NA's Guide to IEM Cologne 2024
After a lengthy payer break this summer, it feels like we have just immediately jumped back into the high-scaled action with the Esports World Cup, BLAST Premier Fall Groups, and now IEM Cologne. North America hasn't had the best start to the season, but there is hope with M80's performances with Mason "Lake" Sanderson and the reimagined Liquid with Russel "Twistzz" Van Dulken as a new IGL.
For IEM Cologne, NA fans can look to Complexity and Liquid for representing their region at the event while South America will be sending FURIA, MIBR, Imperial, paiN, and 9z to the event in Germany.
Every single team from the Americas will have to partake in the Play-In due to the seeding. With more teams to watch it also increases the chances that fans could see at least one of the region's squads appear at the Lanxess Arena for playoffs.
Teams
As mentioned before, there will be seven teams from the Americas that will partake in IEM Cologne 2024. Each team will need to compete in the Play-In with Complexity and Liquid just missing out on the cut. FURIA, MIBR, Imperial, paiN, and 9z will grace the stage from South America.
Group Play Invites
MOUZ: 2,309 Points | ESL Pro League S19 G2: 1,909 Points | IEM Dallas 2024 FaZe: 1,969 Points | IEM Chengdu
Spirit: 1,281 Points | IEM Katowice Vitality: 1,829 Points | ESL WR
NAVI: 1,320 Points | ESL WR
Astralis: 930 Points | ESL WR Virtus.pro: 894 Points | ESL WR
Play-in Invites
HEROIC: 579 Points | ESL WR EU
Eternal Fire: 428 Points | ESL WR EU Falcons: 355 Points | ESL WR EU
Complexity: 794 Points | ESL WR NA
9z: 530 Points | ESL WR SA
MongolZ: 534 Points | ESL WR AS
FlyQuest: 343 Points | ESL WR OCE
Liquid: 719 Points | ESL WR
FURIA: 395 Points | ESL WR Imperial: | 362 Points ESL WR
BIG: 349 Points | ESL WR BetBoom: 274 Points | ESL WR paiN: 267 Points | ESL WR MIBR: 235 Points | ESL WR
SAW: 235 Points | ESL WR aTTaX: N/A Points | German Qualifier
3DMAX: 220 Points | ESL WR (Replaced BetBoom)
It will be difficult for North America, primarily those on the West Coast, to watch some of the Play-In matches live. Games are set to kick off at 04:30AM on Wednesday, with the first matches featuring teams from the Americas to begin at 07:30AM with 9z and MIBR. Complexity are set to play at 10:30AM with Liquid ending the first round of play with their 01:30PM start time.
Complexity is the highest-ranked team in the opening round and will play ALTERNATE aTTaX, while Liquid will need to play regional rivals paiN. FURIA and Imperial are also set to duke it out in a Brazilian Battle.
Format
Unlike previous years, IEM Cologne's Play-In will no longer feature any best-of-ones. CS2's change to MR12 has reduced the total gameplay time for matches and gives tournament organizers a bit more flexibility in the formats. ESL announced that all matches at IEM Cologne 2024 will be best-of-three with the Grand Final continuing as a best-of-five marathon.
The Play-In is a double-elimination, best-of-three bracket where teams must win two best-of-threes to advance to the main stage of IEM Cologne. Sixteen teams have been invited to this opening stage of the $1,000,000 event with only eight advancing to face squads like NAVI, Vitality, and G2.
You can catch all of the news, updates, and action from Dust2.us throughout the event.
