Bet on Intel Extreme Masters 2026
Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) is a premier esports tournament league, a globally recognized series where top teams compete for the coveted IEM trophy. It's a major event in the esports scene, drawing huge audiences and fierce competition.
IEM events feature substantial prize pools, with the 2022 and 2023 finals both boasting a million-dollar reward. These tournaments showcase the best esports talent, battling through smaller events to reach the ultimate championship.
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Everything About Intel Extreme Masters
History
The Intel Extreme Masters tournament series kicked off back in 2006. The inaugural IEM finals took place from March 15th to March 18th, 2007. Since then, a grand final has been held annually.
Partnerships
Key sponsors for the Intel Extreme Masters include Intel itself. However, the IEM is organized and run by the Electronic Sports League, or ESL. ESL, owned by Turtle Entertainment, stands as one of the premier professional gaming leagues globally. Additional sponsors for IEM include Acer Predator, GG.bet, Paysafecard, DHL, MTN, and DEW AMP Game Fuel.
Locations
The Intel Extreme Masters is a worldwide tournament series. Consequently, IEM events are held across the globe. The grand finals typically take place in Katowice, Poland. However, qualifiers and regional tournaments might be hosted in various international locations, including places like Chicago, Shanghai, and Sydney.
Games Featured
Initially, Counter-Strike 1.6 was the sole game featured in the Intel Extreme Masters. Over time, however, several other video games were introduced to the IEM lineup. The roster of games has evolved, with new titles being added and some older ones phased out over the years.
The games that have been part of IEM, either historically or currently, include Counter-Strike 1.6, Warcraft 3: Reign of Chaos, Warcraft 3: The Frozen Throne, World of Warcraft, Quake Live, and StarCraft II, and League of Legends. Presently, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO) is the primary game featured in IEM.
All You Need to Know About CS: GO
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, or CS: GO, is a multiplayer first-person shooter available on PC. While CS: GO was initially released as a paid title, it has since transitioned to a free-to-play model, meaning you can jump in without any cost.
CS: GO is also celebrated as one of the most popular first-person shooter games, boasting millions of active players. Even today, it's common to see hundreds of thousands of concurrent players on Steam.
History & Development
CS: GO represents the latest entry in the renowned Counter-Strike series, which first emerged in 2000. Valve and Hidden Path Entertainment, both significant players in the gaming industry, developed CS: GO, with Valve serving as the publisher.
Development for CS: GO began in March 2010, shortly after Hidden Path Entertainment's attempt to port Counter-Strike Source to consoles. The game was officially unveiled on August 12th, 2011, and its release followed on August 21st, 2012.
Esports Scene
CS: GO is renowned for its highly competitive nature, enhanced by an intricate ranking system that accurately measures player skill. Over the years, a substantial esports ecosystem has flourished around CS: GO. It's now one of the largest esports scenes globally, featuring major events annually.
Why is Intel Extreme Masters Popular for Betting in Canada?
If you're looking to get into CS: GO betting, the Intel Extreme Masters events are an excellent place to start for Canadian players. These esports tournaments are consistently among the most popular for wagering, and for good reason.
Firstly, IEM is itself one of the most popular tournament series for CS: GO. As mentioned, it's also one of the most prestigious events, attracting all the top teams vying for the grand finals.
Due to this immense popularity, virtually all bookmakers offer betting options for IEM. You won't need to search far and wide to find platforms covering IEM events. Furthermore, the high profile of IEM often means bookmakers provide a wide array of betting markets, allowing for diverse wagering strategies for Canadian bettors.
Given that this is the most prestigious event and all top CS: GO teams compete fiercely for the grand final trophy, each team brings its A-game to IEM tournaments. This often leads to spectacular plays, from incredible defuses to clutch moments and precise headshots, significantly enhancing the excitement of the betting experience.
Intel Extreme Masters: Champion Teams and Unforgettable Moments
To date, there have been over 60 major IEM events. Their respective finals have been hosted in prominent cities worldwide, including Dallas, Katowice, Melbourne, and many others.
Several of the top teams in the CS: GO esports scene have competed in these prestigious events. The teams that have emerged victorious have firmly established themselves among the world's elite.
We've witnessed some truly incredible moments in these events, from game-saving defuses to improbable clutches and pinpoint headshots. Below is a list showcasing the winners of all IEM championships and highlighting some of the most memorable moments in IEM CS: GO history.
List of Past IEM Event Winners
- Team Pentagram
- Fnatic
- mousesports
- SK Gaming
- Fnatic
- mousesports
- e-STRO
- mibr
- wNv Teamwork
- mTw
- Fnatic
- mousesports
- SK Gaming
- Fnatic
- Evil Geniuses
- mousesports
- WeMade FOX
- Natus Vincere
- Fnatic
- compLexity Gaming
- Fnatic
- Natus Vincere
- Fnatic
- SK Gaming
- Natus Vincere
- ESC Gaming
- Team Envy
- Natus Vincere
- The MongolZ
- Fnatic
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- Astralis
- SK Gaming
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- Fnatic
- FaZe Clan
- NRG Esports
- Astralis
- Astralis
- Team Liquid
- Team Liquid
- Astralis
- Natus Vincere
- FaZe Clan
- FURIA Esports
- Virtus.pro
- Team Vitality
- Chaos Esports Club
- Renegades
- ViCi Gaming
- Astralis
- Gambit Esports
- Gambit Esports
- Natus Vincere
- Renegades
- Gambit Esports
- Bravos Gaming
- Ninjas in Pyjamas
- TYLOO
- FURIA Esports
- Team Vitality
- FaZe Clan
- Cloud9
- FaZe Clan
Biggest Moments In IEM CS: GO History
IEM events are filled with insane and memorable moments where professional CS: GO players show extreme skill and game sense. Here are our top picks for the best moments in IEM CS: GO history.
180 Pistol Killshot by Hiko
In the first pistol round of Dust2 between Cloud9 and Ninjas in Pyjamas, Hiko was the only one left from Cloud9 to defend against four players from Ninjas in Pyjamas. Hiko makes his way towards double doors, not knowing that there is a player waiting for him behind the right door.
As soon as Hiko crosses the double door, the player starts shooting, and within an instant, Hiko does a 180 and shoots that player in the head. The 180 was so fast that you could miss it with just one blink. It is also one of the most replayed moments in IEM CS: GO history.
Pasha's Four Kills in Four Seconds
PashaBiceps was the only one holding the Arch at Inferno as four players from Fnatic tried to push him. However, he managed to gun down all four players in just one burst. This is arguably one of the fastest four kills ever seen in CS: GO esports history.
Where and How To Bet On Intel Extreme Masters?
To bet on Intel Extreme Masters matches, you will need to find an online bookmaker that offers betting markets for them. Fortunately for you, almost all bookmakers that cover esports offer betting markets for IEM matches.
However, not all of them are great, and some might even scam you. To avoid ending up on an untrusted betting site that might scam you, check out esportranker.com, where some of the top betting sites are reviewed thoroughly.
You can pick any site from esportranker.com without being worried about getting scammed. All platforms at esportranker.com are tested specifically for scams.
With that said, you will have to pick a platform yourself because it will greatly depend on your personal preference. Once you have picked out a platform, all you have to do is sign up to the platform and make some deposits worth the amount you wish to make bets with.
After that, check out the schedule for IEM matches and find betting markets on the platform when your preferred match is about to take place. Once that's done, simply take a look at the csgo betting odds and place your bet. You should wait for major events like the IEM grand finals, which is where most of the excitement is.
