IEM Dallas 2022 begins

Just a little over a week after the latest Major concluded, the CS:GO esports community is eagerly awaiting another big event. The Intel Extreme Masters Dallas is set to begin on May 30, with 16 teams vying for the $100,000 main prize.

Some of the biggest names in CS:GO travel to Dallas to compete in the Intel Extreme Master event of the year. With big cash and plenty of Pro Tour and BLAST Premier points up for grabs, it’s going to be an unmissable week in Texas.

The $250,000 tournament splits its 16 teams into two groups of eight. Each group contests a double-elimination bracket, with the top three teams from each group progressing to a single-elimination playoff bracket.

Group A

FaZe Clan – LookingForOrg – Astralis – Team Vitality – G2 – Movistar Riders – MOUZ – ENCE

Group A is incredibly top-heavy, featuring both PGL Major Antwerp winners FaZe Clan and semifinalists ENCE. The group also features Astralis, Team Vitality, and G2, who will all be looking to bounce back after disappointing results in Antwerp.

Rounding out the group is LookingForOrg, who serve as the lone Oceania representative; Movistar Riders, who come off a semifinal appearance at the Pinnacle Cup IV; and MOUZ, who are looking for their first impactful tournament of 2022.

It’s a tough group, with a lot of big names likely duking it out for just three spots in the next round. Expect heartbreak for some for iconic orgs.

Group B

FURIA – Imperial Esports – Team Liquid – Cloud9 – Ninjas in Pyjamas – BIG – mibr – Complexity

Group B is headlined by FURIA and NiP, who will likely be battling it out for the top seeding out of the group. BIG and mibr, along with Movistar in Group A, serve as the replacements for NAVI, Entropiq, and Heroic, who all withdrew due to visa or Covid issues. With both BIG and mibr having fallen short at the recent PGL Major, both will be looking to mark their mark at this tournament. However, mibr will not be able to unleash recently promoted academy prospect Breno “brnz4n” Poletto, who misses the tournament due to visa issues.

Elsewhere in the group, Cloud9 will be looking for another shot to impress with their recently acquired roster. Imperial will also welcome back coach Luis “peacemaker” Tadeu from his provisional ESIC suspension. Team Liquid will also look to repeat their heroics from 2019, when they won IEM Chicago.

Group B isn’t as difficult to navigate as Group A. However, there are a number of teams that you will have to somehow overcome for any hope of progressing. Expect a very heated battle for the third and final spot in this group.

IEM Dallas begins on May 30 and concludes with the Grand Final on June 5.

Header: Michael Barera, IEM