2007, when established, the IEM established a format of many smaller qualifying events, leading up to a large final event that is held at CeBIT. All of the Grand Finals have been held at CeBIT. Starting in 2008, the Tournament was billed as being worldwide, boasting participants from Europe, North America, and Asia.[2] Although Counterstrike 1.6 was the only game offered in the first season, the variety of games has increased greatly, to the four that were offered during Season 5. World of Warcraft was offered during Season 4, but was dropped for Season 5. The Season 5 Finals will be held at CeBIT and will included a US$130,000 prize pool.[3]
Games offered in Intel Extreme Masters: Counter-Strike (Seasons 1–6), Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos and Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne (Seasons 1–2, 3: Asian Championship Finals — CS1.6 and Asian Championship Finals — WoW, 4: Global Challenge Chengdu, 5: Global Challenge Shanghai), World of Warcraft (Seasons 2: Global Challenge Dreamhack, 3–4), Quake Live (Seasons 4–5), StarCraft II (Seasons 5–6), League of Legends (LoL) (Seasons 5: World Championship (LoL Invitational), 6)
IEM seasons
Season I
Season II
Season III
Season IV
Season V
Season VI
Season VII
Season VIII
Intel Extreme Masters Season VIII
Season IX
Intel Extreme Masters Season IX
Season X
Intel Extreme Masters Season X
Season XI
Intel Extreme Masters Season XI[29]
Season XII
Intel Extreme Masters Season XII[34]
Season XIII
Intel Extreme Masters Season XVII
Season XIV
Intel Extreme Masters Season XIV
Season XV
Intel Extreme Masters Season XV
Season XVI
Intel Extreme Masters Season XVI
Year 2022
Intel Extreme Masters 2022
Year 2023
Intel Extreme Masters 2023
Year 2024
Intel Extreme Masters 2024
Format
IEM utilizes a fair number of offline qualifiers. During Season 5, qualifiers were held for North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia regions.[45] Those who qualify for the finals are placed into two groups of six, of which the top two advance. The first place member of each group goes directly to the semifinals, and the second and third place members go into the quarterfinals.[46]
^ a b c"Legacy - Intel Extreme Masters". www.intelextrememasters.com. Archived from the original on 16 February 2020. Retrieved 15 September 2020.
^ a b"INTEL极限大师赛亚洲总决赛落户成都". Sina. 11 September 2008. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
^"CeBIT 2011: Finale der Intel Extreme Masters". 1 March 2011. Archived from the original on 19 July 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
^"Season 3: Montreal: Main — Global Challenge Montreal — Season III — Intel Extreme Masters — ESL". ESL-World.net. 20 October 2008. Archived from the original on 27 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
^"Microsite Continental Finals Asia WoW — Continental Finals Asia WoW — Season III — Intel Extreme Masters — ESL". ESL-World.net. 16 November 2008. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
^"Continental Finals Asia CS — Continental Finals Asia CS — Season III — Intel Extreme Masters — ESL". ESL-World.net. 19 January 2009. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
^"ESL World: GamesCom 09 — GamesCom 09 — Season IV — Intel Extreme Masters — ESL". ESL-World.net. 23 July 2012. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
^"ESL World: Chengdu — Chengdu — Season IV — Intel Extreme Masters — ESL". ESL-World.net. 3 October 2009. Archived from the original on 28 October 2013. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
^"ESL World: CJ Entus Blaze and YoDa are the new World Champions — News — World Championship — Season 7 — Intel Extreme Masters — ESL". ESL-World.net. 9 March 2013. Archived from the original on 28 September 2015. Retrieved 27 September 2015.
^"Shanghai". Intel Extreme Masters. Turtle Entertainment. Archived from the original on 29 January 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
^"New York". Intel Extreme Masters. Turtle Entertainment. Archived from the original on 4 February 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
^"Cologne". Intel Extreme Masters. Turtle Entertainment. Archived from the original on 21 December 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
^"Singapore". Intel Extreme Masters. Turtle Entertainment. Archived from the original on 20 January 2014. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
^"San Jose Tournament & Bracket". Intel Extreme Masters. Turtle Entertainment. Archived from the original on 27 November 2016. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
^"Cologne Tournament & Bracket". Intel Extreme Masters. Turtle Entertainment. Archived from the original on 22 November 2015. Retrieved 15 January 2016.
^"Intel Extreme Masters Season 11 breaks the one million dollar barrier!". Intel Extreme Masters. Turtle Entertainment. 11 May 2016. Retrieved 11 May 2016.
^"IEM Katowice 2023". pro.eslgaming.com. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
^"IEM Dallas 2023". redbull.com. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
^"IEM Cologne 2023". redbull.com. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
^"IEM Sydney 2023". esportsinsider.com. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
^"IEM Katowice 2024". hltv.org. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
^"Intel Extreme Masters Chengdu 2024 Winners". eloking.com. 16 April 2024. Retrieved 23 May 2024.
^"Intel Extreme Masters 5: европейский финал киберспортивного чемпионата стартовал в Киеве". THG.ru (in Russian). 21 January 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
^"ESL World: Main". ESL-World.com. Archived from the original on 1 March 2011. Retrieved 2 March 2011.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Intel Extreme Masters.