November 13, 2018 – Intel® Extreme Masters (IEM), the longest running global pro gaming circuit in the world, is returning to Sydney on May 3-5, 2019. The professional gaming competition at Qudos Bank Arena will see sixteen of the world’s best Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) teams play live for a lion’s share of the $US 250,000 prize pool.
IEM Sydney 2019 will be one of a dozen major arena pro gaming competitions planned globally by ESL in 2019 and the second CSGO Intel Grand Slam event next year. The event’s winners will get another notch towards completing the Intel Grand Slam, a $US 1,000,000 prize for the first team to win four of the previous ESL and DreamHack IGS-level events. IEM Sydney title holders FaZe Clan currently hold two eligible championships, with last year’s runners up Astralis holding three after their win at IEM Chicago 2018.
“What we have managed to build in just two years with ESL Australia and the ANZ gaming community is absolutely incredible,” said Michał Blicharz, VP of Pro Gaming at ESL. “IEM Sydney is quickly becoming a staple esports event not just in Australia but globally and it’s something we’re incredibly proud of.”
“For us to be able to announce our third consecutive stadium-scale esports event in Australia with IEM Sydney 2019 is something we never dreamt of happening 10 years ago” said Nick Vanzetti, Senior Vice President of ESL Asia-Pacific Japan. “It’s a true testament to the strength of esports in our country, and we’ll be working hard to ensure it’s another unforgettable experience for every person who attends.”
“As the global technology leader for esports and gaming, we are excited to be back in Sydney to showcase the latest gaming technologies from the desktop to the cloud. We look forward to delivering the world-class gaming experience which CS:GO fans in Australia and the region have come to expect from Intel Extreme Masters Sydney,” Santhosh Viswanathan, managing director, Sales and Marketing Group, Asia Pacific and Japan, Intel.
In 2018, over 7,500 esports fans attended IEM Sydney on each event day, and with 13.5 million unique viewers online, it recorded the highest ever viewership for an esports competition held in Australia. Next year’s event will mark the 75th stop since the inception of Intel Extreme Masters since the start of the series in 2006.
As well as being able to view the world’s best CS:GO players live in an arena setting, attendees of IEM Sydney 2019 will have the chance to meet their esports idols face-to-face at signing sessions, and participate in giveaways from partners and sponsors at the IEM Expo. A must-see showcase at all IEM events is the Intel Experience Area featuring the latest 9th Gen Intel® Core™ i7 and Intel® Core™ i9 processors. The immersive gaming and esports experience features the latest PC and VR games, all powered by Intel’s leading gaming technology.
