Since December of 2022, fans have been waiting to bet on one of the most highly anticipated CS:GO events of the year as they prepare to bet on esports. The IEM Katowice CS:GO event is now set to take place starting January 31 and run through February 12, and IEM Katowice odds are beginning to heat up.
High anticipation has built thanks to the confirmation that top teams will compete at the 2023 CS:GO IEM Katowice event. Based on the formatting, approximately $1 million in prize money will be distributed among winners, and a sizable online and in-person crowd is also expected to fill the event.
IEM Katowice 2023 Group Stage Formatting and Competition
Looking at the IEM Katowice 2023 tournament format will allow fans to understand how the competition is structured and how teams will engage. Given that it’s a $1M event, the tournament is more developed and structured than other similar gaming competitions. In addition to a more dynamic approach, two different participant categories will allow teams to compete through a more layered stage format.
While the second group will start at the group stage competition, the first begins at the play-in stage. All action will kick off on January 31.
The Double-Elimination Bracket
The play-in phase will begin on this day, with 16 teams ready to start competing at the IEM Katowice. Teams will engage in a double-elimination bracket, beginning with BO1s and moving on to BO3s later. Only the top eight teams will make it to the group stage.
Thanks to their direct invitation, eight teams will be part of the group stage. These eight teams will join the top eight play-in teams at the group stage. They will then compete in two double-elimination stages with two groups, each composed of eight teams. In the end, the top three teams from each group, which brings the total to six, will make it to the playoffs.
The playoffs will then kick off on February 10. Again, this will be a single-elimination playoff competition formatting. Six teams will advance to the quarterfinals, semifinals, and grand final events.
IEM Katowice Event Odds
CS:GO events have become a strategic array of gaming competitions that have significantly grown in popularity over the last several years. More than just becoming another gaming competition, bookmakers have truly stepped it up to develop a betting market that adjusts to the event.
In terms of IEM Katowice odds and how these stacks up when looking at individual teams, this is how the competition is now set to start:
- Faze Clan +450
- Heroic +550
- Navi +600
- G2 Esports +700
- Cloud9 +750
- Outsiders +800
- FURIA +850
- Liquid +900
- Vitality +950
- MOUZ +1600
- Team Spirit +1700
- OG +2000
- Fnatic +2100
- ENCE +2400
- BIG +2500
- NiP +3000
Katowice Past Winners and Trends
The CS:GO competition has a very particular past. Over the years, four different teams have won the IEM Katowice tournament on two occasions by topping CS:GO odds.
But, of course, the competition started back in 2014, which means there isn’t a considerable precedent. However, it’s clear that the teams have raised the bar, and not one single unit has proven to dominate the event entirely.
The 2022 IEM Katowice was the first event after a two-year break due to the pandemic. That is why 2023 will kick in stronger, with more experienced teams coming off from last year’s competition parameters. Since 2014, here are the defending champs:
- 2014 – Virtus.Pro
- 2015 – Fnatic
- 2016 – Fnatic
- 2017 – Astralis
- 2018 – Fnatic
- 2019 – Astralis
- 2020 – Natus Vincere
- 2021 – Canceled
- 2022 – FaZe Clan
IEM Katowice Picks
There is no question that Faze Clan is the obvious favorite and one of the top CS:GO picks on everyone’s list. With +450 IEM Katowice odds and as the current defending champs, Faze Clan has proven to have what it takes to win a major event such as the IEM Katowice.
While some gamers and fans might say that last year’s competition was just the first step for teams to get back into top form, it doesn’t always work that way. This is even more true when talking about a team that has continually proven to be a leading opponent and has succeeded solely on consistency.
While some might focus on Faze Clan and the team’s unquestionable dominance, Heroic is still not a top contender on most gamers’ lists. However, with a proven competitive history that includes a Rio Major grand final ticket, two Pinnacle competitions, and the BLAST Premier Fall Finals, there is no question that the Danish team has the potential to win this year’s Katowice.
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