CS 2
The Play-In stage just ended, and we witnessed a lot of Counter-Strike 2 action. But it's not over yet; we have seven more days of exciting games starting tomorrow!
Now we have a complete list of the teams that will play at the Group Stage and fight for the $1,000,000 USD prize pool and a spot at IEM Cologne 2024. The show will go on starting February 3 to February 11.
IEM Katowice Main Stage Format
Group Stage:
- 16 teams (8 from Play-Ins, 8 directly qualified)
- Two groups of eight teams each
- Double-elimination GSL format
- All matches are Best-of-three (bo3)
Playoffs:
- Six teams including two direct semifinalists
- Single-elimination
- Semifinals and Quarterfinals: Best-of-three (bo3)
- Grand Final: Best-of-five (bo5)
Prize Pool
Main Event Teams
IEM Katowice - Group Stage TeamsDirectly Qualified Teams
- G2 Esports
- MOUZ
- FaZe Clan
- Team Vitality
- Complexity Gaming
- Natus Vincere
- Monte
- Team Falcons
Teams Qualified From Play-In
- Cloud9
- Spirit
- Eternal Fire
- GamerLegion
- Heroic
- ENCE
- Rebels
- Apeks
Main Favorites
All of them played before at BLAST Spring Groups just a few days ago, and we could see their form and what shape they're in now.
Vitality
Being the number-ranking team in the world did look shaky, but maybe they just had to wake up. We must see it here if they bring their A-Game back and win another tournament. They will still go here as the main favorite, that's for sure.
Na'Vi
It was unexpected of them to destroy their group even though they were one of the favorites, but it seems like they found their perfect way to play, and as of now, they're real contenders to win this tournament since other teams are looking a bit off.
G2
They could have shown more consistency and were on the edge of failing at BLAST Spring Groups. Losing their player 'jKs' still seems to hurt. They must find consistency and a new playstyle and fix their map pool with 'nexa’ instead of 'jKs'.
FaZe
They didn't wake up at first and lost to an underdog, but later, they won their group, and the beast awakened and showed us that they were still dangerous.
These days, after many roster changes, we can only expect these four teams to win a tournament.
The rest of the teams are yet to show what they're capable of, and it would be good for Counter-Strike 2 to see a new squad shine to the top!
The first matches start on February 3 at 13:30 CET time. Don’t miss the action!
Full Schedule
Day 1: February 3
- Group A Upper Bracket:
FaZe vs. Rebels, Falcons vs. Eternal Fire starting at 13:30 CET,
Na’Vi vs. Spirit and Complexity vs. Apeks starting at 16:30 CET
- Group B Upper Bracket:
Vitality vs. ENCE, G2 vs. Heroic, starting at 19:30 CET
Day 2: February 4
- Group B Upper Bracket:
Monte vs. GamerLegion, MOUZ vs. Cloud9, starting at 13:30 CET
- Group A Upper Bracket:
Spirit vs. Complexity starting at 16:30 CET,
Eternal Fire vs. FaZe starting at 19:30 CET
Day 3: February 5
- Group B Lower Bracket:
Heroic vs. Vitality, Monte vs. Cloud9, starting at 13:30 CET
- Group B Upper Bracket:
G2 vs. ENCE, GamerLegion vs. MOUZ, starting at 16:30 CET
- Group A Lower Bracket:
Complexity vs. Falcons, Natus Vincere vs. Eternal Fire starting at 19:30 CET
Day 3: February 6
- Group B Lower Bracket:
Heroic vs. GamerLegion, Monte vs. G2, starting at 13:30 CET
TBD vs. TBD starting at 19:30 CET
- Group A Upper Bracket:
Spirit vs. FaZe starting at 16:30 CET
- Group A Lower Bracket:
Falcons vs. Natus Vincere starting at 16:30 CET
- Group B Upper Bracket:
MOUZ vs. ENCE starting at 19:30 CET
Day 5: February 9
- Quarter-final #1:
FaZe vs. G2 starting at 16:15 CET
- Quarter-final #2:
ENCE vs. Falcons starting at 19:30 CET
Day 6: February 10
- Semi-final #1:
MOUZ vs. FaZe starting at 16:15 CET
- Semi-final #2:
Spirit vs. Falcons starting at 19:30 CET
Day 7: February 11
- Grand Final:
TBD vs. TBD starting at 17:00 CET
