Astralis Among Main Event Invitees for IEM Cologne 2024
For the first time in several years, the legendary Danish organization Astralis has secured a direct invitation to the main event of IEM Cologne, bypassing the Play-in stage.
Astralis has been steadily reclaiming their position at the pinnacle of competitive Counter-Strike. With four consecutive semi-final appearances, the team has climbed the ranks of various global standings. Currently holding 7th place in ESL's ranking system, Astralis has secured their spot among the top eight teams automatically qualified for the main event of IEM Cologne 2024, which boasts a $1,000,000 prize pool and starts on August 7th.
The other teams joining Astralis in the main event include Spirit, FaZe, Vitality, MOUZ, G2, NAVI, and Virtus.pro. Meanwhile, 16 teams will compete in the Play-in phase, vying for the remaining eight spots in the main event. The teams participating in the Play-in phase are:
HEROIC
Eternal Fire
Falcons
Complexity
9z
TheMongolZ
FlyQuest
Liquid
Imperial
FURIA
BIG
BetBoom
paiN
MIBR
SAW
German qualifier
IEM Cologne 2024 is not only a prestigious event with a substantial prize pool but also an important opportunity for FaZe, MOUZ, or G2 to edge closer to winning the Intel Grand Slam Season 5 title. These three teams are leading the race, each having secured two out of the four necessary wins so far.
