ESL announces Intel Extreme Masters stops in Cologne and more

ESL’s record-breaking elite pro gaming tour, Intel® Extreme Masters, today announced that events in Cologne, Taipei and Katowice are set to round off season nine. Having already stopped in Shenzhen and Toronto this season, with preparations in full swing for Intel Extreme Masters San Jose in the iconic American SAP Center, the final three locations confirm: six events in six different countries for the tour this season.

Just three weeks after San Jose, Intel Extreme Masters Cologne (December 18th – 21st 2014) kicks off in the German ESL Studios. Featuring a US$30,000 League of Legends® competition, the pro gaming tour will once again welcome the world’s best gamers to the European esports capital. The corresponding event in Season eight broke ESL viewership records.

The first Intel Extreme Masters event in 2015 will take place in Taipei, the leading esports country in Southeast Asia, with both StarCraft® II: Heart of the Swarm® and League of Legends® esports competition at the Taipei Game Show from January 28th – February 1st.

The season will conclude with the Intel Extreme Masters World Championship on March 12th – 15th, 2015 in the Spodek Arena in Katowice, Poland. This IEM stop will be attended by eight League of Legends teams from North America, Europe and Asia (including the winners of each stop) and the best StarCraft II players of the season. The event will have over $200,000 in prize money.

Michal Blicharz, Managing Director Pro Gaming at ESL, is looking forward to the next stops in season nine of IEM: “It’s a massive milestone for us to go to two major sports arenas in one season. This is really shaping up to be the best Intel Extreme Masters season ever. I couldn’t be more excited about the rest of the tour!”

“I am very excited to bring the Intel Extreme Masters World Championship back to Poland.” says George Woo, Event and Sponsorships Program Manager Intel. “The passion of Polish fans is unparalleled. They help elevate our events to a whole new leve l.”

For more information concerning the tournament series, please visit www.intelextrememasters.com