:Intel Extreme Masters
{{short description|Series of international esports tournaments}}
{{primary sources|date=September 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2020}}
{{Infobox sports league
| title =
| current_season =
| current_season2 =
| last_season =
| upcoming_season =
| logo = IEM v2019 logo.svg
| pixels =
| caption = Logo since 2019
| formerly =
| replaced =
| sport = Esports
Counter-Strike
StarCraft II
| founded = 2007
| ceo =
| director =
| president =
| commissioner =
| motto =
| inaugural =
| teams =
| singles =
| country = Worldwide
| venue =
| continent =
| folded =
| champion = Counter-Strike: Team Vitality (Cologne 2024)
StarCraft II: Lee "Rogue" Byung Yeol
| most_champs = Counter-Strike: Fnatic
| qualification =
| tv =
| sponsor = Intel, Acer Predator, 1xBet, Paysafecard, DHL, MTN Dew AMP Game Fuel
| related_comps =
| founder =
| levels =
| promotion =
| relegation =
| domestic_cup =
| website = {{URL|http://www.intelextrememasters.com/}}
| footnotes =
}}
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 |lc=y}} currently host events in Counter-Strike 2 and StarCraft II. Other game titles were hosted in the past. The body that owns the league is Savvy Games Group. The League has operated 17 seasons {{As of |2023 |lc=y}}. 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.intelextrememasters.com/legacy/|title=Legacy - Intel Extreme Masters|website=www.intelextrememasters.com|access-date=15 September 2020|archive-date=16 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200216232327/https://www.intelextrememasters.com/legacy/|url-status=dead}} Other events, known as Masters events, are held in numerous cities around the globe, which have included Dallas, Shanghai and Sydney.
History
File:Podczas Intel Extreme Masters (8464381085).jpg
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.{{cite news|title=INTEL极限大师赛亚洲总决赛落户成都|url=http://games.sina.com.cn/e/n/2008-09-11/1431268530.shtml|access-date=2 March 2011|newspaper=Sina|date=11 September 2008}} 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. 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 {{currency|130000}} prize pool.{{cite news|title=CeBIT 2011: Finale der Intel Extreme Masters|url=http://www.news-im-blick.de/2011/03/cebit-2011-finale-der-intel-extreme-masters/|access-date=2 March 2011|date=1 March 2011|archive-date=19 July 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719065439/http://www.news-im-blick.de/2011/03/cebit-2011-finale-der-intel-extreme-masters/|url-status=dead}}
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=
| class="wikitable"
! style="border:1px solid #aaaaaa;" | Event ! Dates ! Game ! Winner ! style="width:1em;" | {{Abbr|Ref|Reference}} |
| rowspan="2" | World Championship
| rowspan="2" | 15-18 March 2007 | Team Pentagram | rowspan="2" | |
|---|
| Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos |
=Season II=
File:Spectators at IEM Toronto 2014.jpg
| class="wikitable"
! style="border:1px solid #aaaaaa;" | Event ! Dates ! Game ! Winner ! style="width:1em;" | {{Abbr|Ref|Reference}} |
| rowspan="2" | Los Angeles
| rowspan="4" | 6-9 March 2008 | FnaticRC | rowspan="2" | |
|---|
| Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos |
| rowspan="2" | World Championship
| Counter-Strike | rowspan="2" | |
| Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos |
=Season III=
| class="wikitable"
! style="border:1px solid #aaaaaa;" | Event ! Dates ! Game ! Winner ! style="width:1em;" | {{Abbr|Ref|Reference}} |
| Games Convention
| | Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos | Nihilum Plasma | |
|---|
| rowspan="2" | Los Angeles
| rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" | |
| World of Warcraft
| x6tence |
| rowspan="2" | Montreal
| rowspan="2" | 17-19 October 2008 | Counter-Strike | Fnatic |
| World of Warcraft |
| Global
| | Counter-Strike | |
| rowspan="3" | Asian WoW
| rowspan="3" | 13-16 November 2008 | Counter-Strike | e-STRO |
| World of Warcraft
| H O N |
| Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos |
| rowspan="2" | European
| rowspan="2" | | Counter-Strike | mTw | rowspan="2" | |
| World of Warcraft
| iNNERFiRE |
| rowspan="2" | American
| rowspan="2" | | Counter-Strike | Made in Brazil | rowspan="2" | |
| World of Warcraft
| Trade Chat |
| rowspan="2" | Asian CS1.6
| rowspan="2" | 16-18 January 2009 | Counter-Strike |
| Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos |
| rowspan="2" | World Championship
| rowspan="2" | 3-8 March 2009 | Counter-Strike | fnatic | rowspan="2" | |
| World of Warcraft
| H O N |
=Season IV=
| class="wikitable"
! style="border:1px solid #aaaaaa;" | Event ! Dates ! Game ! Winner ! style="width:1em;" | {{Abbr|Ref|Reference}} |
| rowspan="3" | GamesCom
| rowspan="3" | 20-23 August 2009 | rowspan="3" | {{cite web|title=ESL World: GamesCom 09 — GamesCom 09 — Season IV — Intel Extreme Masters — ESL|url=http://www.esl-world.net/masters/season4/gamescom09/|website=ESL-World.net|access-date=27 September 2015|date=23 July 2012|archive-date=28 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928203834/http://www.esl-world.net/masters/season4/gamescom09/|url-status=dead}}{{failed verification|date=September 2015}} |
|---|
| Quake Live
| Shane "rapha" Hendrixson |
| World of Warcraft
| Ensidia |
| rowspan="3" | Chengdu
| rowspan="3" | 1-3 October 2009 | Counter-Strike |
| Defense of the Ancients
| For The Dream (ex-LGD) |
| Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos |
| rowspan="2" | Dubai
| rowspan="2" | | Counter-Strike | Fnatic | rowspan="2" | |
| Quake Live
| Shane "rapha" Hendrixson |
| rowspan="3" | European
| rowspan="3" | | Counter-Strike | rowspan="3" | |
| Quake Live |
| World of Warcraft
| SK Gaming Sansibar |
| rowspan="3" | American
| rowspan="3" | | Counter-Strike | rowspan="3" | |
| Quake Live |
| World of Warcraft
| compLexity Black |
| rowspan="3" | Asian
| rowspan="3" | | Counter-Strike | rowspan="3" | |
| Quake Live |
| World of Warcraft |
| rowspan="3" | World Championship
| rowspan="3" | 2-6 March 2010 | Counter-Strike | rowspan="3" | |
| Quake Live |
| World of Warcraft |
=Season V=
| class="wikitable"
! style="border:1px solid #aaaaaa;" | Event ! Dates ! Game ! Winner ! style="width:1em;" | {{Abbr|Ref|Reference}} |
| rowspan="3" | Shanghai
| rowspan="3" | | fnatic | rowspan="3" | |
|---|
| Warcraft III: The Frozen Throne
| June "Lyn" Park |
| Defense of the Ancients
| EHOME |
| rowspan="2" | Cologne
| rowspan="2" | | Stefan "MorroW" Andersson — Mousesports | rowspan="2" | |
| Quake Live
| k1llsen |
| rowspan="3" | American
| rowspan="3" | | Counter-Strike | rowspan="3" | |
| Quake Live |
| StarCraft II
| Jian "Fenix" Morayra Alejo — fnatic |
| rowspan="3" | European
| rowspan="3" | | Counter-Strike | fnatic | rowspan="3" | |
| Quake Live |
| StarCraft II
| Jeffrey "SjoW" Brusi — Team Dignitas |
| rowspan="4" | World Championship
| rowspan="4" | 1-5 March 2011 | Counter-Strike | rowspan="4" | |
| Quake Live |
| StarCraft II
| Jung "AcE" Woo-Seo — Team StarTale |
| League of Legends Invitational |
=Season VI=
| class="wikitable"
! style="border:1px solid #aaaaaa;" | Event ! Dates ! Game ! Winner ! style="width:1em;" | {{Abbr|Ref|Reference}} |
| rowspan="2" | Cologne
| rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" | |
|---|
| StarCraft II
| Lee "PuMa" Ho-Joon — Evil Geniuses |
| rowspan="3" | Guangzhou
| rowspan="3" | | League of Legends | rowspan="3" | |
| StarCraft II |
| Counter-Strike
| fnatic |
| rowspan="3" | New York City
| rowspan="3" | | League of Legends | fnatic | rowspan="3" | |
| StarCraft II
| Park "DongRaeGu" Soo-Ho — Complexity Gaming & Team MvP |
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
| SK Gaming |
| rowspan="3" | Kyiv
| rowspan="3" | | League of Legends | Moscow 5 | rowspan="3" | |
| StarCraft II
| Moon "MMA" Sung-Won — Team SlayerS |
| Counter-Strike |
| São Paulo
| | StarCraft II | Kim "viOLet" Dong-Hwan — Team Empire | |
| rowspan="3" | World Championship
| rowspan="3" | 6-10 March 2012 | League of Legends | Moscow 5 | rowspan="3" | |
| StarCraft II |
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
| ESC Gaming |
=Season VII=
| class="wikitable"
! style="border:1px solid #aaaaaa;" | Event ! Dates ! Game ! Winner ! style="width:1em;" | {{Abbr|Ref|Reference}} |
| rowspan="2" | Gamescom
| rowspan="2" | | rowspan="2" | |
|---|
| StarCraft II
| Jung "Mvp" Jong-Hyun — Incredible Miracle |
| rowspan="2" | Singapore
| rowspan="2" | | League of Legends | rowspan="2" | |
| StarCraft II
| Ju "Sting" Hoon — Western Wolves |
| Cologne
| | League of Legends |
| rowspan="2" | Katowice
| rowspan="2" | | League of Legends | Gambit Gaming (ex-M5) | rowspan="2" | |
| StarCraft II
| Kang "First" Hyun-Woo — Incredible Miracle |
| Brazil
| | League of Legends | Incredible Miracle | |
| rowspan="2" | World Championship
| rowspan="2" | | League of Legends | CJ Entus Blaze |
| StarCraft II
| Choi "YoDa" Byung-Hyun — Incredible Miracle |
=Season VIII=
{{Hidden begin|titlestyle=text-align: center|border=#aaa 1px solid|title=Intel Extreme Masters Season VIII}}
{{Hidden end}}
=Season IX=
{{Main|Intel Extreme Masters Season IX}}
{{Hidden begin|titlestyle=text-align: center|border=#aaa 1px solid|title=Intel Extreme Masters Season IX}}
{{Hidden end}}
=Season X=
{{Hidden begin|titlestyle=text-align: center|border=#aaa 1px solid|title=Intel Extreme Masters Season X}}
{{Hidden end}}
= Season XI =
{{Hidden begin|titlestyle=text-align: center|border=#aaa 1px solid|title=Intel Extreme Masters Season XI{{cite web |url=http://intelextrememasters.com/news/intel-extreme-masters-season-11-breaks-the-one-million-dollar-barrier/ |title=Intel Extreme Masters Season 11 breaks the one million dollar barrier! |date=11 May 2016 |website=Intel Extreme Masters |publisher=Turtle Entertainment |access-date=11 May 2016 }}}}
| class="wikitable"
! Event ! Dates ! Game ! Winner ! Runner-up ! style="width:1em;" | {{Abbr|Ref|Reference}} |
| Shanghai
| 28–31 July 2016 | StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void | uThermal | Neeb |
|---|
| rowspan="2" | Oakland
| rowspan="2" | 19–20 November 2016 | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | rowspan="2" style="text-align:center;" |{{cite web |url=http://en.intelextrememasters.com/season11/oakland/tournament |title= Oakland Standings |website=Intel Extreme Masters |publisher=Turtle Entertainment |access-date=6 March 2017}} |
| League of Legends |
| rowspan="3" | Gyeonggi
| rowspan="3" | 17–18 December 2016 | League of Legends | Kongdoo Monster | rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |{{cite web |url=http://en.intelextrememasters.com/season11/gyeonggi/tournament/ |title= Gyeonggi Standings |website=Intel Extreme Masters |publisher=Turtle Entertainment |access-date=6 March 2017}} |
| Overwatch
| LuxuryWatch Red | Lunatic-Hai |
| StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void
| INnoVation | Stats |
| rowspan="3" | World Championship Katowice | rowspan="3" | 25–26 February & 3–5 March 2017 | Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | Astralis | rowspan="3" style="text-align:center;" |{{cite web |url=http://en.intelextrememasters.com/season11/worldchampionship/csgo/#?matchday=1 |title= Katowice Standings |website=Intel Extreme Masters |publisher=Turtle Entertainment |access-date=6 March 2017}} |
| League of Legends
| Flash Wolves |
| StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void
| TY | Stats |
{{Hidden end}}
= Season XII =
{{see also|Intel Extreme Masters Season XII – Oakland}}
{{Hidden begin|titlestyle=text-align: center|border=#aaa 1px solid|title=Intel Extreme Masters Season XII{{cite web |url=https://en.intelextrememasters.com/season-12/|title=Intel Extreme Masters|last=ESL|website=en.intelextrememasters.com|language=en-US|access-date=2017-11-18}}}}
| class="wikitable"
! Event ! Dates ! Game ! Winner ! Runner-up ! style="width:1em;" | {{Abbr|Ref|Reference}} |
| Sydney
|6–7 May 2017 |Counter-Strike: Global Offensive |
|---|
| Shanghai
|27–30 July 2017 |Starcraft 2 |Rogue |herO |
| rowspan="2" | Oakland
| rowspan="2" |18–19 November 2017 |Counter-Strike: Global Offensive |
| PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds
|*aAa* Gaming |Tempo Storm |
| PyeongChang
|5–7 February 2018 |Starcraft 2 |sOs |
| rowspan="2" | Katowice
| rowspan="2" |2–4 March 2018 |Counter-Strike: Global Offensive |
| Starcraft 2
|Rogue |Classic |
{{Hidden end}}
= Season XIII =
{{see also|Intel Extreme Masters Season XIII – World Championship|Intel Extreme Masters Season XIII – Katowice Major 2019}}
{{Hidden begin|titlestyle=text-align: center|border=#aaa 1px solid|title=Intel Extreme Masters Season XVII}}
| class="wikitable"
!Event !Venue !Dates !Game !Champion !Runner-Up !Prize Pool |
| Sydney
|1 - 6 May 2018 |Counter-Strike: Global Offensive |US$250,000 |
|---|
| Shanghai
|Shanghai New International Expo Center |1 - 6 August 2018 |Counter-Strike: Global Offensive |TYLOO |US$250,000 |
| Chicago
|6 - 11 November 2018 |Counter-Strike: Global Offensive |US$250,000 |
| rowspan=2|World Championship
|rowspan=2|Spodek Arena |rowspan=2|13 February - 3 March 2019 |Counter-Strike: Global Offensive |ENCE |US$1,000,000 |
| StarCraft II
|soO |Stats |US$400,000 |
{{Hidden end}}
= Season XIV =
{{Hidden begin|titlestyle=text-align: center|border=#aaa 1px solid|title=Intel Extreme Masters Season XIV}}
| class="wikitable"
!Event !Venue !Dates !Game !Champion !Runner-Up !Prize Pool |
| Sydney
|29 April – 5 May 2019 |Counter-Strike: Global Offensive |US$250,000 |
|---|
| Chicago
|18 – 21 July 2019 |Counter-Strike: Global Offensive |ENCE |US$250,000 |
| Beijing
|Beijing University Students' Stadium |7 – 10 November 2019 |Counter-Strike: Global Offensive |US$250,000 |
| rowspan=2|World Championship
|rowspan=2|Spodek Arena |rowspan=2|24 February – 1 March 2020 |Counter-Strike: Global Offensive |US$500,000 |
| StarCraft II
|Rogue |Zest |US$400,000 |
{{Hidden end}}
= Season XV =
{{Hidden begin|titlestyle=text-align: center|border=#aaa 1px solid|title=Intel Extreme Masters Season XV}}
| class="wikitable"
! style="width: 160px;" |Event ! style="width: 100px;" |Venue !Dates !Game !Champion !Runner-Up !Prize Pool |
| Global Challenge
| rowspan="4" |{{center|Online}} |15 – 20 December 2020 |Counter-Strike: Global Offensive |US$500,000 |
|---|
| rowspan=2|World Championship
|rowspan=2|16 – 28 February 2021 |Counter-Strike: Global Offensive |US$1,000,000 |
| StarCraft II
|Zest |US$250,000 |
| Melbourne
|17 – 22 August 2021 |Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | colspan="2" | {{center|Cancelled}} |US$250,000 |
{{Hidden end}}
= Season XVI =
{{Hidden begin|titlestyle=text-align: center|border=#aaa 1px solid|title=Intel Extreme Masters Season XVI}}
| class="wikitable"
!Event !Venue !Dates !Game !Champion !Runner-Up !Prize Pool |
| Summer
|Online |3 – 13 June 2021 |Counter-Strike: Global Offensive |OG |US$250,000 |
|---|
| Cologne
|6 – 18 July 2021 |Counter-Strike: Global Offensive |US$1,000,000 |
| Winter
|2 – 12 December 2021 |Counter-Strike: Global Offensive |US$250,000 |
| rowspan=2|Katowice
|rowspan=2|Spodek Arena |rowspan=2|15 – 22 February 2022 |Counter-Strike: Global Offensive |US$1,000,000 |
| StarCraft II
|Reynor |US$500,000 |
{{Hidden end}}
= Year 2022 =
{{Hidden begin|titlestyle=text-align: center|border=#aaa 1px solid|title=Intel Extreme Masters 2022}}
| class="wikitable"
!Event !Venue !Dates !Game !Champion !Runner-Up !Prize Pool |
| Dallas
|Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center |30 May – 5 June 2022 |Counter-Strike: Global Offensive |ENCE |US$250,000 |
|---|
| Cologne
|5 – 17 July 2022 |Counter-Strike: Global Offensive |US$1,000,000 |
| Rio Major
|31 October – 13 November 2022 |Counter-Strike: Global Offensive |US$1,250,000 |
| rowspan=2|Katowice
|rowspan=2|Spodek Arena |rowspan=2|31 January – 12 February 2023 |Counter-Strike: Global Offensive |US$1,000,000 |
| StarCraft II
|Oliveira |Maru |US$500,000 |
{{Hidden end}}
= Year 2023 =
{{Hidden begin|titlestyle=text-align: center|border=#aaa 1px solid|title=Intel Extreme Masters 2023}}
{{Hidden end}}
= Year 2024 =
{{Hidden begin|titlestyle=text-align: center|border=#aaa 1px solid|title=Intel Extreme Masters 2024}}
| class="wikitable"
!Event !Venue !Dates !Game !Champion !Runner-Up !Prize Pool |
| rowspan=2|Katowice
|rowspan=2|Spodek Arena |rowspan=2|3 - 11 February 2024 |Counter-Strike 2 | Team Spirit{{cite web |title=IEM Katowice 2024 |url=https://www.hltv.org/events/7435/iem-katowice-2024 |website=hltv.org|language=en|access-date=23 May 2024}} |US$1,000,000 |
|---|
| StarCraft II
|Serral |Maru |US$500,000 |
| Chengdu
|Chengdu Performing Arts Center |8 – 14 April 2024 |Counter-Strike 2 | MOUZ |US$250,000 |
| Dallas
|Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center |27 May – 2 June 2024 |Counter-Strike 2 |US$250,000 |
| Cologne
|7 – 18 August 2024 |Counter-Strike 2 |US$1,000,000 |
| Rio
|7 – 13 October 2024 |Counter-Strike 2 | MOUZ |US$250,000 |
{{Hidden end}}
= Year 2025 =
{{Hidden begin|titlestyle=text-align: center|border=#aaa 1px solid|title=Intel Extreme Masters 2025}}
| class="wikitable"
!Event !Venue !Dates !Game !Champion !Runner-Up !Prize Pool |
| Katowice
|29 January – 9 February 2025 |Counter-Strike 2 |rowspan="2"|Team Vitality |US$1,250,000 |
|---|
| Melbourne
|21 – 27 April 2025 |Counter-Strike 2 |US$300,000 |
| Dallas
|Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center |19 – 25 May 2025 |Counter-Strike 2 | | |US$300,000 |
| Cologne
|23 July – 3 August 2025 |Counter-Strike 2 | | |US$1,000,000 |
| Chengdu
|TBD |3 – 9 November 2025 |Counter-Strike 2 | | |US$300,000 |
{{Hidden end}}
Format
IEM utilizes a fair number of offline qualifiers. During Season 5, qualifiers were held for North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia regions.{{cite web|title=Intel Extreme Masters 5: европейский финал киберспортивного чемпионата стартовал в Киеве|url=http://www.thg.ru/technews/20110121_140100.html|website=THG.ru|access-date=2 March 2011|language=ru|date=21 January 2011}} 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.{{cite web|title=ESL World: Main|url=http://www.esl-world.net/masters/|website=ESL-World.com|access-date=2 March 2011|archive-date=1 March 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110301124022/http://www.esl-world.net/masters/|url-status=dead}}
Organisation
The Intel Extreme Masters are run by the ESL, part of the ESL FACEIT Group which is owned by Savvy Games Group. Savvy Games Group is based in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and is owned by the Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF).
See also
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://intelextrememasters.com/ Official website (English)]
{{Intel Extreme Masters}}
{{ESLevents}}
{{Esports}}
{{Professional Counter-Strike competition}}
{{Professional League of Legends competition}}
{{Professional StarCraft II competition}}
{{Intel}}