Opening matches of IEM Cologne 2023 announced
Today ESL has announced the opening matchups for their flagship tournament held in Germany later this month. Following the format that has become synonymous with the premier IEM events such as Katowice, Cologne will commence with a Play-In stage featuring 16 teams. Of those potential contenders, 8 will progress to the group stage to join the other 8 teams that qualified through a mix of previous championship success and ESL Ranking positions.
The upper side of the bracket features a sole team of interest for the Americas, with North America's number one team in action. Jonathan "EliGE" Jablonowski will make his ESL tournament debut for Complexity against a new-look fnatic team in the first round of the Play-In on July 26. If the Dallas-based organization is successful in its endeavor, it will await the winner of 9INE versus OG for a shot at the group stage.
The lower side of the opening bracket is set to be an eventful one for the Americas, with FURIA, Imperial, and Liquid all in action. NA's former darling Liquid will take on their longtime organizational rivals Astralis, with Apeks or BIG awaiting the winner. As for the Brazilians, Gabriel "FalleN" Toledo's new look FURIA side will square off with Aussie side Grayhound, while the Professor's former students Imperial will take on Monte. If both South American teams are to win their opening fixtures, the stage will be set for a heated grudge match between the two.
As for the group stage itself, defending IEM Cologne champions FaZe await one of the qualifying Play-In teams as a result of their victorious outing at ESL Pro League Season 17, which also netted them the Intel Grand Slam. Other teams who have avoided the Play-In ordeal are both Major finalists Vitality and GamerLegion, new look rosters Cloud9 and NAVI, as well as Heroic, ENCE, and G2.
Americas teams' Play-in Round 1
Complexity vs. fnatic 
FURIA vs. Grayhound 
Imperial vs. Monte 
Liquid vs. Astralis 
IEM Cologne is set to kick off with the Play-In phase on July 26, with the group stage commencing on July 29.
