IEM Dallas groups and opening matchups announced

The groups and opening matchups of IEM Dallas have been announced, with sixteen of some of the world's best teams set to head stateside for North America's biggest LAN since before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The tournament will get underway with two groups of eight battling it out in a double-elimination bracket, starting out with best-of-ones before transitioning into best-of-three matches thereafter. The top three of each group will book their spot in the playoffs with the event concluding with a best-of-five grand final where the winner will take home the lion's share of the $250,000 prize pool.

Due to visa complications, both NAVI and Entropiq are unable to attend the event in Texas, and so have been replaced by European sides BIG and Movistar Riders, respectively.

Despite this, there are some interesting Americas matchups scheduled for the opening day, seeing Liquid debut in Group B with a game against Cloud9. On the other side of the bracket, a Brazilian derby gets underway with heavyweights FURIA taking on Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo and company in Imperial.

Shortly after the conclusion of these two games, Complexity will be joining the server as they look to rebound from their disappointing showing at the Major with a duel against PGL Antwerp Major quarterfinalists, Heroic.

IEM Dallas begins next Monday with the following first round BO1 matchups:

The stage is set for IEM Dallas to be one of the most stacked events of the season, with a large portion of the teams in attendance heading to Texas fresh off of an appearance at the PGL Antwerp Major.