IEM Katowice 2025 is one of Counter-Strike 2's most prestigious tournaments, held at the iconic Spodek arena in Poland. The tournament features 24 of the world's best teams competing for a $1,000,000 prize pool, with $400,000 going to the winner.

Tournament Format:

• Play-in stage: 16 teams compete in double-elimination brackets
• Group stage: 16 teams (8 direct invites + 8 play-in qualifiers) divided into two groups
• Playoffs: Single elimination bracket featuring quarter-finals, semi-finals, and grand finals
• All matches are best-of-three, except the grand final which is best-of-five

Key Details:

• Prize Pool: $1,000,000
• Dates: January 29 - February 9, 2025
• Location: Spodek Arena, Katowice, Poland
• Team Spirit enters as defending champions
• Tournament contributes to Intel Grand Slam Season Five

How to Watch:

• Main broadcasts on ESL's Twitch and YouTube channels
• Multiple language streams available
• Secondary channels for simultaneous matches

Notable Changes:

• Teams must qualify based on Valve's Global Standings
• Format remains consistent with previous years
• Eight teams receive direct invites to group stage

The tournament represents one of CS2's most important annual events, combining prestigious competition with the historic atmosphere of the Spodek arena.

Related Articles

Previous Articles