IEM Katowice 2019 Minor qualifiers announced

ESL have announced the qualifier set-up for the IEM Katowice 2019 Minors. These will be the first Minors operating under the new system, as well has having a few other changes introduced by ESL.

For the Americas, the region is once again split between North America and South America. This time both sub-regions will have their own closed qualifier, meaning South American teams will have to go through more than just the open qualifier that they have done in the past. ESL have also announced that the closed qualifiers will feature a 50/50 split in terms of invited and open qualifier teams.

ESL have also announced that depending on where you're regionally located, you will have to take part in that qualifier. This could potentially mean South American teams based in North America, like Luminosity, oNe, FURIA, would have to travel back to their home nations to take part in the closed qualifier, if not the open as well. This could also potentially mean that South African team Bravado would have to take a trip to somewhere like Dubai, with African teams being expected to take part in the Middle East qualifier.

Also read: Valve announce Major qualification changes

Each open qualifier will see the top two teams head to their region's closed qualifier. For North America, the closed qualifier is similar to last time, with sixteen teams taking part and six heading to the Americas Minor. South America's closed qualifier will see eight teams taking part, with the top two teams headed to the Minor.

The dates for the Minor qualifiers are:

• North America
  • Open Qualifier #1 - October 22nd-23rd
  • Open Qualifier #2 - October 29th-30th
  • Open Qualifier #3 - November 10th-11th
  • Open Qualifier #4 - November 26th-27th
  • Closed Qualifier - December 12th-13th

• South America
  • Open Qualifier #1 - October 24th-25th
  • Open Qualifier #2 - November 3rd-4th
  • Closed Qualifier - November 17th-18th

Full schedules, formats and sign-up details for all qualifiers will be announced next week by ESL. Invitations for the closed qualifiers will also be announced next week, with invites sent out later this week. All of these dates, and for other tournaments, are on the Dust2.us Calendar.

Also read: First 2019 Major headed for IEM Katowice

UPDATE: ESL's Vice President for Pro Gaming, Michal "CARMAC" Blicharz, has confirmed on Twitter that, similarly to the FACEIT London Major 2018, all Minors will take place in Katowice, Poland.