Intel Extreme Masters World Championship will see the 24 best StarCraft II players of the Season 2012-13 competing for the win. Since gamescom in August 2012 these players have played all over the globe in order to qualify for the World Championship, which will take place from the 5-9th of March at CeBIT in Hanover.

http://wiki.teamliquid.net/starcraft2/IEM_Season_VII_-_World_Championship

The Intel Extreme Masters World Championship will feature a total cash prize of $250,000 for League of Legends and StarCraft II. Players and teams from all over the world have qualified through the various stops around the globe and will clash at CeBIT, Hanover, March 5th to 9th.

Source: http://www.esl-world.net/masters/news/215306/

Map pool: Antiga Shipard, Akilon Flats, Cloud Kingdom, Daybreak,
Entombed Valley, Metropolis, NewKirk District, Ohana, and Star Station.

Hosts and casters:

Host - Rachel 'SeltzerPlease' Quirico
Co-Host - Paul 'ReDeYe' Chaloner
Caster - James 'Kaelaris' Carrol
Caster - Shaun 'Apollo' Clark
Caster - Yoan 'ToD' Merlo
Analysis Host - John 'JoRoSaR' Sargent
Expert - Kevin 'qxc' Riley
Expert - Kevin 'Harstem' de Koning
Observer - Michael 'Adebisi' Van Driel

Update: Schedule released

5th of March from 9:30 CET
StarCraft II Group A & B

6th of March from 9:30 CET
StarCraft II Group C

7th of March from 9:30 CET
StarCraft II Group D

8th of March from 9:30 CET
StarCraft II Play-offs Day 1

9th of March from 9:10 CET
StarCraft II Play-offs Day 2

Source: http://www.esl-world.net/masters/season7/hannover/news/215528/

*Yoda replaces Symbol

On February 23 2013 03:33 IntelEM wrote:
Hello TeamLiquid,

Today WE had to announce a replacement for the Intel Extreme Masters World Championship. Since (Z)

Symbol advanced to the Ro4 in the GSL Code S, he informed us that he would not participate. His replacement will be the next in line player from the season ranking. (T)

YoDa.

WE have also released our schedule for the event - http://www.esl-world.net/masters/season7/hannover/news/215528/

If you have any questions, Always feel free to message this account Here on TL or ask on on Twitter aT @IEM

Have a Great Weekend!

New invites will be determined by ESL's ranking points, in case more players drop out of the tournament.

You can see the rankings here: http://www.esl-world.net/masters/season7/ranking/

Zenbrez

Canada5973 Posts

February 20 2013 15:48 GMT

Stephano set up for murder O.o

MyFirstProbe

Netherlands294 Posts

February 20 2013 15:53 GMT

Why did they put Grubby and Stephano in the same group, Grubby can't win versus Stephano, ever.

ES.Genie

Germany1370 Posts

February 20 2013 15:53 GMT

Even with Mvps abysmal record against Zerg lately, Dream should be his biggest problem. Kid is insanely good.

Eviscerador

Spain286 Posts

February 20 2013 15:54 GMT

Good, they put the Duran brothers apart... finally.

ThePlayer33

Australia2378 Posts

February 20 2013 15:54 GMT

GROUP A group of death only 2 zergs =D

lichter

1001 YEARS KESPAJAIL22272 Posts

February 20 2013 15:57 GMT

Oh God I hope Mvp does well, or at least show some good form. He worries me =/

Nekovivie

United Kingdom2599 Posts

February 20 2013 15:59 GMT

5 terrans out of 24 players, owch. The golden age is long gone

mrRoflpwn

United States2618 Posts

February 20 2013 16:00 GMT

Go MVP and MC!!! Bring home the championship!

MasterOfPuppets

Romania6942 Posts

February 20 2013 16:01 GMT

#10

Groups are more stacked than an Oreo cake inside a Double Down inside a Quadruple Bypass burger (now there's an idea for Epic Meal Time, hehe)

Holy shit. o0;;

LucifroN, Snute, Mvp and Grubby plz advance TT_TT

SpikeStarcraft

Germany2095 Posts

February 20 2013 16:06 GMT

#11

i think zergs like vortix, snute, xlord, ret, tlo and slivko wont win a lot of games anyway if any at all. so after the group stage the racial distribution should be quite even again.

Korean racial distribution is 4P - 3Z - 3T... and thats what will actually matter for the playoffs. maybe +stephano

xChromaticx

Germany34 Posts

February 20 2013 16:06 GMT

#12

i kinda miss IdrA at these events

MasterOfPuppets

Romania6942 Posts

February 20 2013 16:07 GMT

#13

On February 21 2013 01:06 xChromaticx wrote:
i kinda miss IdrA at these events

Why? He'd go out in group stages very much expectedly and flame wars would ensue between rabid fanbois and people who hate IdrA... I guess if you like the shitstorms then yea...

JOJOsc2news

3000 Posts

February 20 2013 16:08 GMT

#14

Group A:
1. PartinG
2. YongHwa
3. HasuObs

Group B:
1. Symbol
2. MC
3. Kas

Group C:
1. Socke
2. viOLet
3. Snute

Group D:
1. Dream
2. Stephano
3. Grubby/TLO

Edit: Symbol will be replaced by YoDa. Therefore, my prediction for group B will be as follows:
1. First
2. YoDa
3. MC

BisuDagger

Bisutopia19327 Posts

February 20 2013 16:09 GMT

#15

Parting should be able to 1A his group. That makes me happy.

Chloroplaste

France281 Posts

February 20 2013 16:15 GMT

#16

On February 21 2013 00:59 Nekovivie wrote:
5 terrans out of 24 players, owch. The golden age is long gone

They took HomestoryCup inside the ranking, so there is more zerg than I thought.
But remember this is HOTS and there are many good player of each race.
I think it will be a very hard times for the zergs.

Sick groups of death !

krutopatkin

Germany2612 Posts

February 20 2013 16:20 GMT

#17

A: Parting/YongHwa/Nerchio
B: MC/Symbol/First
C: Sting/Violet/Vortix
D: Golden/Mvp/Dream

Pretty easy to call :>

Lukeeze[zR]

Switzerland6838 Posts

February 20 2013 16:24 GMT

#18

Any news on this universal ranking (IEM, DH, MLG) and the way it works ?

LeLfe

France3160 Posts

February 20 2013 16:26 GMT

#19

On February 21 2013 01:08 JOJOsc2news wrote:
Group A:
1. PartinG
2. YongHwa
3. HasuObs

Group B:
1. Symbol
2. MC
3. Kas

Group C:
1. Socke
2. viOLet
3. Snute

Group D:
1. Dream
2. Stephano
3. Grubby/TLO

You haven't watched Mvp - Curious, have you? he will slay more nerds in Hanover

Pandemona

Charlie Sheens House51493 Posts

February 20 2013 16:26 GMT

#20

This is played on HOTS so...unless drastic changes...MVP wins the whole thing. With maybe Kas and Lucifron doing well if they can beat MVP in TvT

Terran >> Protoss >> Zerg in the current state (according to pro views and Koreans) so.....Can't see many Zergs winning ZvTs and well the new Protoss styles should make their all in's capable of beating Z too.

I however cannot wait for this