As part of the Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) tournament series from ESL and headline sponsor Intel, IEM Cologne 2024 is one of the most iconic recurring events in Counter-Strike esports. The best Counter-Strike 2 (CS2) teams in the world are competing for their share of the massive $1 million prize pool and the honor of lifting the coveted trophy in the LANXESS Arena in Germany, also known as the “Cathedral of Counter-Strike.”
Let’s discuss everything CS2 esports fans need to know about the event, including the format, schedule, teams competing, and our expert betting predictions.
Check out our CS2 betting guide for tips and strategies.
IEM Cologne 2024 Schedule & Format
IEM Cologne 2024 is a LAN event that runs from Aug. 7 to 18, featuring three distinct stages of competition. It starts with the Play-In Stage (Aug. 7-9), when 16 teams compete in a double-elimination bracket. All matches are best-of-three, with the top eight teams advancing to the Group Stage, joining the directly-qualified teams.
From Aug. 10-13, the remaining 16 teams will compete in the Group Stage. This stage features two groups of eight teams each and a double-elimination GSL-style format, where all matches are best-of-three. The winner of each group advances to the semifinals, while the runners-up advance to the quarterfinals as the high seeds. Teams who place third in each group qualify as the low seeds for the quarterfinals, and the rest are eliminated.
The Playoffs Stage will occur from Aug. 16-18, when the remaining teams compete in front of a roaring crowd in the “Cathedral of Counter-Strike.” The single-elimination bracket leaves little room for error as the teams square off in best-of-three semifinals and quarterfinals, and a best-of-five Grand Final.
Check out our dedicated CS2 betting section for match start times in your region.
How To Watch IEM Cologne 2024
You can watch every match live via our CS2 section and place wagers using your preferred cryptocurrency. Just click the “Live” tab and select the camera icon of any IEM Cologne 2024 match you want to watch. The embedded live stream will appear with our betslip to the right-hand side.
You can also watch IEM Cologne 2024 via the tournament organizer’s ESLCS Twitch and ESL Counter-Strike YouTube channels.
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Teams Competing In IEM Cologne 2024
Below are all 16 Play-In teams and their first-round matchups, followed by the directly qualified teams already waiting in their respective groups for the IEM Cologne 2024 Group Stage.
Play-In Stage Teams & Matchups:
- Eternal Fire vs. Team Falcons
- HEROIC vs. MIBR
- Complexity vs. ALTERNATE aTTaX
- paiN Gaming vs. Team Liquid
- BetBoom Team vs. 9z Team
- FURIA Esports vs. Imperial Esports
- The MongolZ vs. SAW
- FlyQuest vs. BIG
The eight teams who make it through the Play-In stage will join the directly qualified teams in the Group Stage.
Group A Teams:
- Natus Vincere (NAVI)
- Astralis
- Team Spirit
- G2 Esports
Group B Teams:
Our Predictions For IEM Cologne 2024
Participating in IEM Cologne 2024 is something special, as teams vie for their share of the prize pool and the honor of lifting a trophy. The event is often unpredictable, too, with tons of upsets and surprises over the years. That said, we feel up to the challenge and have put together our predictions for IEM Cologne 2024.
Please note: Our IEM Cologne predictions are based on current player and team form, the latest HLTV rankings, historical data and stats, recent performances at the BLAST Fall Groups and Esports World Cup events, and a healthy dose of the author’s expert opinion. Under no circumstances should anyone interpret this analysis as betting advice. Past performance does not guarantee future outcomes. Always gamble responsibly.
1. Natus Vincere
NAVI is the #1 team in the world heading into IEM Cologne 2024. The squad has seen great success this year, with IGL Aleksib leading them to become the first CS2 Major Championship winner (PGL Major Copenhagen) and the Esports World Cup 2024 champions.
While NAVI is the team to beat, they haven’t been flawless. We recently saw Team Liquid beating NAVI twice in a row at the BLAST Premier Fall Groups 2024 event. Despite this blemish on their record, we feel confident the squad will pull off this win, especially with the ability of jL and b1t to frag under pressure.
Natus Vincere roster:
- Valerij “b1t” Vakhovsjkyj
- Justinas “jL” Lekavičius
- Mihai “iM” Ivan
- Ihor “w0nderful” Zhdanov
- Aleksi “Aleksib” Virolainen (IGL)
- Andrij “B1ad3” Ghorodensjkyj (Coach)
2. Team Spirit
Team Spirit is the IEM Katowice 2024 and BLAST Premier Spring Final 2024 champions, earning a #2 world ranking heading into IEM Cologne 2024. Many CS2 esports fans consider Team Spirit’s star rifler, Danil “donk” Kryshkovets, as one of the best in the business of clicking heads.
If donk and AWPer sh1ro are in top form, the sky’s the limit for this crew. It would be an upset if Team Spirit doesn’t make it to the podium at this event, and odds indicate they have a great chance to lift the trophy.
Team Spirit roster:
- Danil “donk” Kryshkovets
- Dmitriy “sh1ro” Sokolov
- Boris “magixx” Vorobyev
- Myroslav “zont1x” Plakhotja
- Leonid “chopper” Vishnyakov (IGL)
- Sergey “hally” Shavayev (Coach)
3. G2 Esports
With the addition of Guatemalan entry fragger malbsMd and Polish IGL Snax, G2 Esports is looking stronger than ever. The squad showed top form at BLAST Premier Fall Groups, where they secured 1st place in their respective group, knocking out FaZe Clan. G2 Esports also finished 2nd at the Esports World Cup 2024 after suffering a reverse sweep at the hands of NAVI.
Both m0NESY and NiKo are in top form, and the new additions are acclimating quickly. If the stars of G2 Esports can keep it up and maintain their form, the squad can contend for the throne.
G2 Esports roster:
- Nemanja “huNter-” Kovač
- Nikola “NiKo” Kovač
- Ilya “m0NESY” Osipov
- Mario “malbsMd” Samayoa
- Janusz “Snax” Pogorzelski (IGL)
- Wiktor “TaZ” Wojtas (Coach)
4. Team Liquid
Team Liquid underwent the most significant changes during the player break, replacing the legendary cadiaN and adding a relatively unknown AWPer called “ultimate” as well as jks to its roster. Canadian Twistzz was also dubbed the new IGL, and the new coach, mithR, is the strategic mind.
So why do we think Team Liquid has a chance of a top-four finish at IEM Cologne 2024? Even with all the roster changes, the team sent Virtus.pro packing with a clean sweep and beat NAVI twice in a row at BLAST Premier Fall Groups 2024, signifying fantastic form!
It may be a bold prediction, but Team Liquid could push through the Play-In and Group Stage, and then earn a podium finish in Cologne.
Team Liquid roster:
- Mareks “YEKINDAR” Gaļinskis
- Keith “NAF” Markovic
- Roland “ultimate” Tomkowiak
- Justin “jks” Savage
- Russel “Twistzz” Van Dulken (IGL)
- Torbjørn “mithR” Nyborg (Coach)
Strong alternate picks for a top-four finish include Team Vitality, FaZe Clan, and MOUZ.
Final Thoughts On IEM Cologne 2024
As IEM Cologne 2024 approaches, the anticipation among CS2 fans is palpable. If previous tournaments are any indication, this year’s IEM Cologne event will blend elite talent and competition with plenty of surprises. We anticipate that our top picks—Natus Vincere, Team Spirit, G2 Esports, and Team Liquid—will make deep runs, but like we said, anything can happen. Whether you plan to bet on the favorites or you’re looking for an underdog to back, we recommend that you stay updated on team performance and adapt your strategy as the tournament progresses.
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