Bet on Intel Extreme Masters 2026
For South African esports fans, Intel Extreme Masters (IEM) is the pinnacle of competitive gaming. This global tournament series awards the coveted IEM trophy, a symbol of ultimate esports supremacy. Think of IEM as the Champions League of esports โ a massive deal for players and fans alike.
IEM culminates in a spectacular final event after a series of qualifying tournaments, boasting some of the largest prize pools in the esports world. The 2022 and 2023 finals both featured a staggering prize pool of $1 million, solidifying IEM's status as a top-tier esports competition. Catch the action and witness gaming history unfold!
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Everything About Intel Extreme Masters
History
The Intel Extreme Masters tournament series kicked off 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
The primary sponsor for the Intel Extreme Masters is Intel. However, the IEM is organized and managed by the Electronic Sports League, or ESL. ESL, owned by Turtle Entertainment, stands as one of the largest professional gaming leagues globally. Other sponsors for IEM include Acer Predator, GG.bet, Paysafecard, DHL, MTN, and DEW AMP Game Fuel.
Locations
The Intel Extreme Masters is a global tournament series. As such, IEM events are hosted worldwide. The grand final is typically held in Katowice, Poland. However, qualifier or regional tournaments have taken place in various global locations, including Chicago, Shanghai, and Sydney.
Games
Initially, Counter-Strike 1.6 was the sole game featured in the Intel Extreme Masters. However, several other video games were added to the IEM lineup later. Over the years, new games have been introduced, and some have been removed from the IEM schedule.
The roster of games that have been part of IEM, or are currently included, features 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. Currently, the primary game for IEM is Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS: GO).
All You Need to Know About CS: GO
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, or CS: GO, is a multiplayer first-person shooter game accessible on PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360. While CS: GO was initially a paid title, it has transitioned to a free-to-play model, meaning you can jump in without any cost.
CS: GO is also among the most popular first-person shooter titles, boasting over ten million active players. Even now, you can easily find more than half a million concurrent players on Steam.
History & Development
CS: GO is the latest iteration in the renowned Counter-Strike series, which first emerged in 2000. CS: GO is developed by Valve and Hidden Path Entertainment, both prominent figures in the gaming industry. Valve also serves as the publisher.
Development for CS: GO began in March 2010, shortly after Hidden Path Entertainment attempted to adapt Counter-Strike: Source for consoles. The game was officially unveiled on August 12th, 2011, and its release followed on August 21st, 2012.
Esports Scene
CS: GO is highly competitive due to its sophisticated ranking system that assigns players based on their skill. Over time, a substantial esports scene has flourished around CS: GO. It's now one of the most significant esports ecosystems globally, with major events occurring annually.
Why is Intel Extreme Masters Popular for Betting in South Africa?
If you're looking to get into CS: GO betting, consider wagering on Intel Extreme Masters events. IEM esports tournaments are exceptionally popular for betting. Several factors contribute to this widespread appeal among South African players.
The key reason is that IEM is itself one of the most popular tournament series for CS: GO. As mentioned, it's also a highly prestigious event, attracting all top teams vying for the grand finals.
Consequently, almost all bookmakers cover IEM events. You won't need to search extensively to find platforms offering betting options for IEM. Furthermore, due to IEM's popularity, bookmakers typically provide numerous betting markets, allowing for greater variety in wagers.
Given that this is the most prestigious event, with top CS: GO teams competing fiercely for the grand final trophy, each team delivers its peak performance at IEM events. This often leads to spectacular plays, making the betting experience significantly more thrilling for South African fans.
Intel Extreme Masters Winning Teams and Memorable Moments
To date, there have been over 60 large-scale IEM events. Their respective finals have been hosted across major global cities, including Dallas, Katowice, and Melbourne.
Some of the top teams in the CS: GO esports scene have competed in these events. The teams that emerged victorious have cemented their status as some of the world's best.
We've also witnessed some incredible moments throughout these events, from breathtaking defuses and clutch plays to precise headshots. Below is a list of all IEM championship winners and some of the most memorable moments in IEM CS: GO history.
List of IEM Event Winners Over The Years
- 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.
