Fans will return to the Spodek Arena after two years.
IEM Katowice 2022 will feature a $1.5 million prize pool and a live audience, ESL has confirmed in a press conference. They are also launching a campaign to celebrate ten years of IEM Katowice.
IEM Katowice is one of the biggest event in esports, with a focus on CS: GO and Starcraft but also inclusive of other games such as Dota 2 and League of Legends.
Katowice was one of the first major esports tournaments to be impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2020 edition of the tournament had no audience, robbing the event of one of its prized possessions, the fans. A year later, the Gambit took home the title of Katowice winners; this time the entire event was online.
But the 2022 edition, the tenth for IEM Katowice series will feature a live audience, ESL has announced. The Spodek Arena will come alive with fans and players once again and the stakes are bigger than before.
A Grand memory for Fans, players and the community
This event represents a dream come true to everyone that wanted to build esports into something bigger.
“Thinking back to when this place held an Intel® Extreme Masters tournament for the first time, what followed would not have been imaginable. This event represents a dream come true to everyone that wanted to build esports into something bigger and unforgettable memories shared by fans and players,” says Michal “Carmac” Blicharz, VP Product Development.
“We are proud to be coming to Katowice again as an in-person competition and we are so looking forward to celebrating the commemorative anniversary together.”
To celebrate the ten-year anniversary of Katowice, ESL is planning unique events to celebrate the legendary heroes of Counter-Strike Global Offensive and Starcraft 2 along with the city of Katowice.
Related articles
IEM Katowice X?
IEM Katowice 2022 will also receive a new visual identity. This year, IEM Katowice will have a new and fresh design. As CS: GO & Starcraft fans gather at the Spodek Arena, the emotions and adrenaline will run high. A new design aims to reflect the energy and the identity that IEM Katowice has become.
IEM Katowice 2022 will also provide fans with access to exclusive photos, BTS-materials and articles that summarize a whole decade of esports tournaments. Fans eager to learn more about the history of IEM Katowice can check out the IEM X website.
When will IEM Katowice 2022 take place?
The CS: GO event will take place from Feb 15-27, 2022 at the Spodek Arena in Katowice. The Starcraft 2 event takes place from Feb 19-27.
Will IEM Katowice see more titles?
It is highly unlikely, but not impossible.
On being asked in the press conference if IEM Katowice will feature new games in the future, Carmac said for foreseeable future it is just CS: GO and Starcraft. He did, however, keep doors open for other popular titles that do not have much developer interference.
Stay tuned to esports.gg for the latest CS: GO news and updates.
