ESL has revealed that it will bring more world-class esports to Australia later this year as Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) returns to Sydney for the fourth time.

IEM Sydney 2023 will happen in connection with SXSW Sydney 2023 on October 16-22. Fans from Australia and beyond can look forward to cheering on their favourite Counter-Strike teams during the final stage of the competition, which will take place in the Aware Super Theatre at ICC Sydney in Sydney, Australia.

Featuring 16 top-tier Counter-Strike teams from around the globe, the competition kicks off with the Group Stage on 16 to 18 October 2023. During those days, the competing squads will face off in two groups of eight.

At stake are one of six available spots in the Playoffs on October 20-22 and a share of the US$250,000 total prize pool. Furthermore, the winning team will qualify for the first next ESL Pro Tour Championship event in 2024, and can add a win in the race to the Intel® Grand Slam helping them get one step closer to obtaining its US$1,000,000 cash prize.

The 16 competing squads consist of six Partner Teams, a Local Hero Invite, and four teams qualifying via the ESL World Ranking. The remaining five teams qualify via regional Open and Closed Qualifiers:

• Europe
  • Open Qualifier #1 – August 9-10 – Two teams progress to the Closed Qualifier
  • Open Qualifier #2 – August 11-12 – Two teams progress to the Closed Qualifier
  • Closed Qualifier – August 23-25 – Featuring eight teams of which two teams qualify for IEM Sydney 2023
• North America
  • Open Qualifier #1 – August 9-10 – One team progresses to the Closed Qualifier
  • Open Qualifier #2 – August 11-12 – One team progresses to the Closed Qualifier
  • Closed Qualifier – August 24-25 – Featuring four teams of which one team qualifies for IEM Sydney 2023
• Asia
  • Open Qualifier #1 – August 9-10 – One team progresses to the Closed Qualifier
  • Open Qualifier #2 – August 11-12 – One team progresses to the Closed Qualifier
  • Closed Qualifier – August 24-25 – Featuring four teams of which one team qualifies for IEM Sydney 2023
• Oceania
  • Open Qualifier #1 – August 9-10 – One team progresses to the Closed Qualifier
  • Open Qualifier #2 – August 11-12 – One team progresses to the Closed Qualifier
  • Closed Qualifier – August 22-23 – Featuring four teams of which one team qualifies for IEM Sydney 2023

Graeme Du Toit, Head of Sales & Marketing Australia at ESL FACEIT Group, said:

“Since our last IEM Sydney tournament in 2019, we’ve heard the growing chorus of Australian esports fans who have expressed their desire for a return of this iconic event. So, when we were presented with a special opportunity to host IEM in Sydney again this year, we leapt at it. We’ll be counting on our fans to once again show why they’re the best esports crowd in the world this October.”

Shaun Clark, Senior Director Game Ecosystems – CS:GO at ESL FACEIT Group, said:

“Australia has a special place in our hearts when it comes to Counter-Strike events. Over the past months, Melbourne has been an amazing host for our ESL Challenger competitions, and we definitely can’t wait to come to Sydney with another IEM event. The city has already seen some of the greatest teams in Counter-Strike history be crowned Champions, including SK Gaming, FaZe Clan, and Team Liquid. Now, fans can look forward to another unforgettable event, as the world’s best teams will return to the city soon.”

The ticket sale for IEM Sydney 2023 starts on 22 June 2023, at 4:30 pm AEST. 3-day General Admission tickets are available from A$159, with General Admission Plus (A$199), Premium (A$279) and ‘God Mode’ (A$1,399) ticket types also available. More information about the ticket types and how to secure your particular ticket can be found here.

SXSW badge holders with a Sydney Platinum (A$1,495) or Games (A$1,095) badge can also access all three days of IEM Sydney 2023. An allocation of seats in the Aware Super Theatre will be set aside each day for SXSW Sydney badge holders. Learn more and buy your badge at https://sxswsydney.com/.

IEM Sydney 2023 will be broadcast live on ESL Counter-Strike’s Twitch and YouTube channels, and via dedicated broadcast partners. For more details about the competition, check out the official website and follow ESL Counter-Strike on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook. For more general information, head over to eslfaceitgroup.com and follow ESL FACEIT Group on LinkedIn.