Have you ever dreamed of watching top-tier Counter-Strike: Global Offensive in the Cathedral of Counter-Strike? What about in the historic Spodek Arena? Well, now you can. ESL has announced the dates for both IEM Katowice and IEM Cologne next year – and early tickets can be purchased this week.
IEM Katowice will be the first flagship tournament of the ESL Pro Tour will take place from February 10-12, 2023. IEM Cologne will be played August 4-6, 2023, which is after the summer player break, meaning we should have some spicy contests on our hands.
These dates mean that both these tournaments, which most CS:GO players will want to mark on their calendars, come two weeks earlier and two weeks later respectively. The Counter-Strike Professional Players’ Association has a hand in this, after the player break was moved one month earlier so that the competitive CS:GO season is split into two, more even halves.
“It’s always an honour to invite fans back to two of the most recognizable esports events worldwide,” Shaun Clark, senior director game ecosystems at ESL FACEIT Group, says in a press release. “We are already bubbling with excitement as we begin the annual planning to host two of the most passionate esports events.”
And the best bit of this is that you can get your hands on tickets sooner rather than later. IEM Katowice early bird tickets will be available from 20 euros from 3pm CEST on September 22. Premium tickets, which give you access to three days worth of fun, will be available from 175 euros.
IEM Cologne tickets will go live at 3pm CEST on September 27. Tickets start at 34 euros, but a premium ticket, which gives you access to a whole host of perks including free drinks all weekend, will set you back 299 euros.