Here’s the top S-tier tournaments to keep your eyes on in 2023.
Following the end of the Blast Premier World Final, the 2022 CSGO season is over. The best players in the world will most likely have a couple of days off so that they can prepare for 2023. Speaking of the devil, this year will be crucial for many teams because there are all sorts of events to keep an eye on.
Even though we don’t know every big tournament yet, there are a couple of important names that every CSGO fan should be aware of. That’s why this article will include a couple of options and provide you with more details about each one. Needless to say, we will give an in-depth overview of the tournament once it is due.
Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2023
The first big tournament of 2023 that we will have the chance to watch will take place in late January. Starting on January 31, this IEM event will include 24 of the world’s top teams, and it will have a staggering $1,000,000 USD prize pool. As its name suggests, the tournament will take place in Katowice, Poland.
The teams will be split into a double-elimination bracket where the opening matches are Bo1, and the following ones are Bo3. Once the play-in is over, the top 8 will advance to the Group Stage. There, we will have two GSL Groups of 8 teams each, and the top 3 will go to the Playoffs.
The teams that finish first go to the Semifinals, the runners-up advance to the Quarterfinals as the High Seed, whereas the 3rd goes to the Quarterfinal as the Low Seed. In terms of the Playoffs, they will be in a single-elimination bracket.
Teams
Naturally, the first big event of 2023 will include the best CSGO teams in the world. We will see the likes of FaZe Clan, Team Vitality, Outsiders, Natus Vincere, Heroic, G2 Esports, Team Liquid, MOUZ, Team Liquid, and more.
The winner will get $400,000 USD and an invitation to IEM Cologne 2023.
ESL Pro League Season 17
Around two weeks after the end of IEM Katowice 2023, the professional CSGO scene will give us access to the ESL Pro League Season 17. This is also an offline event that will take place in Malta and have a prize pool of $835K USD. Similar to the previous event, this one will also include 24 teams.
These teams will be divided into four groups of six, where those that finish will go to the Quarterfinals. On the other hand, the teams that finish 2nd and 3rd will get the chance to play in the Round of 12.
The playoffs will be in a single elimination bracket with Bo3 matches until the Grand Final. Needless to say, the latter will be in a Bo5 format.
Teams
We do not know the names of all teams yet, but several stand out. For example, CSGO fans will be able to watch FaZe Clan, FURIA Esports, G2 Esports, Na’Vi, MOUZ, G2 Esports, and more. Astralis is also one of the teams that will be playing, so fans will see dev1ce on the big stage again.
The winners will get a total of $175,000 USD and the chance to play at IEM Cologne 2023.
Intel Extreme Masters Spring 2023
Up next, we have the IEM Spring 2023. This tournament will be held in April, but we do not know any information about the teams or the location. What we do know is that it will have 16 teams split into double-elimination groups.
Interestingly, each group will consist of 8 teams, and only the opening matches will be Bo1. After the Group Stage is over, the best 3 teams will advance to the Semifinals and the Quarterfinals (High & Low Seeds).
Similar to the other tournaments, the winners will receive a slot for IEM Cologne 2023. Besides that, the team that wins will split $100,000 USD.
BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023
May 2023 will be very interesting because we will have the chance to watch the BLAST.tv Paris Major 2023. CSGO’s first Major of the year will take place in France’s capital, and it will include the best 24 CSGGO teams.
Unsurprisingly, an event of this caliber has an impressive prize pool of $1,250,000 USD. The winner will take $500,000 USD and a qualification for IEM Cologne 2023.
Even though we do not know the teams that will be playing yet, we know that there will be a 16-team Swiss System Format during the Challengers Stage. Once it is over, the top 8 teams advance to The Legends Stage. This is where we will have another 16 Team Swiss System Format, and the top 8 go to The Champions Stage.
The teams that reach this stage will play in a single-elimination Bo3 format.
Intel Extreme Masters Dallas 2023
IEM Dallas 2023 will take place in the U.S. and feature 16 teams. Although the tournament begins just a few days after the end of the Paris Major, we expect to see many top CSGO teams. Sadly, we do not know any information about the participants yet.
However, we know that the Group Stage will feature a GSL format. In terms of the playoffs, we will have access to a single-elimination bracket. The team that wins gets $100K USD and a ticket for IEM Cologne 2023.
Intel Extreme Masters Cologne 2023
Late July of 2023 will be one of the most interesting times of the year for CSGO fans because we will have the chance to watch IEM Cologne 2023. One of the year’s most prestigious events will take place in Cologne, Germany, and offer a $1,000,000 USD prize pool.
Like other top-tier CSGO events, this one will have a Play-In, Group Stage, and Playoffs. In the end, the winners will take $400,000 USD, as well as a slot for IEM Katowice 2024.
ESL Pro League Season 18
Following the end of IEM Cologne, August of 2023 will allow us to watch ESL Pro League Season 18, which will take place in Malta. The 24 teams that will take part in the competition will be divided into 4 groups of 6 teams each. In the end, the team that finishes first goes to the Quarterfinals, whereas the 2nd and 3rd place teams will advance to the Round of 12.
Once the playoffs arrive, we will see a single-elimination bracket where all matches are Bo3. However, the final will be Bo5 because the winners will get $175,000 USD and a slot for IEM Katowice 2024.
Teams
Even though we do not know the teams that will compete in some of the other events, this is not the case here. We will have the chance to see names like Astralis, Evil Geniuses, G2 Esports, Heroic, Na’Vi, MOUZ, and more.
Intel Extreme Masters Fall 2023
The last big CSGO event of 2023 that we are currently aware of is the IEM Fall 2023. Although it will be an offline event, we don’t know its exact location yet. However, we know that it will take place between October 16 and 22 and will feature 16 teams.
The winners will take home $100,000 USD and a slot for IEM Katowice 2024. Of course, before we see who wins, we have to watch the Group Stage, which will feature 2 GSL groups where the opening matches are bo1, and everything else is Bo3.
After the end of the groups, IEM Fall 2023 will have its Playoffs, which will be in a single-elimination bracket.
As mentioned earlier, we will provide you with even more information about each event once it is time for it. Make sure to follow our site closely because we can show you the best CSGO betting sites in the world.
