IEM Cologne 2024 brackets revealed by ESL with one major change to format

ESL have now revealed the brackets for the upcoming Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) Cologne, including both the Play-In and Group Stage. The event is set to commence on August 7 and will be featuring sixteen teams in the play-in and eight teams in the group stage.

Group Stage features the eight who qualified through various ESL tournaments and world rankings, while the Play-In include the ones after the cut-off for the group stage. Stakes are also high as the teams are fighting for a spot in the IEM Katowice 2025 and BLAST Premier World Final, which, only one team will get.

Also Read: G2 Esports breaks the cycle of loss at IEM Dallas grand finals

Here are the Play-In matchups

• Complexity Vs ALTERNATE aTTaX
• Eternal Fire Vs Team Falcons
• HEROIC Vs MIBR
• BetBoom Team Vs 9z Team
• FURIA Esports Vs Imperial Esports
• paiN Gaming Vs Team Liquid
• FlyQuest Vs BIG
• SAW Vs The MongolZ

Here are Group Stage Distribution

• Group A

Natus Vincere

Astralis

G2 Esports

Team Spirit

• Group B

MOUZ

Virtus.pro

FaZe Clan

Team Vitality

An important format change

The teams competing in play-in are fighting to secure a spot in the group stage and out of the sixteen, only eight will be moving forward. The matches will be played in a Double-Elimination and this time, it will be best-of-three for all matches apart from the grand finals which will be best-of-five.

This is a major development at IEM as prior to this, the games were played as best-of-one which arguably does not provide teams enough chance for a comeback as oftentimes, players are still getting a read on their opponents. Playing one game simply leaves the outcome to the team having a good day, while best-of-three allows comebacks.

The change was already announced by ESL and its implementation is also appreciated by the community as their favourite team is getting more chances to secure a win while they are getting more action.