The Intel Extreme Masters will be back with another season, featuring StarCraft II, CS:GO and League of Legends. For the first time in IEM history, the prize pool will exceed US$1,000.000!
Season 11 will have four stops where the best teams and players from all over the world will compete:
SHANGHAI, JULY 28TH - 31ST, 2016
Intel Extreme Masters season 11 will kick off in Shanghai at Chinajoy. This will be the third Intel Extreme Masters being held in Shanghai, having visited the city previously in seasons 6 and 8.
North America will once again be on the Intel Extreme Masters map. After two successful years at the SAP Center in San Jose we are expanding to an even bigger venue, the Oracle Arena in Oakland, home of the Golden State Warriors.
GYEONGGI, DECEMBER 17TH - 18TH, 2016
After eight years absence, we are happy to be coming back to South Korea, to the city of Gyeonggi. The professional South Korean scene excels in both of these games and we are looking forward to seeing top-notch competitive action. Gyeonggi will mark the first stadium event in Asia for Intel Extreme Masters.
KATOWICE, MARCH, 2017
Concluding season 11 will be the World Championship returning to the city which has become a true home to Intel Extreme Masters - Katowice, Poland. The world’s best teams and players in the world will once again compete on the big stage in front of thousands of roaring fans.
While the games for each stop have yet to be announced, it is save to assume that Gyeonggi will feature SC2 and LoL.
Edit May 27: SC2 and LoL confirmed for Gyeonggi while all 3 games will be at Katowice. Source
Looks like only 2 SC2 events and the World Championship, which will probably be the WCS Winter Championship again. Still, nice to see one of the 3 organizers who still consistently host premier SC2 events sticking around.
On May 12 2016 01:37 Wrath wrote: The real question is: Who will go to Katowice in 2017? Will the winner of Goyang make it there? Or Blizzard will do its magic once again?
That's not even close to the real question. The real question is how the hell will I afford a trip to SK in december 2016.
On May 12 2016 01:57 Nakajin wrote: Yay, IEM is back!
By the way does that mean that the global event they annonce is going to be after blizcon? I assume it is going to be the one in Goyang.
I believe Goyang is region locked as Korea.
So basically unless the Global event they were talking about is a Dreamhack, it's either Shanghai or after Blizzcon....is it too early to start another round of "Fuck the Welfare Circus Series"?
Guys, be realistic! Go Yang will be region locked so no Koreans will be allowed to participate. It is a smart way how to teach the Korean public that watching not the highest level of Starcraft can be fun as well and they might even start observing some promising foreigners after that tournament.
Glad to see IEM back again, although I do miss the old way the circuit worked. Goyang is gonna be hype! And Esports at the Oracle sounds awesome as well.
Ok, what are the chances of SC2 being in Oakland?? Would it make sense to line up with the current WCS schedule? I don't know all the details. It's the only one I could possibly go to... here's hoping!
Edit: I see blizzcon is Nov 4-5th. IEM Oakland Nov 19th would not play in to 2016 blizzcon finals obviously. Chances looking slim?
I am quite happy that IEM plans to keep SC2 in the venue. Last year, it took quite a long time to mention SC2 at all ... first after the new WCS system announcement. So we can hope now, SC2 will be part of IEM independent on what will be the WCS rules and if they do not revoke it back to the reasonable 2015 system.
On May 12 2016 03:34 Diabolique wrote: Guys, be realistic! Go Yang will be region locked so no Koreans will be allowed to participate. It is a smart way how to teach the Korean public that watching not the highest level of Starcraft can be fun as well and they might even start observing some promising foreigners after that tournament.
it's impossible. korean public will only have one thought: you BLIZZ lock our region just because our players are too tough for your foreigners, our players can win the champ in every event around the world , but foreigners cant even survive from gsl/ssl qualify, there is no fun if not watching the highest level in these game. that's the realistic:-(
On May 12 2016 03:34 Diabolique wrote: Guys, be realistic! Go Yang will be region locked so no Koreans will be allowed to participate. It is a smart way how to teach the Korean public that watching not the highest level of Starcraft can be fun as well and they might even start observing some promising foreigners after that tournament.
it's impossible. korean public will only have one thought: you BLIZZ lock our region just because our players are too tough for your foreigners, our players can win the champ in every event around the world , but foreigners cant even survive from gsl/ssl qualify, there is no fun if not watching the highest level in these game. that's the realistic:-(
I'm pretty sure Diabolique agrees with you. Just forgot the /s at the end of their post
On May 12 2016 03:34 Diabolique wrote: Guys, be realistic! Go Yang will be region locked so no Koreans will be allowed to participate. It is a smart way how to teach the Korean public that watching not the highest level of Starcraft can be fun as well and they might even start observing some promising foreigners after that tournament.
I heard rumors that KeSPA in case of Goyang being WCS Circuit tournament will try to kidnap non-Koreans and not release them unless Blizzard lifts the region lock.
Seriously though, these "jokes" are embarassing to me. You should try better, don't force them.
And fact that all events lasting two days besides Shanghai, that will apparently have four day span hints something to me, but maybe it's just about China "unique" organizational nature given IEMs there in the past
maybe its possible that the 2 days of IEM Goyang and Oakland are just the on site days, since I imagine having the Oracle and wherever Goyang is being held for 4 days is a lot, and they'll have the open bracket stuff/group stages off site two days before like they've done before? Just my theory anyways
On May 12 2016 03:18 True_Spike wrote: IEM Korea, FUCK YES.
Finally, something to watch other than proleague!
You know you can always watch GSL and SSL right?
There are only 4 of those events total, unfortunately.
So, barring Proleague, this IEM would be the 5th event where Blizzard authorizes Koreans to play Starcraft 2 in a tournament setting. With HSC, that number goes up to an astounding 6.
Hopefully a Kespa Cup or something gets thrown in there somewhere.
That way, maybe we can get 7 events in 2016!
Edit: I forgot there was some shady Chinese event which brings that number up to 8.
So I've always wanted to go to one of these events but didn't have the chance, but I may have a realistic opportunity to be able to go to the event in Goyang. How much do tickets normally cost?
On May 12 2016 01:57 Nakajin wrote: Yay, IEM is back!
By the way does that mean that the global event they annonce is going to be after blizcon? I assume it is going to be the one in Goyang.
Fuck no, Goyang should be pure Korean.
If I remember not wrong then IEM Goyang will be region lockeed, which mean it's pure Korean
There's no such thing as a "Pure Korean event" in the WCS system. Events are either open to everyone, or foreigners only.
There's four possibilities:
WCS Circuit event. Would be a bad joke.
WCS Global event. Would require a $50k+ prize pool from IEM, thus unlikely.
Non-WCS event. Koreans can participate, prize money can be whatever, but nobody gets WCS points.
The date is purposefully chosen so that Blizzcon is over, but Blizzard hasn't released the 2017 WCS format yet. IEM does whatever it wants, later Blizzard decides if it wants to use the results.
Should be a great season of IEM, no bias intended.
Can try and answer as many questions anyone has.
I really hate to be a drag, I don't want to come off as negative, or obnoxious or anything.
However, seriously, I need to ask: when are we going to get IEM open events, where anyone can participate, regardless of their nationality? No region-lock or weird restrictions, just straight up "do you play starcraft? yes? then you can play" tournaments.
I really feel like anti-Korean, closed off events are OK, as long as they are the exception rather than the norm. Otherwise it's just not fair. I'm not sure who calls the shots at IEM, but I sincerely hope that things will be re-evaluated in 2017.
On May 12 2016 18:18 Pandemona wrote: 2 day events in Oakland and America, yet China get a 4 day event way? They are terrible events always in China TT
Oakland and Korea events will be good i feel, Oakland for sure is going to look fantastic!
for a very long period of times, china held the best event out there in esport
On May 12 2016 18:18 Pandemona wrote: 2 day events in Oakland and America, yet China get a 4 day event way? They are terrible events always in China TT
Oakland and Korea events will be good i feel, Oakland for sure is going to look fantastic!
for a very long period of times, china held the best event out there in esport
and their events are still pretty good nowadays
Very true in general, but not really for SC II imo.
It is logical that the tournament in China takes so many days.
Remember the first LotV tournament with Lilbow and Snute? It was like a 10 day tournament with 5 players only, when a player lost with someone, he went to the loser bracket and when he lost there again, he went to the loser's loser bracket, so each player had to play with each other one like 5 times again and again, and if he lost there, he had to play an archon tournament with his right and left hand at the same time. And it was like 2 matches per day, so it this tournament could have taken even a month!
Just wait until it is actually going to be a Co-op mission competition, with Korean like Apocalypse, Natural and journey doing speed run of the missions, in some dream like place such as Saskatoon, Jefferson city or Brest.
Really just fucking disgusting from Blizzard that they went through with this. It's not even like 1 or 2 spots for Koreans. No, it's flat out zero.
It is so stupid that I am starting to believe, Blizzard had actually a reason for it. Maybe, IEM, DreamHack and the others threatened to remove SC2 completely from their events. I can't imagine it as SC2 is for me the only interesting e-sport to watch. I do not understand the masses, who are interested in watching LOL, CS and similar boring (in comparison with SC2) sports. Who knows. But even if this threat was real, I would prefer all IEMs and DHs without SC2 completely than the Korean ban. Even if the community of fans of SC2 is shrinking, I am sure, we would still deliver a good viewership if there were fewer tournaments worldwide, so whichever company would include SC2 into their events, the hunger for SC2 with fewer tournaments would bring the necessary numbers.
Really just fucking disgusting from Blizzard that they went through with this. It's not even like 1 or 2 spots for Koreans. No, it's flat out zero.
It is so stupid that I am starting to believe, Blizzard had actually a reason for it. Maybe, IEM, DreamHack and the others threatened to remove SC2 completely from their events. I can't imagine it as SC2 is for me the only interesting e-sport to watch. I do not understand the masses, who are interested in watching LOL, CS and similar boring (in comparison with SC2) sports. Who knows. But even if this threat was real, I would prefer all IEMs and DHs without SC2 completely than the Korean ban. Even if the community of fans of SC2 is shrinking, I am sure, we would still deliver a good viewership if there were fewer tournaments worldwide, so whichever company would include SC2 into their events, the hunger for SC2 with fewer tournaments would bring the necessary numbers.
its like this because the community wanted it this way.
not the whole community mind you, but as a general statement
On May 13 2016 23:41 Incognoto wrote: Hold on a second
IEM and DH wanted Koreans to be locked out?
Who is the bad guy here, Blizzard or tournament organisers? Can I get a source?
there is no source but when kim phan was asked why the system from last year was changed she said she's not allowed to talk about it which sounds like they were forced to do it. I mean if there would be a practical reason to change the format why would she not be allowed to say it.
On May 13 2016 23:41 Incognoto wrote: Hold on a second
IEM and DH wanted Koreans to be locked out?
Who is the bad guy here, Blizzard or tournament organisers? Can I get a source?
there is no source but when kim phan was asked why the system from last year was changed she said she's not allowed to talk about it which sounds like they were forced to do it. I mean if there would be a practical reason to change the format why would she not be allowed to say it.
ESL and DH being main reasons for how the new WCS system looks was already talked about back in December when Blizzard announced the system. Especially cause they mentioned the system was created in agreement with those organizers.
On May 13 2016 23:41 Incognoto wrote: Hold on a second
IEM and DH wanted Koreans to be locked out?
Who is the bad guy here, Blizzard or tournament organisers? Can I get a source?
there is no source but when kim phan was asked why the system from last year was changed she said she's not allowed to talk about it which sounds like they were forced to do it. I mean if there would be a practical reason to change the format why would she not be allowed to say it.
On May 13 2016 23:41 Incognoto wrote: Hold on a second
IEM and DH wanted Koreans to be locked out?
Who is the bad guy here, Blizzard or tournament organisers? Can I get a source?
there is no source but when kim phan was asked why the system from last year was changed she said she's not allowed to talk about it which sounds like they were forced to do it. I mean if there would be a practical reason to change the format why would she not be allowed to say it.
Sounds really shady.
Not liking the sound of this one!
To expand on this, I asked Kim Phan why they didn't just keep the WCS premiere league with it's 3 seasons and region locked it, while keeping DH and IEM as they were and open for Koreans. My guess was that ESL no longer wanted to produce WCS Premiere studio events so Blizzard was forced to come up with this plan b which would also explain the delay in the announcement.
Sadly she was not allowed to answer, but I kinda took it as a silent confirmation. Still it's all guesswork.
On May 22 2016 02:07 Musicus wrote: So it is confirmed that there is no sc2 at Oakland, it will feature CS:GO and LoL. Just putting the info here for anybody who was wondering.
Well, if IEM come to Korea and do not include sc2 into the event, then shame on IEM, Intel should be banned in Korea as a company! Some boycott of Intel processors, I hope, AMD is still alive :-)
On May 22 2016 02:07 Musicus wrote: So it is confirmed that there is no sc2 at Oakland, it will feature CS:GO and LoL. Just putting the info here for anybody who was wondering.
Well, if IEM come to Korea and do not include sc2 into the event, then shame on IEM, Intel should be banned in Korea as a company! Some boycott of Intel processors, I hope, AMD is still alive :-)
You hopes are false, sadly. Boycotting Intel would now mean boycotting PCs altogether ... which can be a good thing for your health!
On a more serious note, Intel is pretty awesome to sponsor any e-sports tourneys in this time when they basically have no real competition, even if it isn't exactly as we would have wished.
On May 22 2016 02:07 Musicus wrote: So it is confirmed that there is no sc2 at Oakland, it will feature CS:GO and LoL. Just putting the info here for anybody who was wondering.
Well, if IEM come to Korea and do not include sc2 into the event, then shame on IEM, Intel should be banned in Korea as a company! Some boycott of Intel processors, I hope, AMD is still alive :-)
You hopes are false, sadly. Boycotting Intel would now mean boycotting PCs altogether ... which can be a good thing for your health!
On a more serious note, Intel is pretty awesome to sponsor any e-sports tourneys in this time when they basically have no real competition, even if it isn't exactly as we would have wished.
SC2 will be at Korea for sure anyway, there is no CS:GO scene in Korea.
On May 22 2016 02:07 Musicus wrote: So it is confirmed that there is no sc2 at Oakland, it will feature CS:GO and LoL. Just putting the info here for anybody who was wondering.
Well, if IEM come to Korea and do not include sc2 into the event, then shame on IEM, Intel should be banned in Korea as a company! Some boycott of Intel processors, I hope, AMD is still alive :-)
You hopes are false, sadly. Boycotting Intel would now mean boycotting PCs altogether ... which can be a good thing for your health!
On a more serious note, Intel is pretty awesome to sponsor any e-sports tourneys in this time when they basically have no real competition, even if it isn't exactly as we would have wished.
SC2 will be at Korea for sure anyway, there is no CS:GO scene in Korea.
They hosted the Asia Minor in the Nexon a couple weeks back
On May 22 2016 02:07 Musicus wrote: So it is confirmed that there is no sc2 at Oakland, it will feature CS:GO and LoL. Just putting the info here for anybody who was wondering.
Well, if IEM come to Korea and do not include sc2 into the event, then shame on IEM, Intel should be banned in Korea as a company! Some boycott of Intel processors, I hope, AMD is still alive :-)
You hopes are false, sadly. Boycotting Intel would now mean boycotting PCs altogether ... which can be a good thing for your health!
On a more serious note, Intel is pretty awesome to sponsor any e-sports tourneys in this time when they basically have no real competition, even if it isn't exactly as we would have wished.
SC2 will be at Korea for sure anyway, there is no CS:GO scene in Korea.
They hosted the Asia Minor in the Nexon a couple weeks back
Oh cool, didn't know, but still. The korean scene is not dominant in CS:GO at all and this
The professional South Korean scene excels in both of these games
On May 22 2016 02:07 Musicus wrote: So it is confirmed that there is no sc2 at Oakland, it will feature CS:GO and LoL. Just putting the info here for anybody who was wondering.
Well, if IEM come to Korea and do not include sc2 into the event, then shame on IEM, Intel should be banned in Korea as a company! Some boycott of Intel processors, I hope, AMD is still alive :-)
You hopes are false, sadly. Boycotting Intel would now mean boycotting PCs altogether ... which can be a good thing for your health!
On a more serious note, Intel is pretty awesome to sponsor any e-sports tourneys in this time when they basically have no real competition, even if it isn't exactly as we would have wished.
SC2 will be at Korea for sure anyway, there is no CS:GO scene in Korea.
They hosted the Asia Minor in the Nexon a couple weeks back
Oh cool, didn't know, but still. The korean scene is not dominant in CS:GO at all and this
On May 22 2016 02:07 Musicus wrote: So it is confirmed that there is no sc2 at Oakland, it will feature CS:GO and LoL. Just putting the info here for anybody who was wondering.
Well, if IEM come to Korea and do not include sc2 into the event, then shame on IEM, Intel should be banned in Korea as a company! Some boycott of Intel processors, I hope, AMD is still alive :-)
You hopes are false, sadly. Boycotting Intel would now mean boycotting PCs altogether ... which can be a good thing for your health!
On a more serious note, Intel is pretty awesome to sponsor any e-sports tourneys in this time when they basically have no real competition, even if it isn't exactly as we would have wished.
SC2 will be at Korea for sure anyway, there is no CS:GO scene in Korea.
They hosted the Asia Minor in the Nexon a couple weeks back
Oh cool, didn't know, but still. The korean scene is not dominant in CS:GO at all and this
The professional South Korean scene excels in both of these games
basically translates to SC2 and LoL.
Yep, it's very much a dota situation, except MVP aren't nearly as good. Give them a bit of time though...
"The South Korean esports scene has a great legacy in both of these games, and we are looking forward to seeing some outstanding matches when players and teams clash in the Goyang Sports Complex."
...from this sentence it seems like Gyeonggi will be a Korean Event!
"The South Korean esports scene has a great legacy in both of these games, and we are looking forward to seeing some outstanding matches when players and teams clash in the Goyang Sports Complex."
...from this sentence it seems like Gyeonggi will be a Korean Event!
"The South Korean esports scene has a great legacy in both of these games, and we are looking forward to seeing some outstanding matches when players and teams clash in the Goyang Sports Complex."
...from this sentence it seems like Gyeonggi will be a Korean Event!
"The South Korean esports scene has a great legacy in both of these games, and we are looking forward to seeing some outstanding matches when players and teams clash in the Goyang Sports Complex."
...from this sentence it seems like Gyeonggi will be a Korean Event!
But it's in December. So meh.
...what's the problem with December?
If it even is a WCS event - which is up in the air for an event in December - it's one that counts for next year. So it doesn't fix the tournament shortage for this year.
"The South Korean esports scene has a great legacy in both of these games, and we are looking forward to seeing some outstanding matches when players and teams clash in the Goyang Sports Complex."
...from this sentence it seems like Gyeonggi will be a Korean Event!
But it's in December. So meh.
...what's the problem with December?
If it even is a WCS event - which is up in the air for an event in December - it's one that counts for next year. So it doesn't fix the tournament shortage for this year.
...I didn't think about that, let's hope it will at least count for next year...
EPT![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/Iqu6asL.png)
![[image loading]](http://www.teamliquid.net/tlpd/images/flags/kr.png)
