ESL announce the dates for IEM Katowice and Cologne

ESL has announced the dates for the IEM Katowice and IEM Cologne, two of the most anticipated events of the upcoming 2023 ESL Pro Tour. 

ESL has confirmed the dates of their two flagship CS:GO championships for 2023. Both events are scheduled differently than the 2022 edition to align with the updated summer break dates. The Counter-Strike Professional Players’ Association revised the official summer tournament break 2022 dates earlier in August from June 12 next year to July 9, bringing the break one month earlier than in previous years. The changes forced ESL to move the 2022 edition of IEM Katowice two weeks earlier and move the IEM Cologne two weeks later. The competition will be split up into three phases, starting with the play-in stage, moving on to the group stage, and finishing with the playoffs.

IEM Katowice 2023

In accordance with the new summer break date, the 2023 iteration of IEM Katowice will take place from January 31 to February 12, two weeks earlier than its 2022 counterpart. The tournament will probably be the opening competition of the season, taking place around the same time as the BLAST Premier Spring finals this year. For the eleventh time in the venue’s history, the playoffs will be held at the Spodek Arena in Katowice.

Event Schedule

• Play-in Stage – January 31 to February 1
• Group Stage – February 2– February 5
• Playoffs – February 10 to February 12

Tickets for IEM Katowice early bird will be available for 20 euros from September 22 at 3 pm CEST. For 175 euros, viewers can purchase premium tickets that offer them access to three days of entertainment.

IEM Cologne 2023

For the first time, IEM Cologne will take place toward the close of the 2023 season. The event, which runs from July 25 to August 6, will probably be the first one after the recently revised Summer Player Break. The Cathedral of Counter-Strike LANXESS Arena will host the IEM Cologne 2023 playoffs for the seventh time. The total prize pool of $1,000,000 USD will be split between all the 24 competing teams that managed to qualify for IEM Cologne 2022. Along with this prize money, the top eight teams will also be receiving BLAST Premier circuit points, similar to the 2022 edition.

Event Schedule

•  Play-In Stage –  July 25–26
•  Group Stage – July 27–30
•  Playoffs – August 4–6

On September 27, tickets for IEM Cologne will go on sale at 3 p.m. CEST. Early bird tickets start at 34 euros, while the VIP ticket costs 299 euros and grants access to a plethora of benefits, including free drinks all weekend (non-alcoholic), a premium goodie bag, and a premium attendee badge.

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Header: ESL Gaming