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Everything You Need to Know Ahead of Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2024

Published

2 years ago

January 29, 2024

Reading Time: 5 minutes

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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Bubblin’ Riches surfaces with stacks of coin-filled fun

Published

5 minutes ago

October 16, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Play’n GO invites players underwater in Bubblin’ Riches, a 6×4 slot where golden coins and greedy fish collide for submerged surprises.

Set in a playful underwater reef, Bubblin’ Riches brings a burst of colour and charm to the reels. At the heart of the action is a bloated Goldfish with a hoarding habit – every Coin Scatter that lands could feed its fortune, or set off a surprise payout. As part of Play’n GO’s expanding roster of quirky, character-led games, this release turns Hold & Spin mechanics into something far more unpredictable, with a visual flair that brings every coin flip to life.

Bubblin’ Riches thrives on suspense and spectacle. Players can trigger Lock’n Gold by landing six Coin Scatters – launching a sticky respin feature where coins flip to reveal multipliers up to 10x, and a full screen secures an instant 500x win. Meanwhile, the towering coin stack above the reels is more than just a visual gag: it can burst at any moment, showering players with jackpots up to 1,000x. For those chasing longevity, Reward Spins introduce sticky Wild Multipliers and up to 65 spins – all anchored by a spinning prize wheel.

Fans of whimsical, visual-forward slots like Hugo Carts or Nyjah Huston – Skate for Gold will find plenty to love in Bubblin’ Riches. Its character-first design and surprise-based mechanics align with Play’n GO’s wider focus on entertainment, while the bubbling tension of the Goldfish jackpot stack introduces a fresh twist to classic features.

Magnus Wallentin, Games Ambassador at Play’n GO, said: “Bubblin’ Riches builds anticipation in every spin, with a charming visual twist. It’s a playful example of how we blend innovative mechanics with entertainment value.”

This light-hearted slot blends humour, excitement, and vivid visuals – perfect for players looking to dip into something refreshingly different.

The post Bubblin’ Riches surfaces with stacks of coin-filled fun appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Yaspa unveils new brand identity as payments and identity fintech accelerates global growth

Published

5 minutes ago

October 16, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Yaspa, the award-winning fintech specialising in iGaming payments and identity solutions, has unveiled a new brand identity designed to reflect its growth and maturity as it expands into new markets.

The rebrand marks a significant milestone in Yaspa’s evolution from an early-stage fintech to a global payments intelligence platform. The new identity builds on Yaspa’s mission to make payments more intelligent, helping operators and merchants connect with their customers in real time through trusted, data-driven experiences.

The refreshed brand introduces a cleaner, more contemporary visual identity centred around simplicity and human connection. Its updated logo, colour palette and design system have been crafted to convey transparency, confidence and momentum – emphasising Yaspa’s pioneering approach to innovation and collaboration.

The new brand launch coincides with a period of sustained growth for Yaspa, which has expanded from 15 to 70 employees in the past 18 months and recently announced a $12m investment round led by Discerning Capital. The company is now accelerating international expansion with a new US entity based in Atlanta, Georgia. Yaspa also announced the opening of a tech hub in Leeds, UK, in August.

Kate Marsden, Chief Marketing Officer at Yaspa, said: “Our new brand is a statement of intent. It reflects who we’ve become – a confident, connected and truly intelligent business that’s growing fast and taking our technology to new markets. We have created an identity that captures both the strength of our product and the clarity of our purpose – to help businesses make better decisions through smarter payments.

“Payments can be complex, but our goal is to make them feel effortless. Every element of our new look has been designed to communicate that sense of ease and intelligence. The identity is modern and approachable, because trust and transparency sit at the heart of what we do.

“As we scale into new regions, we want a brand that travels well and one that feels as relevant in Las Vegas as it does in London. The rebrand is a fresh chapter for Yaspa, but our focus remains the same: making instant payments personal.”

The post Yaspa unveils new brand identity as payments and identity fintech accelerates global growth appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.

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Elantil partners with G-Games to add next-gen content to online marketplace

Published

5 minutes ago

October 16, 2025

George Miller

Reading Time: 2 minutes

Pioneering platform solutions provider teams up with innovative software studio to bring operators an all-new line-up of slots, casual games and multiplier titles

Elantil, the ground-breaking technology company that’s redefining the future of the industry with its strategic iGaming backbone, has announced it has agreed a new partnership with G-Games that will add next-gen content to its online marketplace.

A leading provider of both classic and casual titles, G-Games brings out at least 40 new releases each year and specialises in content that has been heavily tailored to support local market needs – including a range of high-payout, low-stakes slots that are built specifically for German players.

Always a market innovator, G-Games is currently hard at work developing a new line-up of multiplayer slots that are designed to bridge the gap between traditional casino play and video game-style entertainment, empowering partners to engage with the next generation of customers.

With this presenting a major opportunity for operators to tap into the Twitch slots, G-Games will undoubtedly be a popular addition to Elantil’s Marketplace for all clients looking to future-proof their line-ups and increase market share.

Of course, being an Elantil partnership, marketplace operators will be able to reach out to the provider directly to form their own custom contracts, with this allowing them to save on costs and create agreements that support their unique business needs, without Elantil dictating the terms.

John Debono, Chief Technical Officer at Elantil, said: “With Elantil’s Marketplace redefining the relationship between operators and suppliers, it’s imperative that we continue to integrate with forward-thinking companies that can offer something new. G-Games are definitely one such provider, and we’re thrilled to now be able to offer their next-gen content to all Elantiloperators.”

Helen Walton, Chief Commercial Officer at G-Games, said: “At G-Games, we pride ourselves on providing flexible partnerships that are always sprinkled with a little G-Games magic. With our content now being available via Elantil’s Marketplace, we’ll be able to supply even more operators with a truly bespoke service that can help them achieve the results they’re looking for.”

The post Elantil partners with G-Games to add next-gen content to online marketplace appeared first on European Gaming Industry News.