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France7248 Posts
IEM announced the qualifiers for IEM Katowice (March 12-15): http://www.eslgaming.com/article/open-qualifier-signups-intel-extreme-master-katowice-are-here
The main tournament will be a single-elimination bracket of 16 players.
Eight players are already qualified for the grand final of the IEM Season IX as the winners and runners-up of the previous events:
They will be joined by eight more players coming from 3 qualifiers that will each be played on 3 different servers:
- American Server: February 23rd at 19:00 EST (2 slots)
- KR/TW Server: February 24th at 17:00 KR (3 slots)
- European Server: February 24th at 17:00 CET (3 slots)
All qualifiers are open to everyone, and players can take part in one, two or all of them. KR/TW and Europe give one more spot for having the World Champion (Life) & being the host region respectively.
The total prize pool of IEM Katowice will be $117,707 and will not be winner-takes-all:
- 1st place: US$68,707
- 2nd place: US$15,000
- 3rd-4th place: US$7,000
- 5th-8th place: US$3,000
- 9th-16th place: US$1,000
The prize pool was greatly improved by $50k with the partnership with newegg, 1/3 going for SC2 and 2/3 for LoL: http://en.intelextrememasters.com/news/over-300000-to-be-up-for-grabs-at-the-intel-extreme-masters-world-championship/
IEM Katowice will also be a Tier 1 WCS event, giving a total of 7,000 WCS points with 1,500 going to the champion.
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Great lineup already, nice price pool. Should be amazing.
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United States97277 Posts
needs more winner take all
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Korea gets an extra slot because Life is the World Chamipion? :D
They could've just been honest and said that the NA server sucks, not that it matters, since both NA slots will go to Koreans if everybody can play in every qualifier.
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Yay, no winner-take-all. As amazing it was to see sOs sending herO home with nothing, it was kind of a terrible idea.
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United States33699 Posts
On February 12 2015 05:31 Musicus wrote:
Korea gets an extra slot because Life is the World Chamipion? :D
They could've just been honest and said that the NA server sucks, not that it matters, since both NA slots will go to Koreans if everybody can play in every qualifier.
I mean at least claiming host region sounds better PR wise :D
Personally, I think it would be really fun if they just made it 2.5 per region, have the 3rd place finisher of the NA and EU qualifier play off in a Bo5 series for the final spot. NA-EU grudges are the best if you set them up right!
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United States252 Posts
Already the players look amazing. Can't wait to see who makes it out of the qualifiers.
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Woohoo seems awesome. Gonna watch both the SC2 and CSGO tournaments, maximum hype!
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On February 12 2015 05:32 Waxangel wrote:Show nested quote +On February 12 2015 05:31 Musicus wrote:
Korea gets an extra slot because Life is the World Chamipion? :D
They could've just been honest and said that the NA server sucks, not that it matters, since both NA slots will go to Koreans if everybody can play in every qualifier. I mean at least claiming host region sounds better PR wise :D Honestly, they should have just made it 2.5 per region, have the 3rd place finisher of the NA and EU qualifier play off in a Bo5 series for the final spot. NA-EU grudges are the best
Yeah, they should change that!
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That lineup is so sick already, it can only get better. Please Snute fight your way through the qualifier to be the foreign hope <3
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No openbracket
Makes me sad.
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United States33699 Posts
On February 12 2015 05:34 Musicus wrote:Show nested quote +On February 12 2015 05:32 Waxangel wrote:On February 12 2015 05:31 Musicus wrote:
Korea gets an extra slot because Life is the World Chamipion? :D
They could've just been honest and said that the NA server sucks, not that it matters, since both NA slots will go to Koreans if everybody can play in every qualifier. I mean at least claiming host region sounds better PR wise :D Honestly, they should have just made it 2.5 per region, have the 3rd place finisher of the NA and EU qualifier play off in a Bo5 series for the final spot. NA-EU grudges are the best Yeah, they should change that!
ah wait it's just server location, EU's can play the NA qualifier. So can Koreans. I guess we're seeing KR take both of those NA spots then. Possibly all eight spots :D?
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On February 12 2015 05:35 Waxangel wrote:Show nested quote +On February 12 2015 05:34 Musicus wrote:On February 12 2015 05:32 Waxangel wrote:On February 12 2015 05:31 Musicus wrote:
Korea gets an extra slot because Life is the World Chamipion? :D
They could've just been honest and said that the NA server sucks, not that it matters, since both NA slots will go to Koreans if everybody can play in every qualifier. I mean at least claiming host region sounds better PR wise :D Honestly, they should have just made it 2.5 per region, have the 3rd place finisher of the NA and EU qualifier play off in a Bo5 series for the final spot. NA-EU grudges are the best Yeah, they should change that! ah wait it's just server location, EU's can play the NA qualifier. So can Koreans. I guess we're seeing KR take both of those NA spots then. Possibly all eight spots :D?
Snute will take one.
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Awesome. Damn, the qualified players have ensured a sick line up.
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On February 12 2015 05:35 Waxangel wrote:Show nested quote +On February 12 2015 05:34 Musicus wrote:On February 12 2015 05:32 Waxangel wrote:On February 12 2015 05:31 Musicus wrote:
Korea gets an extra slot because Life is the World Chamipion? :D
They could've just been honest and said that the NA server sucks, not that it matters, since both NA slots will go to Koreans if everybody can play in every qualifier. I mean at least claiming host region sounds better PR wise :D Honestly, they should have just made it 2.5 per region, have the 3rd place finisher of the NA and EU qualifier play off in a Bo5 series for the final spot. NA-EU grudges are the best Yeah, they should change that! ah wait it's just server location, EU's can play the NA qualifier. So can Koreans. I guess we're seeing KR take both of those NA spots then :D
Yeah, it wouldn't matter in the end. KR gets 5 slots, EU has 3, but they could get snatched by Koreans living in America, like Hydra, Polt, Jaedong etc. although the ping from the westcoast should suck.
So ForGG, Snute and 1 Korean living in NA would be my guess for the EU slots.
So 7 Koreans and Snute  .
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KT going to be representing at Katowice! If Life practices as much as he probably will since he joined KT last night, I can see Life taking it. Unless Flash and Zest find some remnants of 2014 stature.
But, will Taeja show up out of nowhere and take home the title?
OR will MMA qualify and dominate all and become the IEM World Champion and Code S champion?
I prefer MMA
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East Gorteau22261 Posts
With this tournament, Life becomes the highest earning SC2 player of all time
hype
edit: just kidding the GSL/NSSL finals aren't until after
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i really want herO to win, $0 last year 
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Canada8160 Posts
On February 12 2015 05:39 Zealously wrote:
With this tournament, Life becomes the highest earning SC2 player of all time
hype
edit: just kidding the GSL/NSSL finals aren't until after
taeja will have his revenge
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EPT
IEM Season IX - Shenzhen : 
TaeJa and 
Solar
Zest
