IEM Katowice 2023 – Preview | Who will run away with the trophy and $400,000?

IEM Katowice 2023 is set to be one of the biggest events this year in the world of CS:GO. With 24 teams from all over the world competing for a share of the $1,000,000 prize pool and the IEM trophy, the excitement is palpable.

Eight teams have already secured their place in the group stage, but the remaining 16 teams will have to fight it out through the playoffs to secure on of the remaining spots. The competition promises to be intense, with some of the best players in the world facing off against each other.

With a packed schedule of matches, fans of competitive CS:GO will be treated to some of the best action CS:GO has to offer. Whether you’re a die-hard CS:GO fan or just a casual spectator, IEM Katowice 2023 should not be missed.

Mark your calendars!

Play-In phase: February 1-3, 2023.

Group phase: February 4-7, 2023.

Knockout rounds: February 10-12, 2023.

Grand final: 16:00 (CET) – 12th Feb

Directly qualified teams

Team Vitality
FaZe
Heroic
Outsiders
Team Liquid
G2
MOUZ
NAVI

Teams in Play-in

Team Spirit
Cloud9
Ninjas in Pyjamas
FURIA
Complexity
MIBR
Grayhound Gaming
IHC Esports
ENCE
OG
BIG
paiN
Sprout
fnatic
Evil Geniuses
Permitta Esports

Group A: G2, NAVI, FaZe, and Team Liquid + four Play-in squads

Group B: Outsiders, Heroic, Team Vitality, and MOUZ + four Play-in squads

Key Contenders

Many would say that FaZe Clan are the favorites going into the event, but one thing is sure, no one of these three other teams should be underestimated. If you’re considering betting on IEM Katowice 2023, then you have come to the right place.

FaZe

Karrigan’s men from FaZe stand out as a clear front-runner heading into the IEM Katowice 2023 event. With odds of 5.00, it’s hard to dispute their favoritism. Although they didn’t secure a victory in the final two BLAST events of the year, it’s unreasonable to expect winning every competition.

However, their team stability combined with a detailed play style makes them a challenging adversary for any team.

G2

Confidence is high in the G2 squad heading into the Polish event, despite only one title win in 2022. They get a head start by beginning things in the group stage, bypassing the play-in phase. G2 ended the year on a high note by capturing the BLAST World Final, their first LAN championship since the 2020 BLAST Premier Spring regular season. With standout players, G2 has the potential to repeat their dominant performance in Abu Dhabi and bring home another trophy, this time from Poland to Odds 6.00.

Heroic

Despite their impressive track record, many fans still underestimate Heroic. Their performance level is on par with FaZe, having won BLAST Premier Fall Finals and reached the grand finals at the IEM Rio Major in Brazil, plus securing victories at two Pinnacle events in the previous year. The Danish cadiaN-led squad had a noteworthy 2022, there’s no denying that.

Will they be able to up their game in 2023? IEM Katowice, a top-notch tournament with a $1M prize pool, including $400,000 for the winning team, is ahead. The team has the talent to succeed and things are looking good for them to advance far into the playoffs if they can bring their A-game. Odds on Heroic to win the event is 6.00

NAVI

It’s fair to say that NAVI has been underperforming lately. After the departure of Boombl4 everything has seemed to decline for NAVI’s squad. NAVI are a big question mark heading into IEM Katowice, and that’s why bookmakers are indecisive on the odds for their performance at the tournament.

Despite their recent form, NAVI’s odds to win the event is 7.00.