What are the Intel Extreme Masters? 

Intel Extreme Masters has been running high quality competitive gaming events since inception in 2007. Each season IntelEM runs a series of qualifying events (Global Challenges) at various conventions around the world. always culminating in a Grand Final during CeBIT (Center for Office Automation Technology and Telecommunication) located at the worlds largest fairgrounds inHanoverGermany. 

IntelEM is a truly international event holding Global Challenges in North America, South America, Europe, and Asia. 

In Season 5 IntelEM added League of Legends to the competitive gaming line up with an invite only tournament offering an initial prize pool of 13,500$ 

At the March 2011 finals Team Fnatic (myRevenge) brought down the title prize of 5,950$ 

Millenium and SK Gaming rounded out second and third place earning 3,350$ and 2,425$ respectively.

 

The Season 6 Explosion 

In an extremely short period of time the competitive scene has exploded. The prize pools have more than doubled and participation has grown wildly. 

As a result IntelEM Season 6 is delivering furiously intense matches of the highest caliber. IntelEM now stands as one of the premier competitions for League of Legends world wide!

 

Season 6 of Intel Extreme Masters is currently under way!  

Following the standard IntelEM format, there are five Global Challenges to determine the final competitors for the Intel Extreme Masters World Championships at CeBIT.

 

The Global Challenge Tournament Set up:

Teams begin in a round-robin group stage based off their qualifier results. The top two teams from each group advance to the playoffs. 

The playoffs then consist of straight bracket single elimination set up. Each team battles through a best of three to determine the last teams standing. 

The top two teams from each Global Challenge automatically qualify for the Intel Extreme Masters World Championships inGermany.

 

Stage 1: Global Challenge Cologne at Gamescom: 

The North American League of Legends teams proved their international prowess by sweeping through the competition leading to an all American final. Team Solomid (TSM) overtook their chief rivals Counter-Logic Gaming (CLG) in an incredible best of three. 

Final Prize pool: 

  • League of Legends ($32,000)
  • 1st CLG - $12.000
  • 2nd Team Solomid - $6,000
  • 3rd fnatic - $3,400
  • 4th Millenium - $2,400
  • 5th-6th SK Gaming - $2,100
  • 5th-6th Alternate - $2,100
  • 7th-8th Frag eXecutors - $2,000
  • 7th-8th myRevenge - $2,000

 

Stage 2: Global Challenge Guangzhou at Ani-Com:

With balanced hero selection and flawless team play, team World Elite (WE) lived up to their name advancing to the finals to meet CLG. Team WE strategically banned Cho'Gathand Nidalee all three games to subdue CLG's HotShotGG. Inspired by dazzling hero art, home town favorites World Elite took down CLG in a very intense set.

Final Prize Pool: 

League of Legends ($32,000)

  • 1st World Elite - $12.000
  • 2nd CLG - $6,000
  • 3rd SK Gaming - $3,400
  • 4th eHome - $2,400
  • 5th-6th Millenium - $2,100
  • 5th-6th iG - $2,100
  • 7th-8th Flash - $2,000
  • 7th-8th CG.Inno3D - $2,000

 

Stage 3: Global Challenge New York at Comic-con:  

In a shift of cast,New   Yorksaw an all European finals between the season one champions Fnatic and the veteran SK gaming squad. Fnatic swept the finals 2-0 by employing their patient play style. 

Final Prize Pool: 

League of Legends ($32,000)

  • 1st fnatic - $12.000
  • 2nd SK Gaming - $6,000
  • 3rd Sypher - $3,400
  • 4th CLG - $2,400
  • 5th-6th Dignitas - $2,100
  • 5th-6th Curse - $2,100
  • 7th-8th v8esports - $2,000
  • 7th-8th Team Solomid - $2,000

 

Stage 4: Global Challenge Kiev at CyberSport Arena:  

The Global Challenge Kiev qualifiers recently finished and the teams have been selected. From North America, Team SoloMid, Dignitas, and Curse Gaming have qualified. European teams Counter Logic Gaming-Absolute Legends, aAa, White Lotus, and Moscow 5 are coming to Kiev. Chinese team Invictus Gaming were the 

The event is set to start January 19th, 2012. 

 

How to follow Intel Extreme Masters: 

Be sure to follow of the action by visiting: http://www.esl-world.net/masters/ 

To keep up with the current qualifier rankings simply go to:

http://www.esl-world.net/masters/season6/kiev/  

Be sure to check out all the action from Kiev starting January 19th, and keep an eye out for the IntelEM Grand Finals in Hanover, Germany starting in March 2012.