Once again, top-tier Counter-Strike: Global Offensive teams will compete at the Spodek Arena in March 2017 for the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) World Championships. The tournament will feature 12 teams all competing for the $250,000 prize pool.
Of the 12 teams, eight will be invited and the final four will play through qualifiers. Three of the qualifier spots will be filled by European teams, with the final spot being filled by a North American squad.
The group stage will be broken into two groups of six, being played on March 1-2 and featuring a round robin best-of-one format. The top-three teams from each group will advance into the playoffs with the teams atop each moving directly to the semifinals.
Playoffs will commence March 3-5 in front of the live audience, where the second and third place teams from each group will face off in the quarterfinals. They will then face one of the first place teams in the semifinals leading up to a spot in the grand final and the chance at $250,000.
Who do you hope to see crowned the 2017 IEM Katowice champion? Let us know by commenting below or by tweeting us @GAMURScom.
Authors Twitter: @Capt_Shively
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