After years of using the best-of-one match format for the opening round of the play-in stage, ESL has decided to make a change. At IEM Cologne 2024, the teams will play best-of-three matches from start to finish, with the exception of the Grand Final (Bo5).
This change will undoubtedly make a lot of teams happy, especially the ones who are confident in their map pool and their ability to win longer matches. When you get to play just one map, it’s very easy to lose even against a much weaker opponent.
We’ve seen in recent months that some of the world’s strongest competitors often lose the first map but then win the other two. Even when a team doesn’t lose this map, the Bo1 format results in a very conservative play style that eliminates all risks and all spectacle. This is obviously bad for the viewers and stressful for all the participants.
IEM Cologne 2024 features 24 teams. Eight of them are already waiting for their opponents in the groups. The other 16 will compete for the eight available group stage spots in the play-in stage.
IEM Cologne 2024 Dates, Location, And Prizes
The upcoming edition of IEM Cologne will take place between August 7 – 18. As usual and as the name implies, the location will be Cologne, Germany. The total prize pool is $1 million. Of that amount, $400.000 will be offered to the winning team, $180.000 to the runner-up, and $2.500 to each of the bottom four competitors.
Format
The competitive format is very simple: double-elimination play-in stage, followed by double-elimination group stage. There will be two groups. Six teams advance to the playoffs. The winners go directly to the semifinals. This third and final stage uses the single-elimination format.
24 of the worlds best Counter-Strike teams have been assembled.
It’s about time that one of them conquers the Cathedral of Counter-Strike.
The #IEM Cologne 2024 bracket is here. pic.twitter.com/carStJ46GJ
— ESL Counter-Strike (@ESLCS) July 25, 2024
Participants
Here are 24 teams that will compete in IEM Cologne 2024:
- Natus Vincere
- Astralis
- G2 Esports
- Team Spirit
- MOUZ
- Virtus.pro
- FaZe Clan
- Team Vitality
- Complexity
- ALTERNATE aTTaX
- Eternal Fire
- Team Falcons
- HEROIC
- MIBR
- BetBoom Team
- 9z Team
- FURIA Esports
- Imperial Esports
- PaiN Gaming
- Team Liquid
- FlyQuest
- BIG
- SAW
- The MongolZ
The top eight teams on this list start in the group stage while the bottom 16 in the play-in stage.
The play-in stage favorites are Complexity, Eternal Fire, HEROIC, The MongolZ, Team Liquid, 9z Team, Team Falcons, and BIG. Of course, it’s unlikely that all of them will materialize their theoretical advantage. But at least six of them should advance to the group stage.
Overall, the teams that start in the second stage have much better chances of advancing to the playoffs and winning the trophy. At the moment, the strongest competitors seem to be Na’Vi, G2, Spirit, MOUZ, FaZe, and Vitality.
Header: ESL
