IEM XV Global Challenge Has Been Transitioned to Online

Despite the initial plans, ESL have decided against holding Intel Extreme Masters XV – Global Challenge in a LAN setting. Instead, the event will take online and retain its format.

Initially IEM XV Global Challenge was set to take place in Cologne, Germany. However, a LAN-event has become impossible due to increasing number of COVID-19 cases in Europe and a new lockdown in Germany. The event is still scheduled for December 15th – 20th and will remain a single division – ESL will help all participants to find a suitable location in Europe to play together.

The event’s line-up will include eight teams – two of them are Heroic and FURIA Esports, who earlier placed first at DreamHack Open Fall Europe and IEM New York North America respectively. Another two will be determined based on the results of the European and American divisions of IEM Beijing-Haidian, which is currently ongoing. The final four participants will be chosen based on ESL World Rankings.

The tournament’s prize pool is set at $500,000; it’s also a part of the Intel Grand Slam series.