Guide for IEM Winter 2021 viewers

IEM Winter 2021 is starting very soon - one of the last major championships on the CS: GO roadmap. At the same time, we propose to get acquainted with the format of the tournament, rules, schedule, as well as the participants of the tournament.

IEM Winter 2021 format

IEM Winter 2021 will take place from December 2 to December 12 in Stockholm. However, there will be no spectators at the championship, since the organizers, guided by the principles of preventing the spread of coronavirus, decided to gather the participating teams in a studio format. The prize pool for IEM Winter 2021 is $ 250,000. In addition to the cash reward, teams will compete for ESL Pro Tour Points that will help qualify for IEM Katowice 2022.

Prize fund distribution

• 1st place: $ 100,000 + 1,000 points.
• 2nd place: $ 42,000 + 750 points.
• 3-4th place: $ 20,000 + 525 points.
• 5th-6th place: $ 10,000 + 350 points.
• 7th-8th place: $ 6,000 + 200 points points.
• 9th-12th place: $ 5,000 + 100 points.
• 13th-16th place: $ 4,000.
  

Teams are pre-divided into two groups (eight teams in each). At the same time, the group stage is a double elimination bracket, from where only the best three participants will advance to the playoffs. The teams will start their journey from the quarterfinals stage, from where the winners will reach the semifinals.

The teams that have become winners in their quarterfinals will secure their place in the playoffs by playing a ticket to the semifinals of the tournament in the group stage final. In this case, the team that lost in the group final will go to the championship quarterfinals, having received the top seeding. In turn, the third participant of the pre-off from each group will be determined based on the results of the lower bracket.

The opening matches of the championship will be held in the BO1 format. All remaining group stage matches will be played in BO3 format. The following draw system will be used in the championship playoffs.

Quarter-finals:

• Group A (team # 2) - Group B (team # 3).
• Group B (team # 2) - Group A (team # 3).
  

Semifinal:

• Group A (team # 1) - B2/A3.
  
• Group B (team # 1) - A2/B3.
  

All playoff matches will be BO3. An exception will be the grand final, which will be held in the BO5 format.

Draw and schedule for IEM Winter 2021

As you know, sixteen participating teams have already been divided into two groups and got their rivals in the group stage quarterfinals.

Group A:

• Ninjas in Pajamas - Astralis.
  
• MOUZ - Team Vitality.
  
• G2 Esports - TYLOO.
  
• OG - Team Liquid.

Group B:

• Gambit Esports - fnatic.
  
• ENCE - Virtus.pro.
  
• FaZe Clan - BIG.
• GODSENT - Heroic.

Thursday, December 2:

• Semi-final of the Upper Bracket # 1 (Group A).
  
• The first round of the lower bracket №1 (Group A).
• Semi-final of the upper bracket №2 (Group A).
  
• The first round of the lower bracket №2 (Group A).
  

Friday, December 3:

• The first round of the lower bracket №1 (Group B).
  
• The first round of the lower bracket №2 (Group B).
  
• Lower bracket semifinal # 1 (Group A).
  
• Semi-final of the Upper Bracket # 1 (Group B).
  
• Lower bracket semifinal # 2 (Group A).
  
• Semi-final of the upper bracket №2 (Group B).
  

Saturday, December 4:

• Lower bracket semifinal # 1 (Group B).
  
• Lower bracket semifinal # 2 (Group B).
  
• Upper bracket final (Group A).
• Lower bracket final (Group A).
  
• Upper bracket final (Group B).
• Lower bracket final (Group B).
  

Sunday, December 5:

• Quarter-finals # 1.
  
• Quarter-finals # 2.
  

Saturday, December 11:

• Semifinal # 1.
  
• Semifinal No. 2.
  

Sunday, December 12:

• Grand final.
  

Favorites of IEM Winter 2021

Among the main favorites of the championship are Gambit, Heroic, Astralis, Vitality and G2. Having reached the semifinals of PGL Major 2021, the Russian team has already won the LAN tournament in Budapest. At the same time, Heroic and Astralis want to rehabilitate themselves after a nondescript result at the last BLAST Fall Finals. The French team, given the absence of NAVI, will be ready to win their first championship of the season. Well, G2 is traditionally strong on LAN, despite all the difficulties with the line-up.

Among the teams that can potentially surprise at IEM Winter 2021 are Virtus.pro, fnatic, FaZe Clan and NIP. The CIS team, having made it into the playoffs of PGL Major 2021, has already made a big leap, raising the stakes after the player change. However, fnatic is in fantastic shape, having won the last two championships. FaZe Clan and NIP have traditionally received close attention, since the teams have extensive experience playing on the professional stage.

Latest news from the team camp:

• kennyS will help G2 by replacing nexa with visa problems.
  
• Snappi will miss the championship due to illness. The Dane will be replaced by Maden in ENCE.
• THREAT is hosting the last tournament as NIP coach - after the championship, the 33-year-old Swede will become the team's technical director.
  

IEM Winter 2021 will take place from December 2 to December 12 in Stockholm. Sixteen teams from around the world will compete for a prize pool of $ 250,000. In addition to the cash reward, teams will compete for ESL Pro Tour Points that will help qualify for IEM Katowice 2022.