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Everything You Need to Know Ahead of Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2024
- Intel Extreme Masters returns to Katowice as 24 of the world’s best Counter-Strike 2 teams battle it out from January 31 to February 11 for a share of the $1,000,000 prize pool, a spot in IEM Cologne later this year and a step forward in the race to secure Intel Grand Slam V
- During the final three days, the top six teams will compete in front of a live crowd at the iconic Spodek Arena
- Amongst others, local heroes Rebels Gaming and ENCE will attend to fight for the crowns
- StarCraft II also returns to IEM Katowice with 24 of the world’s best players including local hero Piotr ‘Spirit’ Walukiewicz, competing for their share of a $500,000 prize pool live in the MCK Auditorium from February 8 to 11
Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) returns to Katowice, Poland, for the twelfth time from January 31 to February 11, 2024. The Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) tournament, of which the final three days will take place live in the iconic Spodek Arena, will be the first of its scale to take place in Poland as well as the first ESL Pro Tour Championship event of the year.
Furthermore, during the last four days of IEM Katowice 2024, StarCraft II will make its return to the Auditorium of the International Congress Center (MCK). Both competitions will prompt fierce battles between teams and players for a spot in the legendary Hall of Heroes.
Here is all you need to know about IEM Katowice 2024
Counter-Strike 2
IEM Katowice 2024 will see the 24 best Counter-Strike teams compete for a total prize pool of $1,000,000, a win in the race to secure Intel Grand Slam V and a spot at IEM Cologne 2024. Commencing on January 31, contenders from around the globe will face off in Katowice in an attempt to reach the playoffs. There the six best teams will compete live in front of a packed-out audience at the legendary Spodek Arena from February 9 to 11, 2024.
Schedule and Format
Play-In Stage (January 31 to February 2):
- 16 teams will compete in a double-elimination bracket
- Opening matches are best-of-one
- All following matches are best-of-three
- The top eight teams will advance to the group stage where they will join eight directly invited teams
Group Stage (February 3 to 6):
- Two groups of eight teams will compete in separate double-elimination brackets.
- All matches are best-of-three
- The top three teams from each group will advance to the playoffs
- Group stage winners advance to the semifinals
- The group stage runner-ups advance to the quarterfinals as the high seeds
- The group stage third-place teams advance to the quarterfinals as the low seeds
Playoffs (February 9 to 11):
- The top six teams will compete in a single-elimination bracket
- The quarterfinals and semifinals will be best-of-three
- The Grand Final will be a best-of-five
Teams Attending
- Play-In Stage:
- The Mongolz (qualified via ESL World Ranking (WR): AS)
- Cloud9 (qualified via ESL WR: EU)
- HEROIC (qualified via ESL WR: EU)
- Virtus.pro (qualified via ESL WR: EU)
- M80 (qualified via ESL WR: NA)
- Rooster (qualified via ESL WR: OCE)
- FURIA Esports (qualified via ESL WR: SA)
- Apeks (qualified via ESL WR)
- Astralis (qualified via ESL WR)
- BIG (qualified via ESL WR)
- BB (qualified via ESL WR)
- ENCE (qualified via ESL WR)
- Eternal Fire (qualified via ESL WR)
- GamerLegion (qualified via ESL WR)
- Team Spirit (qualified via ESL WR)
- Rebels Gaming (qualified via ESL National Championship PL)
- Group Stage:
- G2 Esports (qualified via IEM Cologne 2023)
- MOUZ (qualified via ESL Pro League Season 18)
- FaZe Clan (qualified via IEM Sydney 2023)
- Complexity (qualified via ESL WR)
- Natus Vincere (qualified via ESL WR)
- Monte (qualified via ESL WR)
- Team Falcons (qualified via ESL WR)
- Team Vitality (qualified via ESL WR)
Prize Money (USD)
| TOTAL | $1,000,000 |
| 1st | $400,000 |
| 2nd | $180,000 |
| 3rd-4th | $80,000 |
| 5th-6th | $40,000 |
| 7th-8th | $24,000 |
| 9th-12th | $16,000 |
| 13th-16th | $10,000 |
| 17th-20th | $4,500 |
| 21st-24th | $2,500 |
Broadcast Talent
- Desk
- Freya ‘Freya’ Spiers
- Tres ‘stunna’ Saranthus
- Mike ‘DarfMike’ Winnick
- Sam ‘TechGirl’ Wright
- Analysts
- Mathieu ‘Maniac’ Quiquerez
- Janko ‘YNk’ Paunovic
- Joshua ‘steel’ Nissan
- Jacob ‘Pimp’ Winneche
- Alex ‘Mauisnake’ Ellenberg
- Lucas ‘Bubzkji’ Andersen
- Arena
- Oliver James Borg ‘OJ Borg’ D’Anastasi
- Michał ‘wasiu’ Wasik
- Eefje ‘Sjokz’ Depoortere
- James ‘BanKs’ Banks
- Casters
- Alex ‘Machine’ Richardson
- Chad ‘SPUNJ’ Burchill
- Adam ‘Dinko’ Hawthorne
- Jason ‘moses’ O’Toole
- Harry ‘JustHarry’ Russell
- Hugo ‘Hugo’ Byron
- Conner ‘Scrawny’ Girvan
- Mohan ‘launders’ Govindasamy
Where to Watch
The live broadcast will be available on the ESL Counter-Strike Twitch and YouTube channels for fans around the world to watch. For those unable to tune in live, all matches will also be available to watch on-demand for free via YouTube.
For more information about the IEM Katowice 2024 Counter-Strike competition and the latest updates on the event, please visit the official website and follow ESL Counter-Strike on X, Facebook and Instagram.
StarCraft II
The last four days of IEM Katowice 2024 will see a standalone StarCraft II tournament take place where 24 of the world’s best players will be competing for a $500,000 prize pool in front of a live crowd. Held at the Auditorium of the International Congress Center (MCK) just next to the Spodek Arena in Katowice, the tournament will run from February 8 to 11.
Schedule and Format
Group Stage (February 8 to 10):
- Four groups of six players will compete in ’round robin’ formats
- All matches are best-of-three
- The top three players from each group will advance to the playoffs
- The winner of each group will advance to the playoffs quarterfinals
- The second and third placed players of each group will advance to the playoffs round of twelve
Playoffs (February 10 to 11):
- Twelve players will compete in a single-elimination bracket
- The round of twelve, quarterfinals and semifinals will be best-of-five
- The Grand Final will be best-of-seven
Players Attending
Prize Money (USD)
| TOTAL | $500,000 |
| 1st | $150,000 |
| 2nd | $70,000 |
| 3rd-4th | $40,000 |
| 5th-8th | $20,000 |
| 9th-12th | $10,000 |
| 13th-16th | $5,500 |
| 17th-20th | $4,000 |
| 21st-24th | $3,000 |
| Group Stage Extra* | $30,000 |
*$500 per win in the group stage
Broadcast Talent
- Desk
- James ‘Kaelaris’ Carro
- Stage Host
- Rachel ‘Seltzer’ Quirico
- Casters and Analysts Stream A
- Benjamin ‘DeMu’ Baker
- Jared ‘PiG’ Krensel
- Jessica ‘ZombieGrub’ Chernega
- Jonathon ‘Wardi’ Ward
- Kevin ‘RotterdaM’ van der Kooi
- Simon ‘Lowko’ Heijnen
- Casters and Analysts Stream B
- Dave ‘Steadfast’ Loose
- Philip ‘BeoMulf’ Mulford
- Casters and Analysts Stream C
- Julian ‘Lambo’ Brosig
- Kevin ‘Harstem’ Koning
Where to Watch
The live broadcast will be available on the ESL StarCraft II Twitch channel and ESL YouTube channel for fans around the world to watch. For those unable to tune in live, all matches will also be available to watch on-demand for free via YouTube.
For more information about the IEM Katowice 2024 StarCraft II competition and the latest updates on the event, please visit the official website and follow ESL StarCraft II on X and Facebook.
IEM Expo
Held in conjunction with IEM Katowice 2024, the IEM Expo takes place on February 9 to 11 and is free to enter. Fans attending the event in person will have the opportunity to enjoy a wide variety of on-site activities including trying out the latest gaming technology and participating in sponsor activations for a chance to win prizes. There will also be limited space for attendees to join the audiences for the Counter-Strike 2 and StarCraft II live tournaments on a first-come, first-serve basis.
Stay tuned as additional details and activities will be revealed.
Assets for IEM Katowice 2024 can be found in the press kit, which is available here.
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India’s Biggest Gamers, Including Techno Gamerz, GamerFleet & Mythpat – battle at PlayGalaxy Cup 3.0
Samsung recently unveiled the third edition of its premier gaming tournament, the #PlayGalaxy Cup, featuring intense battles on their newly launched Galaxy S25 Ultra. This year, the event captivated over 300 million users, solidifying its status as a major esports spectacle.
The tournament saw 12 teams, consisting of 48 elite gamers, go head-to-head in Call of Duty Mobile, vying for the prestigious #PlayGalaxy Season 3.0 Cup. After four high-stakes matches, the team with the highest points emerged victorious.
“Samsung has always been at the forefront of bringing powerful devices that can handle demanding gameplay and with the latest Galaxy S25 Ultra, we’ve taken the entire experience a notch higher. With edition 3 of the #PlayGalaxy, we’ve also expanded our reach to 300 million users, up from 150 million users in the previous edition,” said Aditya Babbar, Vice President, MX Business, Samsung India.
In a thrilling and action-packed finale, Pune AI Heroes claimed the championship title, securing their place as the Season 3.0 winners. with Kaashvi emerging as the standout performer. Jaipur AI Warriors secured the first runner-up position, led by the skilled GamerFleet, while Delhi AI Legends claimed the second runner-up spot, with Techno Gamerz showcasing remarkable gameplay. The tournament highlighted the exceptional talent of India’s top gamers, making this season one of the most thrilling yet.
#PlayGalaxy Cup 3.0 also featured India’s top gaming talent, including Total Gaming, Techno Gamerz, Carry Minati, Gamerfleet, Mythpat, Triggered Insaan, Kaashvi, Desi Gamer, Sourav Joshi, SlayyPoint and SMR Gaming, Jonty Gaming, Gareeboooo, Tomboy from the Samsung #PlayGalaxy community.
The post India’s Biggest Gamers, Including Techno Gamerz, GamerFleet & Mythpat – battle at PlayGalaxy Cup 3.0 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
Play’n GO, the world’s leading casino entertainment provider, is celebrating a dual-award win during ICE 2025, at the International iGaming Awards and European iGaming Awards respectively.
The legendary games studio was named the RNG Supplier of the Year at the International Gaming Awards, a testament to Play’n GO’s stellar performance in 2024. Games like Rich Wilde and the Tome of Insanity, Rise of Olympus Origins and Oasis of Dead took the industry by storm last year, and were just three highlights from Play’n GO’s stunning 2024 portfolio.
Barely 48 hours later, Play’n GO were center stage once again to collect the Best Sustainability Innovation Award at the European iGaming Awards in Barcelona. Play’n GO has put sustainability to the fore throughout its history, and 2024 saw the release of the company’s inaugural Sustainability Report. Initiatives such as signing up to The Climate Pledge, powering Play’n GO’s Swedish HQ with sustainable fuel, and the company’s global tree-planting initiatives all contributed to this award.
Magnus Olsson, Chief Commercial Officer at Play’n GO added “We were honoured to be recognised at two individual award ceremonies last week, and we firmly believe these awards are testament to the hard work and dedication shown by our business year-round. Our RNG Supplier of the Year award comes on the back of some world-class game releases last year, games which we believe will retain players for many years to come- a trademark of Play’n GO releases.
“It was also a pleasure for our sustainability efforts to be acknowledged. We are industry leaders in this field, and will continue to set the standard for others to reach. At Play’n GO, sustainability is about long-term responsibility—not just for the planet, but for players and our industry as a whole. Our stance against predatory game mechanics, such as bonus buy features, is also a key part of that holistic vision of sustainability– a sustainable industry is one that prioritises player protection. Our Sustainability Report from last year shows just how important these practices are to our business, and we plan to expand on our already excellent initiatives throughout 2025 and beyond.”
The post Play’n GO enjoys double award win at ICE 2025 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
NODWIN Gaming, a leading company in new-age youth entertainment, gaming, and esports and a material subsidiary of Nazara Technologies Limited (BSE: NAZARA), announces the full acquisition of StarLadder, a driving force in the global esports ecosystem. This acquisition will unite StarLadder’s capability of producing AAA events with NODWIN Gaming’s bold vision to redefine live entertainment for the youth. StarLadder will maintain its identity and the founder Roman Romantsov will continue to run the business while becoming a shareholder of NODWIN Gaming.
A Strategic Move to Accelerate Growth and Innovation
The acquisition comes at a time when NODWIN Gaming is expanding its footprint globally through its recent strategic moves of acquiring Comic Con India, influencer and MCN business Trinity Gaming, the agency business of AFK Gaming, the global esports and gaming marketing agency Freaks 4U Gaming based in Germany, West Asia and Turkey-focused marketing and esports agency Ninja Global, and Singapore-based live events firm Branded. The acquisition of StarLadder marks a significant step in NODWIN’s strategy to enhance AAA content and event offerings on a global level, catering to both emerging and developed markets, while creating synergies between the companies.
What This Means for the Industry and Community
For StarLadder’s existing partners, this acquisition unlocks exciting new opportunities to expand their reach and connect with diverse communities worldwide. With access to NODWIN’s extensive network, StarLadder will be able to enter new markets, forge new strategic partnerships and strengthen its global presence.
Fans of the brand can look forward to an even bigger and bolder future, with new grand events on the horizon set to shake up the industry.
While the company will continue to operate with its core identity and creative spirit intact, Roman Romantsov will remain at the helm, ensuring continuity and authenticity in its vision. By joining NODWIN Gaming’s extensive network of industry-leading companies and experts, they will gain access to new resources, and new creative and distribution channels. This synergy will not only amplify overall impact but also create fresh collaborations and innovative content experiences for fans.
Akshat Rathee, Co-Founder of NODWIN Gaming, commented: “StarLadder and Roman are the superstars behind the Creme de la Creme events that esports fans have loved to see. Roman is considered one of the pioneers of esports event production with his deep insight in stage design, creative broadcast solutions and entrepreneurial energy. I have been a fan of his work for the longest time and cherish the opportunity to work and build NODWIN with one of my heroes. We have a vision of elevating and creating incredible community experiences, including more CS:GO tournaments for our amazing fans and partners and look forward to taking them to more emerging markets. We are so proud to welcome such an amazing brand and founder into the NODWIN Gaming family.”
The StarLadder team, led by Roman Romantsov, brings over two decades of expertise in esports event management, having organized some of the industry’s most prestigious tournaments. Their portfolio includes iconic events such as CS:GO and Dota 2 Majors, the PUBG Europe League, and long-running series like StarSeries – spanning 18 seasons for CS 1.6 and CS:GO, and 17 seasons for Dota 2. In addition to their own flagship events, they have successfully delivered white-label projects for major publishers, including Valve, Tencent, Krafton, Blizzard, Riot Games, Supercell, Com2us, Moonton, Smilegate, and many more.
Roman Romantsov, Founder of StarLadder, stated: “We live in an era of globalization, where the synergy of resources, expertise, and potential drives success and paves the way for future growth. We are thrilled to have found partners and like-minded individuals who share our vision and ambition. Together with NODWIN Gaming, StarLadder is committed to creating extraordinary experiences for fans, delivering unforgettable events across multiple games and regions. Stay tuned for what’s to come!”
The deal is valued at an initial consideration of USD 5.5 million (INR 46.75 crores) with a second part of the consideration payable on meeting the earn-out targets.
The post StarLadder Becomes Part of NODWIN Gaming, Enhancing its AAA Esports Event Portfolio appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
India’s Biggest Gamers, Including Techno Gamerz, GamerFleet & Mythpat – battle at PlayGalaxy Cup 3.0
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StarLadder Becomes Part of NODWIN Gaming, Enhancing its AAA Esports Event Portfolio
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