The Intel Extreme Masters Rio 2023 tournament will feature 16 of the world’s best Counter-Strike: Global Offensive teams battling for a $250,000 prize pool.
Two groups of eight will begin play on April 17, with the top six teams advancing to the live playoff stage from April 21-23 at the Jeunesse Arena in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Opening matches are best-of-1, with all other matches best-of-3.
The winning team will earn $100,000 and qualify for IEM Cologne 2023.
Fourteen teams have already been invited, including Brazilian fan favorite FURIA Esports. The remaining two teams will come from qualifiers in North America and South America.
Also competing will be Natus Vincere, FaZe Clan, Vitality, Ninjas in Pyjamas, MOUZ, Fnatic, Heroic, Outsiders, Cloud9, OG, 9INE, BIG and IHC Esports.
Outsiders are the defending IEM Rio champions after beating Heroic in the 2022 final.
“Last year during the IEM Rio Major, the Brazilian crowd demonstrated such an enormous enthusiasm and passion as we have never before witnessed in esports,” said Shaun Clark, a senior director of game ecosystems at ESL FACEIT Group.
“When we announced that we’d be returning to Brazil, we could already count on a lot of excitement from the community. IEM Rio 2023 is set for an intimate atmosphere and countless memorable moments. We can’t wait to enter the Jeunesse Arena again this year and do more in, and for, the region in the future.”
Tickets for IEM Rio 2023 will go on sale starting on March 6.
–Field Level Media
