IEM Cologne 2024 Won't Feature BO1s

Following player and community feedback, ESL have announced that they won't be running BO1 (Best of 1) formats during IEM Cologne 2024. Any BO1 games will now be replaced with the more common BO3 format.

For fans and pros alike, the BO3 format offers more space for teams to earn their place further in a competition. Previously, BO1s were utilized in the opening matches of the Play-In stage, giving teams just one shot to qualify. Subsequent matches would then switch to a BO3 format, with the winning teams qualifiying into a Group Stage. 

IEM Cologne 2024, a significant tournament in the Counter-Strike competitive calendar, is set to take place from August 7 - August 18, 2024 at the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany. The format for the tournament is as follows:

IEM Cologne 2024 Format

Play-In Stage:

• Double-Elimination bracket
• All matches are BO3
• The top eight teams advance to the Group Stage

Group Stage:

• Two double-elimination format: Two groups of eight teams, BO3
• The top three teams from each group advance to the Playoffs:
  • Group stage winners advance to the Semifinals
  • Group stage runners-up advance to the Quarterfinals (High Seeds_
  • Group stage 3rd place teams advance to the Quarterfinals(Low Seeds)

• Playoffs:
  • Single-Elimination bracket
  • Quarterfinals & Semifinals are BO3
  • The Grand Final is BO5

Winners of IEM Cologne 2024 will receive a direct invite to IEM Katowice 2025 and the BLAST Premier World Final 2024 (location TBA). Alongside the invites, the winning team will earn a $400,000 share of the $1,000,000 prize pool.