Next week, Rio de Janeiro will host Intel Extreme Masters, the much-anticipated S-Tier tournament organized by ESL. Sixteen top-tier teams from around the globe will compete for a staggering prize pool of $250,000 and a slot at the IEM Cologne 2023.

In article you will find:

Participating Teams

Teams that will participate in IEM Rio 2023 present a mix of established organizations and rising stars eager to showcase their skills on the international stage. Out of sixteen teams, seven are ESL Partner Teams, meaning they did not have to qualify for the event.

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• FaZe Clan
• Fnatic
• MOUZ
• Natus Vincere
• Ninjas in Pyjamas
• Team Vitality
• FURIA Esports 

Four teams secured their spot at the event based on their positioning in the ESL World Ranking:

• Heroic
• Virtus.pro
• Cloud9
• OG

The rest of the participating teams granted themselves a slot at the IEM Rio 2023 by winning regional qualifiers:

• 9INE (Europe)
• BIG (Europe)
• MIBR (North America)
• 9z Team (South America)
• IHC Esports (Asia)

Event Format

The IEM Rio 2023 Group Stage will consist of two double-elimination format groups featuring eight teams each. The opening matches will be played in a best-of-one format, while all subsequent matches will be best-of-three.

The top three teams from each group will advance to the Playoff Stage. Group Stage winners will secure a spot in the semifinals, while the runners-up and third-place teams will proceed to the quarterfinals as high seeds and low seeds, respectively.

The playoffs will feature a single-elimination bracket, with quarterfinals and semifinals played in a best-of-three format.

The Intel Extreme Masters Rio 2023 Grand Final will be a nail-biting best-of-five match, where the two remaining teams will vie for the championship title and a significant share of the $250,000 prize pool.

The participating teams are already divided into two groups, and the opening round matches have been determined. Here is the list of series that will happen on April 17th:

Group A

• TheMongolz vs. Natus Vincere – 17:00
• vp vs. Ninjas in Pyjamas – 17:00
• Heroic vs 9INE – 18:15
• BIG vs MOUZ – 18:15

Group B

• Vitality vs OG – 19:30
• MIBR vs. Cloud9 – 19:30
• FURIA vs. fnatic – 20:45
• FaZe Clan vs. 9z – 20:45

These matches will be played in a Bo1 format, and the rest of the Group Stage, including the Lower Bracket matches, will be played in a Bo3 format. 

Prize Pool

The prize pool of the Intel Extreme Masters Rio 2023 is $250,000, and it will be spread among the participants as seen below:

• 1st – $100,000 + Qualifies to IEM Cologne 2023
• 2nd – $42,000
• 3rd-4th – $20,000
• 5th-6th – $10,000
• 7th-8th – $6,000
• 9th-12th – $5,000
• 13th-16th – $4,000

The IEM Rio 2023 championship title comes with a ticket to IEM Cologne 2023, an elite ESL event that will take place between July 25th and August 6th with twenty-four teams competing for a $1,000,000 prize pool.

Venue

ESL Pro Tour Masters returns to Rio, and Intel Extreme Masters 2023 will be hosted in Jeunesse Arena, an indoor venue in the heart of Brazil’s second-largest city with up to 18,000 people capacity.

It is not the first time Jeunesse Arena will host a Counter-Strike: Global Offensive tournament. Previously, it hosted ESL One: Rio Major 2020, IEM Rio Major 2022, and WESG 2021 Latin America: Brazil.

In just a few days, the Jeunesse Arena will once again tremble with the thunderous roar of countless fans. Are you as excited as we are?

Tickets

If you want to be part of the action as the world’s most elite CS:GO teams battle for the IEM Rio 2023 championship title and ultimate glory, get your tickets on the official ESL website while you can.

Source: https://pro.eslgaming.com/tour/csgo/rio/

Pricing for IEM Rio 2023 tickets starts at R$ 65 for one day (Friday) and R$ 90 for one day (Saturday or Sunday). Three-day tickets cost R$ 500, and the price of premium tickets is a minimum of R$ 250.

Not only will you enjoy the exhilarating competition, but you’ll also have the opportunity to participate in exclusive meet-and-greets, grab limited-edition merchandise, and forge lasting connections with fellow gaming buddies. Ticket holders of any type will be able to attend the meet-and-greets with GAULES, APOKA, VELHO VAMP, LIMINHA, BTO, and MCH.

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Where To Watch IEM Rio 2023

If you cannot attend IEM Rio 2023 in Brazil, do not worry; the event will be broadcast live on streaming platforms.

Intel Extreme Masters Rio 2023 is organized by ESL. Be sure not to miss all the action and cheer for your favorite teams on official broadcasts: ESL Twitch Channel and ESL YouTube Channel.

To Wrap Up!

IEM Rio 2023 is just around the corner, and it promises to deliver intense, high-stakes gameplay that will captivate audiences worldwide. Stay tuned for updates on this prestigious event which will be taking place in the vibrant city of Rio de Janeiro.

Explore our blog for more articles about CS:GO skins and other cosmetic items, in-depth game guides, and esports news. See you in Rio!