IEM Sydney will be the first time the massive e-sports tournament has held a leg in Australia, and will feature an international Counter Strike: Global Offensive tournament, with a prize pool of AUD$260,000.
The event has attracted globally renowned teams including the Renegades (bought by Boston Celtics forward Jonas Jerebko in August), and SK Gaming, winners of the CS:GO Majors at ESL One in Cologne, and runners-up at the ESL Pro League Finals in Sao Paulo in November.
"Having been to five different continents is a badge of honor for our historic competition," said VP of pro gaming at ESL Michal Blicharz in the associated press release. "Australia has been an attractive market for us as part of our global expansion of the Intel Extreme Masters brand. We look forward to bringing Intel Extreme Masters to new global audiences and making history for esports in Australia."
Attendees at IEM Sydney will not only be able to watch matches live on stage, but also take part in other "fan experiences" such as player signings, giveaways, and an attached Intel Experience Zone expo showing off the latest products from Intel and its partners.
Tickets for IEM Sydney go on sale with Ticketek at 10am AEDT on Monday March 13, 2017. Telstra customers can buy tickets early through the company's pre-sale service.
Will IEM Sydney draw a bigger crowd than 2016's IEM Gyeonggi? Only time will tell.
Source; http://www.gamespot.com/articles/intel-extreme-masters-is-heading-to-australia/1100-6448437/
