IEM Katowice 2020 announced with $500,000 prize pool

Intel and ESL have announced that the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) will once again be heading to Katowice, Poland, on February 28th to March 1st, 2020.

Next year’s IEM Katowice will represent the first CS:GO Masters Championship tournament held by ESL within the new ESL Pro Tour.

Throughout a week-long of competition, 16 of the world’s top CS:GO teams will battle for their share of the $500,000 prize pool, the first-ever Masters Champion title, and a point towards the Intel Grand Slam.

The mainstage competition will take place inside the Spodek Arena, where the six advancing teams will battle it out in playoffs, culminating in the grand finals where the winners will be crowned.

“Here in Katowice we do not only remember but also make esports history. This Intel® Extreme Masters will be very special in that respect,” said Michal Blicharz, Vice President of Pro Gaming at ESL. “When it first took place in 2013 it started the era of esports mega tournaments. Now, a new era starts for us with the first ever Masters Championship of the ESL Pro Tour.”

The IEM Expo will also be held at the International Congress Center (ICC). The three-day expo will include brand onsite activations, technology demonstrations, and stations for gaming.

“Intel Extreme Masters is an amazing event bringing together incredible emotions of both fans and players along with the most advanced technology and thrilling games. Being involved in these outstanding gaming moments is in the very DNA of Intel and we are proud to be a part of this amazing journey. Together with ESL we have elevated esports to levels previously unimagined.” – said Krzysztof Jonak, EMEA Territory Billings Accounts Director at Intel.

IEM Katowice 2020 will also host the Quake Pro League Stage 2 Finals. Over two days, twenty-four of the best Quake players worldwide will battle to be crowned the new Quake World Champion.