Intel Extreme Masters (IEM)
ESL's Globe-Trotting Pro Tour and the Sacred Cathedral of Spodek Katowice
Launched in 2007 by ESL and Intel, Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) is the world's longest-running global pro esports tour, immortalized by legendary battles inside Poland's Spodek Arena.
From CeBIT Trade Halls to Global Tournaments
Inaugurated in 2006 as a European showcase by ESL and title sponsor Intel, IEM staged its Season I finals at the 2007 CeBIT technology expo in Hannover. Evolving into a multi-continental tour hitting Los Angeles, Shanghai, Dubai, and Sydney, it was the first circuit to establish a consistent worldwide qualification calendar.
The Spodek Mystique and Counter-Strike Glory
In 2014, IEM Katowice moved into the legendary saucer-shaped Spodek Arena in Poland, creating one of competitive gaming's holy sites. When hometown heroes Virtus.pro hoisted the CS:GO Major trophy before an erupting Polish crowd, IEM cemented its reputation as the soul of tactical FPS competition.