Cologne 2023

THE CATHEDRAL OF COUNTER-STRIKE

  • 24 Teams
  • CS:GO Championship
  • $1,000,000

04.08. - 06.08.2023Lanxess Arena

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ESL Pro Tour ChampionshipIEM Cologne Returns!

It's this time of the year again when players and fans across the globe are getting ready to attend Europe's biggest CS:GO esports happening at IEM Cologne, The Cathedral of Counter-Strike. For 24 teams, there is once again a whole lot at stake. $1M prize money and another win in the Intel Grand Slam, but above all, one of the most prestigious titles around: The EPT Championship. 

New Trailer

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TICKETS

Start of Early Bird: September 27th 15:00 CEST

Start of Wave 1: January 5th 15:00 CET 

Start of Wave 2: Tuesday, April 4th, 15:00 CEST

TICKET PRICES INCREASE APRIL 4TH 15:00 CEST, NO MORE PREMIUM TICKETS WILL BE RELEASED

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Weekend Regular

wave 1

109€ Three day ticket
Tickets
  • CS:GO tournament ticket
  • Access on all three days (August 4-6)
  • Free seating: upper & lower ranks
  • Access to signing sessions

Weekend Plus

WAVE 1

159€ Three day ticket
Tickets
  • CS:GO tournament ticket
  • Access on all three days (August 4-6)
  • Free seating: upper & lower ranks
  • Access to signing sessions
  • Plus goodie bag
  • Plus attendee badge

Premium

Wave 1

329€ Three day ticket
SOLD OUT
  • CS:GO tournament ticket
  • Access on all three days (August 4-6)
  • Premium seating in front of the stage
  • Access to signing sessions
  • Premium goodie bag
  • Premium attendee badge
  • Free drinks (water, soft-drinks & Beer)
  • Close to the player walk-in
SOLD OUT

Single Day

wave 1

39€ - 55€ Friday, Saturday or Sunday
Tickets
  • CS:GO tournament ticket
  • Access to either Friday, Saturday or Sunday
  • Free seating: upper & lower ranks
  • Access to signing sessions

God Mode Lounge

Full Lounge or Single Lounge Seats

1199€ Three day lounge access
TICKETS
  • CS:GO tournament ticket
  • Access on all three days (August 4-6)
  • Access to a comfortable private lounge
  • Access to signing sessions
  • Large variety of free drinks incl alcoholic options
  • Catering and refreshments
  • Dedicated entrance
  • Dedicated onsite support staff
  • Merchandising voucher valued at €150
  • Collectible event coin
    This is a tooltip
  • Behind the scenes and backstage tour
  • Free parking at the venue
  • Attendee badge
  • Get a single ticket to a lounge with like-minded fans, or secure your own private lounge with your friends (5-10 persons).
Please note that the minimum age to attend this event is 16+.

Schedule

Early Plus & Premium Check-In & ESL Shop Opening:
The schedule is preliminary, but 

Times for early check-in & ESL Shop early access: Thursday 16:00 - 19:00

Friday 15th

Quarter Finals
Time CEST
ESL Shop open
11:00
Outside Area open
12:30
Lanxess Doors open
13:00
Arena Doors open
13:30
Opening ceremony
15:20
Quarter Finals #1
15:30
Quarter Finals #2
19:00
Tents closing
20:30

Saturday 16th

Semi Finals
Time CEST
ESL Shop open
12:00
Outside Area open
12:30
Lanxess Doors open
13:00
Arena Doors open
13:30
Opening ceremony
15:20
Semi Finals #1
15:30
Semi Finals #2
19:00
Tents closing
20:30

Sunday 17th

Grand Finals
Time CEST
ESL Shop open
12:30
Outside Area open
12:30
Lanxess Doors open
13:30
Arena Doors open
14:00
Opening ceremony
15:50
Grand Final
16:00
Tents closing
20:30
Everything remains subject to roster disbands/acquisitions and changes to tournament participants/formats.
Cut-off date: Dec 20th

TBD

ESL World Ranking Global

TBD

ESL World Ranking Global

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ESL World Ranking Global

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ESL World Ranking Global

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ESL World Ranking Global

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ESL World Ranking Global

TBD

ESL World Ranking EU

TBD

ESL World Ranking EU

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ESL World Ranking EU

TBD

ESL World Ranking NA

TBD

ESL World Ranking NA

TBD

ESL World Ranking SA

TBD

ESL World Ranking ASIA

TBD

ESL World Ranking OCE

TBD

ESL National Championship DE

TBD

Affiliate Winner*

Invites Deadline: April 11
  • *A maximum of 3 ESL Pro Tour Affiliate Event Champions will be invited directly to the Play-In Stage. If there are no EPT Affiliate Events, the slots will be filled via the ESL World Ranking

Format

Play-In

  • 16 Team Double Elimination
  • Opening Matches Bo1
  • All other Matches Bo3
  • 8 Teams advanced to the main event

Group Stage

  • 2 x 8 Team Double Elimination
  • Top 3 of each group to Playoffs
  • All Matches Bo3
PlayOffs
  • 2 Teams directly to Semifinals
  • 4 Teams to Quarterfinals
  • All Matches Bo3
  • Grand Final Bo5

Prize pool Distribution

Prize Money
Total
$1,000,000
1st
$400,000
2nd
$180,000
3rd-4th
$80,000
5th-6th
$40,000
7th-8th
$24,000
9th-12th
$16,000
13th-16th
$10,000
17th-20th
$4,500
21st-24th
$2,500

THIS IS IEM COLOGNE

Culminating in the heart of Cologne, the Cathedral of Counter-Strike has become a temple for witnessing history.

Excellence, precision and countless hours of dedication welcome those worthy to compete within the renowned LANXESS arena. Reverberating in the chests of thousands of fans every year, the Cathedral of Counter-Strike quakes with the greatest, undeniably passionate fans that esports has to offer.

There’s a reason Cologne is known as the Cathedral of Counter-Strike. The future of teams are decided in the halls of the Cathedral. We don’t know what will happen until you walk into the arena - come find out with us.

Your Stay in Cologne

Wallpaper

These are our fantastic wallpapers from various IEM tournaments.
Get some first impressions below and download the full resolution here!

FAQs

We will follow the local restrictions at the time of the event.

Please note that the minimum age to attend this event is 16+.
It is not possible to attend the event if you are below the age of 16. 

You can find additional accessibility information on the website of the Lanxess Arena: https://www.lanxess-arena.de/besucherinfos/barrierefreiheit 

Q: Can I bring my plus 1 for free?  

A: ESL provides free tickets for your plus 1, when you are not able to attend the event without a person who takes care of you/ accompanies you). 

Examples: When you are (partially) deaf and bring your own interpreter with you; Or when you need a person who will assist you with your medical devices, wheelchair etcetera. Please contact us via this ticketing@eslgaming.com, and request the extra ticket please.

No, tickets are not refundable.

We strongly advise you to only buy tickets directly via our shop. We cannot guarantee that a ticket you bought from a third party (for example on a marketplace) is valid. 

Yes, there's a variety of food & beverage options available in the arena.

Please only bring small personal belongings. Anything larger than an A4 document will not be allowed.

It is explictly not allowed to bring:

  • Weapons of all kinds
  • Sharp objects like umbrellas 
  • Drugs
  • Pyrotechnics
  • Food
  • Drinks
  • Bottles
  • Animals
  • Professional cameras

We appreciate that fans want to create an unforgettable atmosphere in the venue.
However, if you want to bring any instrument, flag or banner, please contact us via ticketing@eslgaming.com so we can register you for the event. Otherwise, you will not be allowed to bring any of these items into the arena.

The exact event schedule might be a work in progress at this point.

The schedule will likely be roughly similar to the 2022 event. In 2022, we had the following opening hours:

  • Friday: Outdoor Area 11AM; Arena doors 1PM
  • Saturday: Outdoor Area 12:30PM; Arena doors 1PM
  • Sunday: Outdoor Area 12:30PM; Arena doors 1:30PM

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As one race ends, another begins. Intel® Grand Slam IV continues at IEM Cologne as 24 teams will look to pick up the next title towards winning the Intel® Grand Slam IV, and marking their names down in history.

Read more

Newsletter

Easy Life, Easy Subscribe and just for you!
Sign up and never miss anything about your preferred games and tournaments.
Subscribe Now

As one race ends, another begins. Intel® Grand Slam IV continues at IEM Cologne as 24 teams will look to pick up the next title towards winning the Intel® Grand Slam IV, and marking their names down in history.

Read more
ESL Gaming GmbH | Schanzenstraße 23 | 51063 Cologne, Germany
Tel.: +49 221 - 880 449 - 0 | Fax: +49 221 - 880 449 - 999 | info@eslgaming.com
ESL Gaming GmbH
Schanzenstraße 23 | 51063 Cologne, Germany
Tel.: +49 221 - 880 449 - 0 | Fax: +49 221 - 880 449 - 999
info@eslgaming.com
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