Counter-Strike 2 competition pits 16 of the world’s best teams against one another, with the top six squads battling it out live at the Farmasi Arena (formerly known as Jeunesse Arena) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on October 11-13. Tickets on sale April 5
- Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM) Rio 2024 to take place on October 7 – 13 featuring 16 of the world’s best Counter-Strike 2 teams battling it out for a share of the $250,000 prize pool.
- The final three days will be played live at the Farmasi Arena (formerly known as Jeunesse Arena) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- Tickets on sale April 5 at 12:00 BRT.
- ESL FACEIT Group continues to expand its presence in South America with more top-tier competitions in the region.
April 2, 2024, Cologne/New York/Rio de Janeiro – ESL FACEIT Group (EFG), the world’s leading esports and video game entertainment company, today revealed Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM) is returning to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, on October 7 – 13, 2024, with an ESL Pro Tour (EPT) Masters competition in Counter-Strike 2.
Initially announced as IEM Fall 2024, IEM Rio 2024 will see 16 top Counter-Strike 2 teams from around the world battle it out for a share of the $250,000 prize pool and a spot in the first EPT Championship in 2025. Last year’s event attracted over 28.4 million unique viewers and generated over 21 million hours watched, marking one of EFG’s most successful tournaments in Latin America.
“We’re excited to bring IEM to Rio for the third consecutive year and welcome fans back to the Farmasi Arena,” said Marc Winther, Head of Game Ecosystems, Counter-Strike at EFG. “South America is an ever-growing market for esports and a priority for EFG as we continue to foster communities around competition throughout the region. The mixture of IEM’s global renown, the caliber of competition, and the unmatched atmosphere fans bring to Brazil lines IEM Rio 2024 to be another unforgettable event.“
“Once again, Intel Extreme Masters in Rio de Janeiro truly highlights the dedication and enthusiasm of Brazilian gamers and esports fans. Being a part of this historic moment for the gaming community in Brazil and Latin America is a tremendous honor for Intel, especially because the CS community makes it one of the biggest esports events in the world. This championship showcases the growing strength of the Americas Region as a focal point that will continue to engage new generations, and Intel is proud to be a part of it,” complements Intel Brazil marketing director Carlos Augusto “Guto” Buarque.
Fans from Brazil and beyond can look forward to experiencing the action live during the final three days of the EPT Masters tournament, with the ticket sale starting on April 5 at 12:00 BRT. Ticket types include Infield and Rank tickets with 1-day and 3-day options and ticket prices start at R$150 (R$75 half price). More information about the ticket sale is available here.
The tournament will commence October 7 with a three-day-long Group Stage where teams are divided in two groups of eight. The top three of each group will then advance to the live Playoffs on October 11 – 13 to prove their worth and attempt to claim the coveted title.
Furthermore, the squad prevailing at IEM Rio 2024 will be one step closer to securing the Intel® Grand Slam V. The first team to win three EPT Masters tournaments and one EPT Championship tournament inside a span of ten consecutive events will claim the $1,000,000 cash prize and iconic gold bars.
Out of the 16 contenders, 11 will be confirmed after July 22, including four teams invited based on their position in the ESL World Ranking, six Louvre Partner teams, and the Local Hero. The remaining five slots are up for grabs for squads competing in the following online Open and Closed Qualifiers taking place on FACEIT:
- Online Qualifier Europe:
- Online Qualifier North America:
- Online Qualifier South America:
- Online Qualifier Asia:
IEM Rio 2024 is part of the ESL Pro Tour which connects numerous ESL tournaments into a dedicated circuit featuring three tiers of competition: EPT Championship, EPT Masters, and EPT Challenger. The tour provides established and upcoming teams worldwide with a clear and consistent pathway to climb through the ranks and ultimately qualify for an EPT Championship.
For more information about IEM Rio 2024 head over to the official website, and follow ESL CS on X, Facebook, and Instagram. For more general information, visit eslfaceitgroup.com, and follow ESL FACEIT Group on LinkedIn.
About ESL FACEIT Group
ESL FACEIT Group (EFG) is the leading esports and video game entertainment company dedicated to creating worlds beyond gameplay where players and fans become community. EFG is built on a legacy of world-renowned brands including ESL, FACEIT, DreamHack and DreamHack Sports Games, providing innovative ecosystems for global communities of players, fans and creators around the games they love. Working alongside leading partners, brands and global IPs, EFG operates an unmatched portfolio of live events, digital platforms and developer tools that reach and engage millions of gamers worldwide. For more information visit www.eslfaceitgroup.com.
About ESL
ESL creates a world where everybody can be somebody. For more than two decades, we have been shaping the industry and leading esports and gaming innovation globally across the most popular video games, creating a comprehensive ecosystem with opportunities for players to go from zero to hero and for fans to witness the best stories esports has to offer. The ESL portfolio consists of high-profile products such as the ESL Pro Tour, Intel® Extreme Masters, the Snapdragon Pro Series, and many more, ranging from grassroots to global elite competitions. ESL is part of ESL FACEIT Group, the leading esports and video game entertainment company.
About Intel® Extreme Masters
Intel® Extreme Masters is the longest-running global professional esports tournament circuit in the world. Started in 2006 by Intel® and ESL, the competition features the world’s best gamers in Counter-Strike, StarCraft® II, and other esport titles. Approaching two decades of history and many record-breaking events in terms of viewership and stadium attendance, IEM is widely considered one of the most prestigious and traditional esports tournaments in the world (www.intelextrememasters.com).
