The 2023 season of CS:GO shows no sign of slowing down. Just days after BLAST Premier Spring Groups comes to an end, the action is heading over to Poland for IEM Katowice, taking place from February 1-12.
IEM Katowice 2023 dates and format
IEM Katowice 2023 will kick off with the Play-In Stage, which runs from February 1-3. 16 teams will be competing in a Double-Elimination bracket - which will start with the best of one opening matches, while all other matches during the Play-In Stage will be best of three. As the tournament progresses, the 16 teams will be split into the upper and lower brackets, with the 4 winning teams from each bracket advancing to the Group Stage.
The Group Stage will run from February 4-7, and will see the 16 remaining teams split into Groups A and B. Eight of those teams will be those who make it through the Play-In Stage, while the other eight will be the teams who have directly qualified for the tournament - and will therefore not be present at the Play-In Stage. All matches at the Group Stage are best of three in the Double Elimination format, with the winners advancing straight on to the semifinals. The teams in second place meanwhile will head to the high seed quarterfinals, while the teams ranked third will move to the low seed quarter finals.
Once the Group Stage is over, the tournament will reach its endgame with the Playoffs, taking place from February 10-12. Matches will take place in a Single-Elimination bracket, with the quarterfinals and semifinal matches being best of three, while the grand final will be decided by best of five.
IEM Katowice 2023 prize pool
IEM Katowice is offering a grand prize pool of $1,000,000. The winning team will receive the lion's share of the prize money, and will also automatically qualify for IEM Cologne 2023, taking place from July 25 to August 6.
| Place | Prize money |
|---|---|
| 1 | $400,000 |
| 2 | $180,000 |
| 3rd-4th | $80,000 |
| 5th-6th | $40,000 |
| 7th-8th | $24,000 |
| 9th-12th | $16,000 |
| 13th-16th | $10,000 |
| 17th-20th | $4,500 |
| 21st-24th | $2,500 |
IEM Katowice 2023 teams
A total of 24 teams will be competing at this year's IEM Katowice. That includes 16 teams during the Play-In Stage, as well as eight teams who have directly qualified for the Group Stage.
Directly qualified teams
| FaZe Clan | Team Vitality | Outsiders | Heroic |
| Team Liquid | Natus Vincere | G2 Esports | MOUZ |
Of the directly qualified teams, Heroic, Team Liquid, Natus Vincere (NAVI), G2 Esports and MOUZ have earned their spot at this year's tournament through their placement on the ESL World Ranking. FaZe Clan meanwhile earned their spot through their victory at IEM Cologne 2022, while Team Vitality and Outsiders similarly qualified for IEM Katowice 2023 through their victories at ESL Pro League Season 16 and the IEM Rio Major, respectively.
Play-In teams
| Ninjas in Pyjamas | Team Spirit | Cloud9 | Complexity Gaming |
| FURIA Esports | MIBR | IHC Esports | Grayhound Gaming |
| OG | ENCE | BIG | Sprout |
| paiN Gaming | Evil Geniuses | Fnatic | Permitta Esports |
How to watch IEM Katowice 2023
If you aren't lucky enough to have a ticket to see the teams competing live in Katowice's Spodek Arena - fear not, we have you covered!
You can follow along with each and every match of this year's IEM Katowice right here on Luckbox. Ā Just click here to see the upcoming match schedule, where you can place your bets and watch the matches from the comfort of your own home.
And before you do, make sure you've signed up for a Luckbox account and claimed your free 100% bonus! IEM Katowice is just days away, and you're sure to not want to miss a single moment.
