Poland is set to host Counter-Strike enthusiasts once more! From December 29 to February 9, the Intel Extreme Masters Katowice 2025 will kick off the new season of the IEM series. The tournament boasts a $1 million prize pool, with elite teams from across the globe competing for the championship. Esports Charts offers insights on where to watch the event and shares intriguing details about the tournament’s history and legacy.
IEM KATOWICE 2025 REPORT PAGE AT ESPORTS CHARTS
As in previous years, IEM Katowice 2025 will be held at the iconic Spodek Arena, a renowned sports and concert venue that opened in 1971. With a seating capacity of approximately 11,500, it stands as one of Europe’s largest indoor arenas. Over the decades, it has hosted legendary acts such as Deep Purple, Iron Maiden, Metallica, Rammstein, Elton John, Tina Turner, and many more. For those unable to attend in person, the event will be streamed live on multiple platforms.
IEM KATOWICE 2025 STREAMS
The tournament will be broadcast in several languages across various platforms:
- English: ESL (Twitch, YouTube)
- Ukrainian: Maincast (Twitch, YouTube)
- Russian: Paragon (Twitch, YouTube)
Additionally, popular community casters such as Gaules, izakooo, ohnepixel, and bysl4m will provide their own streams.
TOURNAMENT FORMAT AND SCHEDULE
The format for IEM Katowice 2025 remains consistent with previous editions, featuring Play-In, Group Stage, and Playoff phases. A notable change is the updated map pool, with Train replacing Vertigo.
SCHEDULE:
- Jan 29 – 31: Play-In Stage
- Feb 1 – 4: Group Stage (two double-elimination brackets)
- Feb 7 – 9: Playoffs (single-elimination bracket)
PLAY-IN MATCHES (JANUARY 29):
- paiN Gaming vs VirtusPro — 9:30 GMT
- 3DMAX vs FlyQuest — 9:30 GMT
- Astralis vs MIBR — 12:00 GMT
- SAW vs GamerLegion — 12:00 GMT
- Wildcard vs BIG — 14:30 GMT
- Imperial Female vs FURIA Esports — 14:30 GMT
- Team Liquid vs HEROIC — 17:00 GMT
- Complexity Gaming vs Eternal Fire — 17:00 GMT
Out of the 16 teams in the Play-In stage, only 8 will advance to the Group Stage, where they will join directly invited teams.
PARTICIPATING TEAMS
GROUP A:
- G2 Esports, Team Falcons, Team Vitality, FaZe Clan + 4 teams from Play-In
GROUP B:
- Team Spirit, Natus Vincere, MOUZ, The MongolZ + 4 teams from Play-In
Six teams will progress to the Playoffs—three from each group. The top teams from each group will secure spots in the semifinals, while the second and third-place teams will begin in the quarterfinals.
HIGHLIGHTS TO WATCH
IEM Katowice 2025 promises thrilling matchups from the outset. Fans will be eager to see how revamped rosters from MOUZ, FaZe Clan, and Team Falcons perform. A particularly exciting clash will be the Brazilian derby, where FURIA Esports, led by the legendary Gabriel “FalleN” Toledo, will face off against Imperial Female.
IEM KATOWICE LEGACY
The Intel Extreme Masters has been a staple in Katowice for over a decade. The IEM Katowice Major 2019 remains the most-watched Counter-Strike event in history, peaking at 1,205,103 viewers. That year, Astralis claimed victory by defeating ENCE in the finals. Most recently, Team Spirit triumphed at IEM Katowice 2024, securing a 3-0 victory over FaZe Clan in the Grand Final.
BEYOND COUNTER-STRIKE
While Counter-Strike is the centerpiece of IEM Katowice, the event also features annual StarCraft II tournaments, showcasing top talent from Europe and South Korea. In past years, games like PUBG, League of Legends, and even Farming Simulator have been part of the lineup, making it a diverse celebration of esports.
IEM Katowice 2025 is poised to deliver another unforgettable chapter in esports history, blending intense competition with the vibrant atmosphere of one of Europe’s most iconic venues.
