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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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Week 10/2025 slot games releases
Here are this weeks latest slots releases compiled by European Gaming
Spinomenal has unveiled Irish Treasures 2 – the follow up to the hugely successful original Irish Treasures – Leprechaun’s Fortune. Players return to an enchanted forest that shimmers with green embers under a darkened canopy. The game is set within a 5×3 format, framed in a wooden frame to give the feeling of being inside an old Irish drinking tavern. A red-haired pixie, pot of gold, beer tankard and wooden pipe complete the rustic feel.
BGaming is thrilled to announce the launch of Alice WonderLuck. Inspired by the whimsical world of Lewis Caroll’s iconic novel, Alice Wonderluck invites players to conjure up some magic on the reels. Alice WonderLuck plunges players into a vibrant reimagining of Wonderland, where a series of familiar characters are given a fresh, digital makeover. The classic tale’s creative and slightly off-kilter atmosphere has been brought to life perfectly with an enchanting soundtrack.
Push Gaming reinvigorates classic entertainment with its homage to retro fruit machines in its latest release, Power Vault. This slot is the debut game from Reel Hot Games, a new sub-brand of Push Gaming, blending nostalgic slot themes with innovative mechanics for players seeking lower and medium volatility. Blending modern mechanics with classic aesthetics, Power Vault is played across 3×3 reels and five paylines. Players must match iconic symbols like sevens, bars and bells across these pay lines to be awarded a win.
Prepare to face the legendary Gorgon in Medusa’s Madness, a mythology-infused slot where every cascade brings players closer to her petrifying power. Step into the depths of Medusa’s lair, where a 5×5 cascading grid slot awaits those daring enough to confront the serpent-haired queen. Clusters of four or more symbols trigger wins, charging the mysterious Portal to unlock powerful effects. With Special Wilds, symbol removals, and the chance to summon Medusa’s Mega Wild form, players must tread carefully if they hope to escape unscathed.
Hölle Games has released Jolly Wild Deluxe slot game, a 6×3 return of the Jolly character who some might say is more suited to a horror franchise than a slot. This time the Jolly brings a companion, a gold-faced twin who acts as a multiplier and awards 2x in the base game for any active payline. However subsequent Jollies also multiply, meaning that a payline reward could be multiplied by up to 32x.
Introducing Steamworks – Gears of Fortune, the newest offering from the acclaimed game studio Peter & Sons. This medium volatility video slot boasts unique game mechanics and immerses players in a dystopian, steam-powered universe nestled within the ruins of an industrial city, where the gears of fortune determine your destiny!
Strike gold with Dynamite Trio from Booming Games, the explosive slot featuring a thrilling 3-pot feature! Join the prospector on a deep mining adventure, where golden nuggets of fun and features are waiting to be uncovered. Put on your hard hat and brace yourself for some of the most exciting bonuses and rewards yet! Dynamite Trio is a 3×5, 20-line slot packed with exciting features. At the core of the game is the 3-pot system, with three powerful dynamite Scatters: Boost, Expand, and Collect.
Relax Gaming, the iGaming aggregator and supplier of unique content, is sending players on a mission they’ll never fur-get as they clean up the streets of pesky pooches in Purrrminator. This 6×4 Connected Ways slot can see players net up to 5,000x their stake, Free Spins and an innovative Reverse Avalanche mechanic. The Reverse Avalanche feature sees all winning symbols locked in place and retained whilst new symbols drop A round only ends when no more matching symbols land on the reels.
Evoplay has launched Young Buffalo Song, a nature-inspired slot that takes players on a journey through the vast North American plains. Set on a 5×4 reel layout with 20 pay lines, the game introduces Wild multipliers that appear on reels 2, 3, and 4, boosting wins by x2 or x3 in both the base game and Free Spins. Landing three or more Scatter symbols awards up to 20 Free Spins, with Wild multipliers remaining active throughout.
The post Week 10/2025 slot games releases appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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European Esports Championship 2025 to Take Place from July 9-13
The International Esports Federation (IESF) is thrilled to announce that the European Esports Championship 2025 will be hosted in Pristina, Kosovo, from 9-13 July. This tournament will bring together 180 esports athletes from across Europe, competing in some of the world’s most popular game titles.
The championship will feature:
Counter Strike 2 – Top 16 teams
Counter Strike 2 Women – Top 8 teams
Dota 2 – Top 12 teams
The road to Pristina begins with an intense online qualification stage, taking place from 16 May to 1 June. The top-performing teams from this stage will earn their spot at the European Esports Championship, where they will battle for national glory in front of a passionate esports audience.
“We are excited to bring the European Esports Championship to Pristina, a city with an emerging esports scene and a strong community of gamers. This event will showcase the incredible talent of European players and reinforce the growing significance of esports in the region,” said Igor Nedeski, Esports Manager at IESF.
The European Esports Championship 2025 promises high-level competition,live broadcasts, and a thrilling esports experience for both players and fans. More details regarding match schedules, venue information, and streaming platforms will be revealed in the coming weeks.
The post European Esports Championship 2025 to Take Place from July 9-13 appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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RaceiQ metrics now available for free on Racing TV platforms – in time for Cheltenham Festival
RaceiQ metrics – the revolutionary data which offers exciting new tools and insights into how we assess horse racing – are now available for free to view on www.racingtv.com and Racing TV Apps.
The metrics – available for all British and Irish races – will prove a valuable tool for all race-fans and punters, especially ahead of the sport’s biggest betting week, next week’s Cheltenham Festival.
Since its launch last year, RaceiQ has become integral to Racing TV and ITV Racing’s pre- and post-race analysis – and is now available for everyone to access (no login required) via Racing TV’s newly enhanced results pages.
Racing TV users can see how horses fared across the full suite of RaceiQ metrics only minutes after every race in Britain and Ireland. This underlying tracking data is provided by Coursetrack, the award-winning live, in-race timing information system, for RMG and Irish racecourses, and also from TPD in respect of other UK racecourses.
The metrics are available in the “expanded view” of the standard Result tab, and in a new RaceiQ Comparison tab, which enables a quick comparison of all the horses in a race.
Metrics include: Finishing speed percentage (FSP), Time Index, Par Time, Par Sectionals, Par FSP, 0-20mph, Lengths Gained Jumping (LGJ) and Jump Index. For more on these, please visit www.racingtv.com/raceiq.
The revamped results pages also feature a fully integrated Sectionals tab – the only place to view both British and Irish race sectionals. The tab shows the below data for every horse in every furlong:
- Sectional time
- Race position and cumulative time from leader
- A line graph visualisation
RaceiQ is the result of an innovative partnership between Ellipse, the leading sports data and analytics company, and Racecourse Media Group (RMG), which represents media interests of 37 racecourses.
Ed Gretton, Director of Racing at RMG, said: “We couldn’t be more pleased with the reaction to RaceiQ, which has really captured the imagination and quickly gained the trust and full confidence of industry professionals. Racing TV’s website and mobile and tablet Apps are the only place to see all British and Irish sectionals, as well as the full suite of RaceiQ metrics. It’s all free to access and will revolutionise how we approach the sport.”
Roderick Grafton, MD – Horse Racing at Ellipse, added: “We have been delighted with the way in which both pundits and punters have adopted RaceiQ. The Ellipse Data Scientists and Engineers have used their expertise and learnings from other sports to generate compelling cutting-edge metrics, providing new angles and narratives in every race. We are very excited that, via RacingTV.com and its Apps, all horse racing fans will now have access to the full suite of RaceiQ metrics.”
Data is available for all British races back to March 2023, and for all Irish races back to January 1, 2024. Historic sectionals are still accessible via links to PDFs.
RaceiQ specialises in using complex modelled metrics to turn detailed GPS tracking data, provided by Coursetrack, into easily digestible content for broadcasters, participants and racing fans alike. The suite of metrics has been developed by Ellipse’s data science and engineering specialists, combined with AI and machine learning.
For businesses looking to learn more about RaceiQ, a B2B website has also been launched – www.raceiq.com. The site houses in-depth detail about RaceiQ metrics, insights, testimonials and the list of products and services on offer.
The post RaceiQ metrics now available for free on Racing TV platforms – in time for Cheltenham Festival appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.
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