Esports

Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 – Tournament Preview & Guide

By Tit Krajnik

11 Jan 2025

Tit Krajnik 11 Jan 2025

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Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 is set to kick off on January 29, 2025
Second S-Tier Counter-Strike 2 esports tournament of the season
24 teams vying for the lion’s share of the $1,000,000 prize pool

Intel Extreme Masters Katowice

Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 returns on Wednesday, January 29, in Katowice, Poland, welcoming 24 Counter-Strike 2 esports teams, who will battle for the lion’s share of the $1,000,000 prize pool.

When Does Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 Start?
Where Will Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 Be Played?
Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 Format
Play-In Stage (Stage 1)
Group Stage (Stage 2)
Playoffs
Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 Teams
Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 Betting Odds
Where To Bet on Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025?

Widely known as one of the most prestigious Counter-Strike tournaments of the year, IEM Katowice never fails to deliver, with exciting fixtures between some of the world’s best teams, and this year will be no different.

Like always, IEM Katowice is also a major hit among esports punters, who can find IEM Katowice 2025 betting markets on all of the best crypto betting sites.

That includes Stake, where new sign-ups can claim a welcome deposit bonus with Stake promo code NEWBONUS and get a head start on their Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 betting journey.

When Does Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 Start?

Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 is scheduled to begin on Wednesday, January 29, with the first round of the Play-In stage.

The tournament will culminate with a best-of-five grand final on Sunday, February 9.

Where Will Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 Be Played?

IEM Katowice will return to its usual venue, the Spodek Arena, in Katowice, Poland.

Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 Format

Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 format will differ slightly from last year’s tournament. Besides renaming the Play-in stage to Stage 1 and the group stage to Stage 2, there will also be some changes to the stages themselves.

The first stage will feature 16 Counter-Strike teams seeded into a double-elimination bracket. All matches will be played as best-of-three, with the top eight teams advancing to the second stage.

Stage 2 will welcome eight teams from the first stage and eight directly invited squads and seed them into two double-elimination (GSL) groups. Each group will have eight teams, and all matches will be played as best-of-three.

The top three teams from each group will advance to the playoffs.

Group stage winners receive a direct bye to the semifinals; runners-up will advance to the quarterfinals as high seeds and third-placed teams will be placed in the quarterfinals as lower seeds.

Playoffs are single-elimination with grand finals played as best-of-five. Other games are best-of-three.

Play-In Stage (Stage 1)

16 Counter-Strike teams
Double-elimination bracket
All games are BO3
The top eight teams advance to the next stage

Group Stage (Stage 2)

16 Counter-Strike teams
Two double-elimination groups
All games are BO3
Group stage winners advance to the semifinals
Runners-up advance to the quarterfinals as high seeds
The 3rd-placed teams advance to the quarterfinals as low seeds

Playoffs

Six teams
Single-elimination bracket
The quarterfinal and semifinal are best-of-three
The grand final is a best-of-five

Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 Teams

Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 will welcome 24 Counter-Strike teams invited to participate in the tournament based on their Valve Global Standings rank. The top eight-ranked teams received direct invites to Stage 2, while the rest were seeded into the first stage.

Stage 2 Teams

G2 Esports
Team Spirit
The MongolZ
Team Vitality
FaZe Clan
MOUZ
Natus Vincere
Team Falcons

Stage 1 Teams

Team Liquid
FURIA Esports
paiN Gaming
MIBR
3DMAX
Eternal Fire
GamerLegion
Complexity
SAW
BIG
FlyQuest
Astralis
Wildcard
Virtus.pro
HEROIC
Imperial Female

Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 is the first IEM tournament to feature a female Counter-Strike roster, Imperial Female.

The international lineup won four tournaments last season, including ESL Impact League Season 5 & 6, and secured the historic qualification for the event as the no.23 ranked team on Valve’s rankings.

Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 Betting Odds

Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 outright betting markets will be available on all prominent betting sites. However, as of now, there are no markets open yet.

CryptoBets will update the betting odds once they become available, closer to the start of the tournament.

Where To Bet on Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025?

Intel Extreme Masters Katowice is widely known as one of the most prestigious Counter-Strike tournaments of the year. As such it is extremely popular and well-covered by all bookmakers which cover esports.

Bet on IEM Katowice 2025 at StakeUse bonus code NEWBONUSBET HERE

Esports punters will not have to look far to find a platform to bet on Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025, which includes some of the best crypto betting sites, such as Stake.

Stake is a well-known and reliable crypto betting and gambling site and an excellent choice for Counter-Strike punters. It offers competitive betting odds, great market coverage, and a welcome deposit bonus for all new sign-ups with Stake promo code NEWBONUS.