IEM Cologne 2022 – All information about the mega event in CS:GO

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The IEM Cologne 2022 is just around the corner. In the tradition-steeped “Cathedral of Counter-Strike”, the world’s best teams will compete for one of the most prestigious titles.

The next mega-event in CS:GO invites the world’s elite to Cologne. After the Major events, the Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2022 is one of the major esport highlights in Counter-Strike. From 5 to 17 July, the best teams of the shooter will compete in the cathedral city. The coveted winner’s trophy and rich prize money await them.

A total of 24 teams will compete in the tournament. In order to qualify for the main round of the IEM Cologne 2022, the German organisations BIG, Sprout and MOUZ, among others, will first play in the play-in stage. The event will take place as an offline event in Cologne, while the play-offs will be held in the Lanxess Arena. Fans can also cheer on their favourite team on site. A live audience is planned at the mega event.

However, those who cannot be present on site can also follow the mega event via the free livestream. The organiser ESL will broadcast the IEM Cologne itself live on (Twitch in English).

ProSieben FUN will broadcast the mega-event

The IEM Cologne will also be broadcast by us (live on ProSieben FUN) . Both the semi-finals and the grand final will be broadcast on the channel. On 16 July, the broadcast of the semi-finals will start at 3 pm on ProSieben FUN. The final will be broadcast live on 17 July at 15:30 on the channel.

These teams have qualified

In addition to the German organisations, other teams have been invited to IEM Cologne 2022, including Natus Vincere (NAVI), the organisation that took home the title last year. A total of 24 teams will take part in the event. Already eight organisations are in the group stage of the tournament due to their collected (points in the ESL ranking) 

Play-In:

  • Vitality
  • Heroic
  • Outsiders
  • Complexity
  • GODSENT
  • TYLOO
  • MIBR
  • Sprout
  • ORDER
  • Astralis
  • Movistar Riders
  • BIG
  • MOUZ
  • Spirit
  • Imperial
  • paiN

Qualified for the group stage:

  • Natus Vincere
  • Ninjas in Pyjamas
  • G2 Esports
  • ENCE
  • FaZe Clan
  • Team Liquid
  • Cloud9
  • FURIA Esports

16 teams must first prove themselves in the play-ins to secure a spot for the group stage. Last year’s winners, NAVI, have already secured a spot in the Group Stage. FaZe Clan, who beat NAVI in the final of the Major in Antwerp 2022, do not have to compete in the Play-Ins either

There is not only one trophy to win

The winners of the IEM Cologne 2022 can look forward to a massive prize money in addition to the coveted trophy. A total of 1 million US dollars will be paid out at the mega event. The first place winner can look forward to the lion’s share of 400,000 US dollars.

How the Mega Event Works

First, the IEM Cologne 2022 starts with the Play-Ins. There, 16 teams will compete first in best-of-one matches and then in best-of-three matches. BIG has to play ORDER soon and Sprout opens the Play-Ins with a match against Heroic. MOUZ plays against paiN Gaming in the very next match.

Two wins in the play-ins are necessary to advance. Those who lose twice are eliminated. Only the top eight teams will get a spot in the group stage.

A total of 16 teams will compete in the Group Stage. However, they will be divided into two groups of eight teams each. There, the matches will be played as a best-of-three. The best three teams of a group reach the playoffs. This means that a total of six organisations can advance to the next round. The winners of the respective groups reach the semi-finals early.

The playoffs of the IEM Cologne 2022 will take place from 15 to 17 July with the six best teams in the Lanxess Arena. Both the quarter-finals and the preliminary rounds will be played as a best-of-three. Only the grand final on 17 July is planned as a best-of-five. Then the winner of the mega-event will be crowned in front of a roaring crowd in Cologne