Intel Extreme Masters Season XVI - IEM Cologne 2021
IEM Cologne 2021 (Intel Extreme Masters Season XVI - Cologne) is one of the most prestigious championships organized in the competitive Counter-Strike by the company ESL. In 2021, the tournament will be hosted in the IEM (instead of ESL One) and Intel Grand Gram series. The prize pool will be traditionally equal to $1,000,000.
Twenty-four teams will take part in IEM Cologne 2021. The teams will have to go through different ways to the tournament: direct invitations to the championship will be given to six best teams at Road to Cologne in Europe and two best teams at Road to Cologne in North America.
Tree more teams from Europe will make it to Play-In, as well as two teams from North America, and three more from South America, Oceania and Asia. The other eight slots will be taken by the winners of 6 Wild Card stages and the champions of NC Global Playoff and ESL Meisterschaft.
The championship will be taking place in several stages: play-in, a group stage and playoff. The winner of the championship will receive $400,000, 1800 Pro Tour points and 3200 BLAST Premier points.