Get in, we're going back to Rio

Likely the worst kept secret in recent memory regarding the location of an event, IEM has announced this morning that they are headed back to Rio de Janiero for the upcoming IEM Brazil event which is scheduled to begin on April 17th.

Initial reports emerged during the IEM Rio Major which alleged that IEM was coming back to the city for IEM Spring, but ESL would not confirm any of that information at the time.

Now, however, the organizers have revealed that the event will be back in "Cidade Maravilhosa" and the Jeunesse Arena with sixteen teams. Shaun Clark, Senior Director Game Ecosystems - CS:GO at ESL FACEIT Group, describes the decision to return;

Last year during the IEM Rio Major, the Brazilian crowd demonstrated such an enormous enthusiasm and passion as we have never before witnessed in esports. When we announced that we’d be returning to Brazil, we could already count on a lot of excitement from the community. IEM Rio 2023 is set for an intimate atmosphere and countless memorable moments. We can’t wait to enter the Jeunesse Arena again this year and do more in, and for, the region in the future.

This event will feature a small number of Americas teams, howeve. Liquid declined to participate due to scheduling conflicts and FURIA only earned a spot not as a Partner Team, nor through the global ESL World Ranking, but as a "Local Hero".

In addition, there is a North American Qualifier and a South American Qualifier with the winners still to be determined. Complexity, favorites to advance through in the NA qualifier after reaching a record-breaking high of 10th on HLTV's World Rankings, stumbled in the late hours of the morning as they lost in the upper-bracket to MIBR. They have a second shot at the qualifier later tonight as they face paiN at 05:30PM and then MIBR, should they win, at 10:00PM.

In South America, the Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo fan favorites, Imperial, were unable to make it to the closed qualifier after losing to former teammate João "felps" Vasconcellos and his Fluxo team in the open qualifier. Fluxo are now in prime position to qualify having taken down 00 Nation and 9z to make it to the grand final. They await the victor of the aforementioned teams to play later tonight at 07:00PM for a spot in Rio.

Ticket sales for the event are scheduled to go on sale March 6th. Further details surrounding the event will be revealed in the coming weeks.