Intel Extreme Masters


The Intel Extreme Masters is a series of international esports tournaments held in countries around the world. These Electronic Sports League sanctioned events, sponsored by Intel, include events in Starcraft II, , Quake Live, League of Legends and Hearthstone. The body that owns the league is Turtle Entertainment. The League has existed for 13 seasons as of 2019. The season ten tournament finals took place in Katowice, Poland. Previous events have been held in Chengdu, Dubai, Hanover, and Los Angeles, among other cities.

History

The Intel Extreme Masters are a product of the ESL. In 2006, when the Intel sponsored European tournament saw room for expansion outside of Europe, especially in North American markets, Intel provided funds for a worldwide tournament, billing it as the Intel Extreme Masters. In 2007, when established, the IEM established a format of many smaller qualifying events, leading up to a large final event that is held at CeBIT. All of the Grand Finals have been held at CeBIT. Starting in 2008, the Tournament was billed as being worldwide, boasting participants from Europe, North America, and Asia. Although Counterstrike 1.6 was the only game offered in the first season, the variety of games has increased greatly, to the four that were offered during Season 5. World of Warcraft was offered during Season 4, but was dropped for Season 5. The Season 5 Finals will be held at CeBIT and will included a prize pool.
Games offered in Intel Extreme Masters: Counter-Strike, Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos and Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne, World of Warcraft, Quake Live, StarCraft II, League of Legends

IEM seasons

Season I

Season III

EventDatesGameWinnerRunner-up
Shanghai25–28 July 2013League of Legends Team WE Invictus Gaming
Shanghai25–28 July 2013' Revival Oz
New York10–13 October 2013StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Life NaNiwa
Cologne23–24 November 2013League of Legends Gambit Gaming Fnatic
Cologne23–24 November 2013League of Legends Copenhagen Wolves Ninjas in Pyjamas
Singapore28 November – 1 December 2013League of Legends Invictus Gaming CJ Entus Frost
Singapore28 November – 1 December 2013StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm herO san
São Paulo28 January – 1 February 2014League of Legends Millenium paiN Gaming
São Paulo28 January – 1 February 2014StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm herO MC
Cologne13–16 February 2014StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm HerO Polt
World Championship
Katowice		13–16 March 2014' Virtus.pro Ninjas in Pyjamas
World Championship
Katowice		13–16 March 2014 Gnimsh Artosis
World Championship
Katowice		13–16 March 2014League of Legends KT Rolster Bullets Fnatic
World Championship
Katowice		13–16 March 2014StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm sOs herO

Season IX

EventDatesGameWinnerRunner-up
Shenzhen16–20 July 2014' Amaz Azeri
Shenzhen16–20 July 2014League of Legends Team WE EDward Gaming
Shenzhen16–20 July 2014' TaeJa Solar
Toronto28–31 August 2014StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Flash Zest
San Jose6–7 December 2014League of Legends Cloud9 Unicorns of Love
San Jose6–7 December 2014StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm herO Rain
Cologne18–21 December 2014League of Legends Gambit Gaming Counter Logic Gaming
Taipei28 January – 1 February 2015League of Legends yoe Flash Wolves Taipei Assassins
Taipei28 January – 1 February 2015StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Life Maru
World Championship
Katowice		12–15 March 2015 Fnatic Ninjas in Pyjamas
World Championship
Katowice		12–15 March 2015League of Legends Team SoloMid Team WE
World Championship
Katowice		12–15 March 2015StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm Zest Trap

Season X

EventDatesGameWinnerRunner-up
Shenzhen16–20 July 2015Heroes of the Storm MVP Black Virtus.pro
Shenzhen16–20 July 2015' Classic PartinG
Gamescom5–9 August 2015' Team EnVyUs Team SoloMid
Gamescom5–9 August 2015StarCraft II: Heart of the Swarm INnoVation soO
San Jose21–22 November 2015Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Natus Vincere Team SoloMid
San Jose21–22 November 2015League of Legends Origen Counter Logic Gaming
Cologne18–20 December 2015League of Legends ESC Ever Qiao Gu Reapers
Taipei29 January – 2 February 2016Counter-Strike: Global Offensive The MongolZ Renegades
Taipei29 January – 2 February 2016 sOs ByuN
World Championship
Katowice		4–6 March 2016Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Fnatic Luminosity Gaming
World Championship
Katowice		4–6 March 2016League of Legends SK Telecom T1 Fnatic
World Championship
Katowice		4–6 March 2016StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void Polt Snute

Season XI

EventDatesGameWinnerRunner-up
Shanghai28–31 July 2016' uThermal Neeb
Oakland19–20 November 2016' Ninjas in Pyjamas SK Gaming
Oakland19–20 November 2016League of Legends Unicorns Of Love Flash Wolves
Gyeonggi17–18 December 2016League of Legends Samsung Galaxy Kongdoo Monster
Gyeonggi17–18 December 2016Overwatch LuxuryWatch Red Lunatic-Hai
Gyeonggi17–18 December 2016StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void INnoVation Stats
World Championship
Katowice		25–26 February & 3–5 March 2017Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Astralis FaZe Clan
World Championship
Katowice		25–26 February & 3–5 March 2017League of Legends Flash Wolves G2 Esports
World Championship
Katowice		25–26 February & 3–5 March 2017StarCraft II: Legacy of the Void TY Stats

Season XII

VenueDatesGameChampionsRunners-up
Qudos Bank Arena — Sydney, Australia6–7 May 2017Counter-Strike: Global Offensive SK Gaming FaZe Clan
SNIEC — Shanghai, China27–30 July 2017Starcraft 2 Rogue herO
Oracle Arena — Oakland, United States18–19 November 2017Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Ninjas in Pyjamas FaZe Clan
Oracle Arena — Oakland, United States18–19 November 2017PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds *aAa* Gaming Tempo Storm
2018 PyeongChang — PyeongChang, South Korea5–7 February 2018Starcraft 2 Scarlett sOs
Spodek Arena — Katowice, Poland2–4 March 2018Counter-Strike: Global Offensive Fnatic FaZe Clan
Spodek Arena — Katowice, Poland2–4 March 2018Starcraft 2 Rogue Classic

Season XIII

Season XIV

Intel Extreme Masters Season XIV – World Championship in Katowice.

Format

IEM utilizes a fair number of offline qualifiers. During Season 5, qualifiers were held for North America, Europe, and Southeast Asia regions. Those who qualify for the finals are placed into two groups of six, of which the top two advance. The first place member of each group goes directly to the semifinals, and the second and third place members go into the quarterfinals.

Organisation

The Intel Extreme Masters are run by the ESL which is owned by Turtle Entertainment GmbH. Turtle Entertainment is based in Cologne, Germany.

Gallery