Intel Extreme Masters Sydney 2023 – Dates, Format & Schedule

By Tit Krajnik

31 Aug 2023

Tit Krajnik 31 Aug 2023

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Intel Extreme Masters Sydney 2023 is set to take place on October 16-22
The tournament will welcome 16 Counter-Strike: Global Offensive teams
$250,000 prize pool and a direct invite to IEM Katowice 2024

Intel Extreme Masters Sydney 2023 (credit: via Twitter (@IEM))

Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Sydney 2023 is an upcoming Counter-Strike: Global Offensive esports tournament and the fifth event of the Intel Grand Slam Season 5. It’ll mark the first IEM Sydney CS:GO event in four years, and the first time it’ll visit the Aware Super Theatre.

As one of the biggest CS:GO tournaments of the year and the final IEM Sydney hosted on Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, IEM Sydney 2023 promises a whole week of top-tier CS:GO action as an event no esports fan should miss.

When is IEM Sydney 2023?

After four long years, IEM Sydney returns this October, welcoming 16 of the world’s best Counter-Strike: Global Offensive teams. The tournament will kick off on Monday, October 16, and conclude with the grand finals on Sunday, October 22, when the top two teams will fight for the $100,000 winner’s share and a direct invite to IEM Katowice 2024.

Where Is IEM Sydney 2023?

Intel Extreme Masters Sydney 2023 will take place at Aware Super Theatre in Sydney, Australia, for the first time in its history. The tournament was previously hosted at Qudos Bank Arena in 2017-2019.

IEM Sydney 2023 Format

IEM Sydney 2023 will consist of two stages – the Group Stage and the Playoffs – with only the top six teams from the group stage advancing to the knockout stage.

Group Stage

Two eight-team double-elimination (GSL) groups
Opening matches are best-of-one (Bo1)
All following matches are best-of-three (Bo3)
The top three teams from each group advance to the Playoffs
Group stage winners advance to the semifinals
Group stage runners-up advance to the quarterfinals as High Seeds
Group Stage third-placed teams advance to the quarterfinals as Low Seeds

Playoffs

Top six teams from the group stage (three from each group)
Single-elimination bracket
All matches, including the final, are played as best-of-three (Bo3)

IEM Sydney 2023 Teams

Intel Extreme Masters Sydney 2023 will welcome 16 CS:GO teams, including six ESL Partner Teams, three teams who’ve earned their spot at the tournament based on their ESL World Ranking, five teams who’ve qualified from their respective regional qualifiers, and “Local Hero Invite”.

ENCE – ESL Partner Team
FaZe Clan – ESL Partner Team
G2 Esports – ESL Partner Team
MOUZ – ESL Partner Team
Natus Vincere – ESL Partner Team
Team Vitality – ESL Partner Team
Cloud9 – ESL World Ranking (#5)
GamerLegion – ESL World Ranking (#8)
Monte – ESL World Ranking (#11)
Fnatic – ESL World Ranking (#13)
Apeks – EU Qualifier
BetBoom Team – EU Qualifier
Complexity – NA Qualifier
Lynn Vision Gaming – Asia Qualifier
VERTEX Esports Club – Oceanic Qualifier
Grayhound Gaming – Local Hero Invite

What Is The IEM Sydney 2023 Prize Pool

IEM Sydney 2023 will offer a $250,000 prize pool, like IEM Dallas 2023 and IEM Rio 2023. The prize pool will be divided among all 16 participating teams, with the champions taking home $100,000, while first-eliminated squads receive a $4,000 consolation prize.

Champions - $100,000 + IEM Katowice 2024 invite
Runners-up - $42,000
3rd-4th-place - $20,000
5th-6th- place - $10,000
7th-8th-place - $6,000
9th-12th-place - $5,000
13th-16th-place - $4,000

Where To Bet On IEM Sydney 2023?

Esports bettors can find IEM Sydney betting odds on all the biggest online bookmakers, including traditional sportsbooks, crypto bookies, and esports betting sites. Since IEM Sydney 2023 is one of the biggest and most prestigious CS:GO esports events, it is covered well by betting sites, making it harder to find a sportsbook that won’t have betting markets for it than one that does.

Still, it’s important to use the best esports bookmakers for betting on IEM Sydney 2023, including Stake.com. Stake offers very competitive esports betting odds, has excellent coverage of all esports titles, and often offers various bonuses and promotions esports bettors can take advantage of, including a welcome bonus, which you can claim by using code NEWBONUS.