Following the Season 9 kick-off in Shenzhen, the World’s Best Gamers will make their way to Canada. Here’s information about who can qualify and how to! Intel Extreme Masters returns to Canada on August 28-31 of this year and brings StarCraft II back to the north! Qualifiers in Europe, America and Asia are set to determine the eight players seeded directly into the tournament's group stages. With two slots for Europe and Asia respectively and three slots for the Americas, one slot will be reserved for a Canadian champion. Each of the qualifiers start with an open stage, which allows hopefuls from every region to try and qualify. Successful participants in the open stage will then join seeded players in the second and final stage of the qualifier, where the first participants for our Canadian stop are determined. Once again, an Open Bracket prioritized in accordance to WCS rankings will take place at the event, and will determine four players out of the sixteen participants to be seeded into the Group Stage. The final four, to make up the full sixteen, will be wildcards. An overview of the qualifiers can be found below.
Qualifier dates
• European Open Qualifier - July 12th 2014 • European Final Qualifier - July 13th 2014 • American Open Qualifier - TBA • American Final Qualifier - TBA
Details for our Canadian and Asian qualifiers will be announced shortly!
Here's an overview what the main tournament will look like: • Two players from European Qualifiers • Three players from American Qualifiers • Two players from Asian Qualifiers • One player from Canada • Four players from the Open Bracket • Four wildcard players In total, there will be sixteen players in a Dual Tournament Group Stage, followed by an eight player Single Elimination Bracket.
On July 02 2014 01:31 QCD wrote: Also wondering here where in Canada it will take place, perhaps Newfoundland?
I doubt NF, flying in is ridiculously expensive and organizing a venue would probably also be expensive. Probably Toronto again, but somewhere in the maritimes would sure be beautiful.
Just all of Canada, though I would assume Toronto or Montreal (Quebec isn't Canada joke here)
What is strange is that they are holding the event in the middle of the week though. I could possibly have made it up there if I didn't have to take off three days of work minimum to go.
Hm, I would like to see more Canadian presence but hopefully there will be enough players seeded into the qualifiers since lan open bracket isn't really the IEM style...
A lot of people don't realize how big Canada actually is.
I've heard stories of visitors suggesting a day trip from Toronto to Vancouver... (a 5 hour flight, and doesn't include the time it would take to drive to the airport, and get through security)
Just for comparison, according to wikipedia, Canada is larger than Europe.
On July 02 2014 01:36 Pino wrote: Awesome. Maybe it's in Toronto since there is Fan expo from august 28 to 31, and IEM usually have done their events during conventions
Ugh, I hope not. I've played events during Fan Expo and it sucks. That was back when no one cared about esports though so maybe its different these days.
On July 02 2014 01:54 BeastRoW wrote: Honestly speaking, I think that the tournament should be held in Calgary. Its a big city, and its never been in Calgary.
Woo! Now I wonder where they are holding it, I'd really love Toronto/Mississauga like the last two times NASL and WCS held it but I have a feeling either Montreal or BC will take it this time.
Come onnn Toronto!!! I do feel bad briefly for the rest of Canada and not having got one yet so I kind of hope it goes somewhere else..... BUT then I remember how awesome NASL and WCS were, soooo... Screw them Toronto crowd best crowd!
Sorry to disappoint the rest of Canada but as the evidence piles it the more it looks like Toronto again. IEM events have coincided with other conventions like Comic Con and with Fan Expo on the same dates and almost certainly the same venue it only seems logical. As good as it gets for Ontario I'd like to see a tournament go to BC or Quebec one day.
Fan Expo is on those dates, its a large convention, its likely at FanExpo a big comic/anime/gaming/scifi convention in Toronto.
Would fit the M.O for IEM
Though I want to know if FanExpo will charge extra for IEM tickets, since entrance for the weekend is 90$ and 110$ for all four days (assuming the 4 day passes dont sell out).
If its at Fanexpo, I may go for the weekend sat/sun, since hotels near metro convention centre are expensive and generally sold out and higher priced for fanexpo.
On July 02 2014 01:43 kingjames01 wrote: A lot of people don't realize how big Canada actually is.
I've heard stories of visitors suggesting a day trip from Toronto to Vancouver... (a 5 hour flight, and doesn't include the time it would take to drive to the airport, and get through security)
Just for comparison, according to wikipedia, Canada is larger than Europe.
-Hi, I'm from Canada. -Oh hey, I have a friend in Regina do you know him?
On July 02 2014 23:11 Jer99 wrote: Ottawa/Toronto/MTL would be perfect
I could deal with Ottawa, and would still probably make the journey to MTL.. But Toronto's just 40 mintues away.. make it happen IEM You saw that crowd for WCS! Why risk it anywhere else .
On July 02 2014 12:32 SetGuitarsToKill wrote: How about a Calgary meet up? Anyone interested in that?
We can probably get a barcraft going. There's two organizations in Calgary that have done barcrafts before, I'll talk to them a bit see if either of them will make it happen. Kinda should know the location first. If it's in Edmonton then it might not make sense to have Barcraft Calgary. (And apparently IEM Edmonton has happened before, but not for starcraft, so that is a possibility).
On July 02 2014 12:32 SetGuitarsToKill wrote: How about a Calgary meet up? Anyone interested in that?
We can probably get a barcraft going. There's two organizations in Calgary that have done barcrafts before, I'll talk to them a bit see if either of them will make it happen. Kinda should know the location first. If it's in Edmonton then it might not make sense to have Barcraft Calgary. (And apparently IEM Edmonton has happened before, but not for starcraft, so that is a possibility).
Guys, it's Toronto for sure. From a population standpoint, GTA would give the highest turnout. Next you factor in the proximity to major US cities and other major Canadian cities, and it's obvious it's Toronto.
On July 03 2014 04:18 StarcraftMan wrote: Guys, it's Toronto for sure. From a population standpoint, GTA would give the highest turnout. Next you factor in the proximity to major US cities and other major Canadian cities, and it's obvious it's Toronto.
You're almost certainly correct. I'm just foolishly holding out hope that it's somewhere in western Canada. Other things in favor of it being toronto is I'm pretty sure Jarett Cale is from there, and he seems to be IEM's main Canadian connection. And the fan expo too that weekend... Yeah you're right alt signs are pointing that way. It's just weird that they wouldn't say "IEM Toronto" or anything like that.
It's the 3rd largest municipality, and 5th largest metropolitan area in Canada. Plus, people here love esports, there's always barcrafts, and other fun stuff, many many fans!
On July 03 2014 05:05 FiWiFaKi wrote: Calgary please
It's the 3rd largest municipality, and 5th largest metropolitan area in Canada. Plus, people here love esports, there's always barcrafts, and other fun stuff, many many fans!
Plus, Edmonton once had an IEM once, so now we need to even it up. But it's not happening this time, all signs do point to Toronto... again.
On July 03 2014 04:18 StarcraftMan wrote: Next you factor in the proximity to major US cities and other major Canadian cities, and it's obvious it's Toronto.
ummm Montreal is closer to NYC, Philly and Boston. but, Toronto is closer to a very major canadian city, namely, Mississauga. so my money is on Toronto getting it.
however, Montreal is and always has been a better "big event" town than Toronto.
It should be in Montreal, but my money is on TO.
if they are really smart they make this event part of this
On July 03 2014 05:05 FiWiFaKi wrote: Calgary please
It's the 3rd largest municipality, and 5th largest metropolitan area in Canada. Plus, people here love esports, there's always barcrafts, and other fun stuff, many many fans!
Toronto was so packed for NASL you could barely get in the door.
If it was in Vancouver I know it would be sold out 100% so people saying that Toronto is the only viable city need to stop. With that said I have a feeling that it's going to be Toronto.
Oh boy. Now you can all visit the CN Tower! I think they added a new attraction where you can walk on the outside of the observation deck (that is, outside, in the fresh air). Or if you aren't that adventurous just visit the glass floor area
On July 04 2014 13:34 Onekobold wrote: IEM Medicine Hat confirmed
That would be sick. I could be the hometown hero and defeat Bomber on the grand stage at the Esplanade. :D
And yes, SetGuitarsToKill, that WOULD be one of the most interesting things to ever come to Medicine Hat. What I wouldn't give to see someone like Jaedong ordering a coffee at my favourite local place.
EPT
!
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